Media members had an opportunity to watch 13 of Wisconsin’s first 15 fall camp practices in their entirety. That’s the equivalent of more than a day spent evaluating position groupings, drill work, small improvements and big plays.
The Badgers have closed access as they begin preparations for their Aug. 31 season opener against Western Kentucky, but the past two weeks have provided plenty of information on where things stand in all three phases, as well as a few questions that remain.
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Here are 10 observations from fall camp, as well as my projected depth chart:
1. Wide receiver depth took a hit, but plenty of options remain
The excitement surrounding Wisconsin’s offensive potential is as high as it’s been since quarterback Russell Wilson transferred into the program before the 2011 season. One big reason for the buzz entering fall camp was because of the sheer volume of talent in the Badgers’ wide receiver corps. Wisconsin’s depth took a hit Saturday night, when top receiver Quintez Cephus announced he was taking a leave of absence from the team because of legal issues.
That leaves A.J. Taylor, Danny Davis and Kendric Pryor as the go-to options, although a number of other players now have an opportunity to contribute. Freshman Aron Cruickshank continues to show he deserves to have a role in some capacity. Adam Krumholz has flashed big-play ability, while Jack Dunn and Cade Green also are capable of adding value. Green caught five passes for 52 yards unofficially in a scrimmage Saturday night.
I don’t know whether freshman Taj Mustapha can crack the rotation, but he provides another big body with tremendous potential. Out of all the receivers, however, I have no qualms saying that Pryor — the guy who was Wisconsin’s No. 4 receiver last season — has produced the best fall camp out of all of them.
During practice Aug. 6, Pryor was a touchdown machine. He caught four touchdowns in red zone skeleton drills, including consecutive 16-yard scores from backup quarterback Jack Coan on the same post route in the back of the end zone. Later during red zone drills, Pryor added two more touchdowns from starter Alex Hornibrook. He caught a pass in the right flat before scooting in for a score and had his most acrobatic touchdown when he leapt to grab the ball at is apex on a pass that appeared as though it would fall incomplete. A day later, Pryor caught a 44-yard touchdown pass from Hornibrook in 11-on-11 drills after he beat the defense.
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On Aug. 11, Pryor made a leaping 20-yard touchdown catch over cornerback Faion Hicks. He caught a touchdown in the red zone from Hornibrook last Wednesday and promptly punted the ball in the air in celebration. And on Thursday, he corralled a 26-yard touchdown in the front left corner of the end zone to cap Wisconsin’s two-minute drill.
Last season, Pryor got a late start because he injured himself during fall camp in a moped accident. He didn’t even record his first career catch until Wisconsin’s sixth game of the season against Purdue. Pryor told me last week that he has learned to be more patient and slow down his routes entering this season. It has shown in fall camp.
Taylor was the only receiver in the top four who was healthy enough to practice throughout spring ball. He suffered an injury late in practice Tuesday, wore a walking boot on his left leg/foot Wednesday but did not require one the remainder of the week. Taylor has the speed to beat defenders off the line and has developed better hands to avoid dropped passes. Receivers coach Ted Gilmore told me Taylor has been able to stop thinking and start playing more, which has resulted in him taking better advantage of opportunities.
Cephus was the team’s No. 1 receiver before he suffered a season-ending broken right leg against Indiana. We don’t know how much time he will miss this season during his ongoing legal situation. But the Badgers showed late last season they could thrive in his absence.
Davis, who caught three touchdowns in the Orange Bowl against Miami, continues to excel in traffic. He caught a 7-yard touchdown from Hornibrook on a slant route between multiple defenders last week and beat cornerback Madison Cone for a reception over the middle Thursday.
He told me his knowledge of the playbook has grown substantially since last season, when he was primarily asked to be the team’s “X” receiver, which normally aligns on the weak side of the formation. Davis caught four passes for a team-high 73 yards in the Saturday night scrimmage, including an impressive diving 29-yard grab after he located the ball in midair. Expect him to be an even better player as a sophomore at multiple receiver positions.
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Mustapha also has demonstrated why coaches are high on his potential. During an August 10 practice, he caught a back-shoulder touchdown pass on cornerback Caesar Williams from Coan. Later that practice in modified team drills, Mustapha recorded two more catches from Coan, one over the middle and one near the left sideline.
Now, back to Cruickshank, who was the unofficial spring practice most valuable player as an early enrollee. Cruickshank could elevate into the No. 4 receiver spot without Cephus and has frequently shown his speed and big-play potential.
On Aug. 7, Cruickshank demonstrated his shiftiness, leaving freshman cornerback Alex Smith in the dust when he broke inside for a touchdown in 1-on-1 drills. Cruickshank then performed a back flip. Four days later, Cruickshank beat cornerback Dontye Carriere-Williams down the field, but backup quarterback Jack Coan overthrew him. Cruickshank engaged in smack talk on his way back to the huddle and hasn’t been afraid to yap it up with members of Wisconsin’s defense. Cruickshank, listed at 5 feet 9 and 154 pounds, has the skill to back up his bravado.
Gilmore told me last week before Cephus took his leave of absence that he expected to use Cruickshank as part of a package but not much more than that.
“Quite honestly, he’s not ready for all of it mentally,” Gilmore said. “Sure, we see the big-play capability and how he can run, those kind of things. But we’re still thinking a lot. He’s one of those where we’re hoping that can give us some depth and bring something. That speed element, I can’t coach. He has a different gear. So we’ve just got to bring him along in doses.
“We need to keep him engaged and locked in because he’s not getting all those reps now. And teaching a young freshman that you’ve still got to take the mental rep. You’ve still got to know it even though you didn’t get the rep. So he’s learning those kinds of things. But he’ll be fine. ”
2. If healthy, tailback Taiwan Deal will play a major role behind Jonathan Taylor
Before fall camp began, Badgers running backs coach John Settle told me it was a “three-man race” for carries behind starting tailback Jonathan Taylor. Settle was looking at Chris James, Taiwan Deal and Garrett Groshek, with the possibility of freshman Nakia Watson entering the fray if he learned the playbook well enough. But after more than two weeks of fall camp, Deal has taken a significant step forward. In fact, Settle told me Thursday after practice that Deal has moved ahead of James for the No. 2 running back spot.
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“He’s kind of passed him up a little bit in the way he’s played,” Settle said. “Not that Chris is a bad player or is not doing the right things. But Taiwan has taken that next step and he’s passed him up. We’ve been waiting on that and looking for it, and it’s finally happened.”
Deal has had trouble staying healthy during his career. He played in only six games in 2016 and missed all of last season with ankle issues. It’s easy to forget how much Deal contributed as a redshirt freshman in 2015. He rushed for 147 yards with two touchdowns against Hawaii and added 90 yards with two more touchdowns against rival Minnesota. Deal provides an important dynamic to the backfield with his powerful downhill style and could finally be on track to realize his potential.
Even though James was viewed at times last season as a third-down running back, he is fully capable of playing a number of different roles out of the backfield. When fall camp began last year, James and Bradrick Shaw were battling for the starting running back job before Taylor rose to prominence. James missed five games last season with injuries. But if he’s healthy, he should be much more productive than the 233 rushing yards and one touchdown he recorded last season.
I’d still expect Groshek to earn some carries this season, and he proved to be quite reliable a year ago. Shaw has a ways to go before he looks healthy. He practiced on the first day of fall camp but was noticeably favoring his right leg. He tore his left ACL last season and was wearing a brace over the knee in camp. The coaching staff didn’t take long to limit Shaw’s participation.
3. The cornerback position battle has not yet been solved
Badgers defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard has rotated through a number of potential starting cornerback combinations, and it appears that battle will continue in the final weeks of fall camp.
When spring practice ended, I projected Dontye Carriere-Williams and Madison Cone as starting cornerbacks. Carriere-Williams was the only cornerback in the group with substantial playing experience. Cone was impressive during the spring after playing in nine games last season. However, Leonhard said this fall that he views Cone as the team’s top nickel corner, and a number of other starting options have emerged.
Carriere-Williams and Caesar Williams spent a lot of time working with the first-team defense initially during fall camp. But Faion Hicks and Deron Harrell also have earned opportunities with the first unit. Williams and Hicks were the first-team cornerbacks during the scrimmage Saturday. Leonhard said after practice Thursday that he has not locked Carriere-Williams into a starting spot despite his experience.
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“He knows what it’s like on Saturdays,” Leonhard said. “That doesn’t give him a pass to compete on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday in training camp. I like the fact that when he competes, he looks like we want him to compete. We just want it more often.”
Harrell’s quick ascension from that group stood out early in fall camp. He moved from wide receiver to cornerback in spring practice, and his height and length present an intriguing option. Harrell stands 6-2, which is taller than most cornerbacks. Plus, he has a strong understanding of wide receiver movements and how to attack the ball.
One player who really appeared to help himself in the scrimmage was freshman cornerback Donte Burton. He earned some nickel corner reps when Cone missed time with a left leg injury earlier in fall camp but was a defensive standout Saturday. Burton recorded three pass breakups and an interception on a pass from freshman quarterback Chase Wolf. Burton may prove to be too good to keep off the field.
I would point out that there is no such battle for the starting safety spots, which appear to have been locked down by D’Cota Dixon and Scott Nelson. Nelson, a redshirt freshman, has impressed with his knowledge of the defense and leadership for such a young player.
Nelson intercepted Alex Hornibrook on back-to-back days on Aug. 10 and 11, the second pick coming when Hornibrook rolled out to his right and threw to the sideline for receiver Danny Davis. Nelson stepped in front of the pass for an interception. Dixon told me he believes Nelson will be better than him and has no doubt Nelson will be an eventual team captain.
4. Talented offensive linemen aren’t immune to injuries, and coaches have used multiple combinations to build depth
The combination of Jon Dietzen, Michael Deiter, Tyler Biadasz, Beau Benzschawel and David Edwards have collectively appeared in 140 career games at Wisconsin with 130 starts. But what could determine the Badgers’ success is how adequately prepared the reserve offensive linemen are this season in case of injury.
Dietzen missed time in fall camp with a right leg injury, while Benzschawel (right arm) and Edwards (left arm) also sustained minor injuries. Biadasz was never listed on the injury report but did not participate in team drills for a few days during the second week of fall camp. All of these situations help to illustrate the importance of developing depth.
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Dietzen has been battling for the starting left tackle spot with Cole Van Lanen, and I’ll give the nod to Dietzen based on his experience as a two-year starter at left guard. Van Lanen, who could start at many programs across the country, is being cross-trained at left tackle and right tackle.
Micah Kapoi spent time in fall camp working with the first-teamers at center, but he likely projects as a backup right guard. Jason Erdmann also earned plenty of reps at center and could be the backup at either center or left guard. Kapoi has appeared in 34 career games with 14 starts, and Erdmann has played in 28 career games. Those two players, along with Van Lanen, provide Wisconsin with a solid top eight on the offensive line.
There are several other players working to build the trust of the coaching staff, including David Moorman, Josh Seltzner, Tyler Beach and Logan Bruss. Beach and Bruss have worked in at right tackle and are vying for the backup spot there. Seltzner earned first-team reps at right guard with Benzschawel sidelined. Moorman has missed time in the past week with a right leg injury.
It’s interesting to note just how much change the offensive line has undergone despite the starting group remaining the same. Patrick Kasl left the program this offseason to focus on academics, while Brett Connors earned his undergraduate degree, got married and also left the program. Kayden Lyles moved from the offensive line to the defensive line to help shore up depth there. That left Wisconsin with 16 offensive linemen to open fall camp, but injuries changed what the line could do.
Blake Smithback suffered a season-ending right leg injury in camp. Benzschawel, Bruss, Edwards, Erdmann and Moorman all were listed as either limited or out at various points in camp. That meant Wisconsin flipped defensive lineman Aaron Vopal to left tackle with the scout team last Wednesday. None of the starters are seriously injured. But the Badgers should feel confident about the reserves that could be available.
5. The defensive line two-deep appears set for now
I have to admit I was surprised to see Kayden Lyles lining up with the top unit at defensive end on the first day of fall camp. But defensive line coach Inoke Breckterfield wanted Lyles to flip from the offensive line for a reason. Less than one week into camp, Breckterfield told me he was “locked in” to having Lyles as one of his starters. Walk-on Matt Henningsen then emerged as the other player likely to open the season as a starting defensive end (moving ahead of Aaron Vopal), with nose guard Olive Sagapolu in the middle.
Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard said he was particularly impressed with how comfortable Lyles looked at the position, as well as his general understanding of the game. The plan is still for Lyles to move back to the offensive line after this season, but his versatility has really helped to save a depleted defensive line.
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I’d guess that Henningsen would become the No. 3 defensive end when starter Isaiahh Loudermilk returns from offseason knee surgery. Loudermilk said the day before fall camp began that he would be back in time for the Big Ten opener against Iowa on Sept. 22, although that projection isn’t set in stone. He still isn’t in uniform, but he did work Thursday on exploding out of a stance and attacking a tackling sled. For now, the second-team defensive line consists of ends Vopal and David Pfaff, along with nose guard Bryson Williams.
6. Rafael Gaglianone isn’t healthy, but Wisconsin’s kicking game is in better shape than years past
Kicker Rafael Gaglianone is one of the best in the Big Ten, if not the country, when he is healthy. But Gaglianone hasn’t been able to consistently avoid injury setbacks, and he suffered another one during fall camp with a right leg injury. Gaglianone’s status for the season opener and beyond is unknown at this point. One thing I can say is that the Badgers’ reserve kickers have the leg strength and accuracy to help make up for the potential loss of Gaglianone — although there would still be a substantial experience gap.
Collin Larsh has been working with the top unit, while Zach Hintze has kicked with the second group. Two Fridays ago, both kickers made all three of their field goal attempts. Larsh’s long came from 44 yards and Hintze’s long came from 43 yards. During practice last Tuesday, Larsh made all four of his field goal tries early in practice, the last two coming from 40 and 45 yards. I saw him bury a 52-yard field goal before practice Thursday, although he missed a 54-yard attempt in practice wide right. Larsh then made 4-of-5 field goal attempts during the scrimmage, connecting from 42, 38, 43 and 38 yards. He missed his final attempt from 40 yards wide right.
Larsh, a walk-on from Marshall, Wis., was the state’s top high school senior kicker in 2016. Hintze, from Fond du Lac, Wis., earned the same honor in 2014. Hintze even kicked a state-record 61-yard field goal in a playoff game that season.
Wisconsin has dealt with kicking issues in the past when Gaglianone isn’t available. Gaglianone sat out most of the 2016 season with a back injury, which forced Andrew Endicott into action. During one stretch of the season, Endicott connected on only 4 of 9 field-goal tries and also missed an extra point in overtime against Nebraska. The Badgers hope to avoid a similar scenario this season.
7. Wisconsin is still searching for its punt and kick returners
Wisconsin generally runs through its special teams drills early each practice, and we’ve primarily seen the same group of players with the punt return group: Aron Cruickshank, Kendric Pryor, Danny Davis, Jack Dunn and Cade Green. On Wednesday, Cruickshank, Pryor and Hicks worked on kick returns.
Gilmore has been heard repeatedly instructing the punt returners to keep the ball “high and tight” on the simulated returns. While Wisconsin coaches would love to have a game-changing speedster in that role, the most important thing for the punt returner is ball security. Dunn and Davis fielded Wisconsin’s punt returns during the scrimmage. Cruickshank handled a kickoff and returned it 42 yards up the right sideline.
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Last season, Wisconsin used cornerback Nick Nelson as the punt returner, so that spot is wide-open now that he’s in the NFL. Cornerback Derrick Tindal returned 15 kickoffs, and A.J. Taylor handled 14. Taylor missed time this week with a leg injury. Taylor could see an even greater role in the passing game in Cephus’ absence, so perhaps Cruickshank could emerge as the main kick returner.
Gilmore did not divulge more details on the pecking order Thursday after practice.
“At the end of the day, Coach (Chris) Haering is going to have a tough decision to make,” Gilmore told me. “He really is. They all can do it. I think a lot of that has to do with what guys’ roles are and how much we want to use them in certain capacities.
“They’ve been doing a really good job of catching the ball, and obviously we’ll see. But you’ve got an environment where you’ve got to value that rep. You’ve got to separate yourself from the next guy and doing everything right besides catching it.”
8. QB Alex Hornibrook has made strides, and Jack Coan is a reliable backup
I know it makes Wisconsin fans cringe to read fall practice reports that include interceptions from starting quarterback Alex Hornibrook. I would caution, however, that even media members aren’t privy to what route concepts and throws Hornibrook is working on with his receivers.
Fall camp is a time to try new things and develop chemistry with teammates. So when outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel intercepts a Hornibrook pass on the right sideline, as he did Tuesday, what does it really mean? Hornibrook already would have been sacked if members of the defense were allowed to hit the quarterback, so that play never would have really happened. Each mistake is a learning experience, and his good throws have far outweighed his bad ones.
Hornibrook looks like a player with full command of the offense. What stood out most to me is his arm strength and confidence. During modified team drills on Aug. 11, Hornibrook ripped a pass between multiple defenders to receiver A.J. Taylor. Every throw won’t be perfect, but limiting mistakes will be critical. Quarterbacks coach Jon Budmayr told me he has worked with Hornibrook on improving his in-game situational awareness so he can make better split-second decisions.
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Hornibrook calmly led a two-minute scoring drill on Tuesday, which was capped with a touchdown pass to receiver Danny Davis. He completed all four passes in another two-minute drill Thursday, polished off by a 26-yard touchdown pass to Kendric Pryor. During the scrimmage Saturday, Hornibrook unofficially completed 11 of 16 passes for 140 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He was the only quarterback to throw a touchdown pass on a night that featured plenty of big defensive plays.
Also, for anyone asking if backup quarterback Jack Coan will play ahead of Hornibrook when Hornibrook is healthy, the answer is no. But fans should feel good about Coan’s progression. Coan really stood out during fall camp for his accuracy and attention to detail.
Coan was great in a red zone drill during the first week of camp, when he completed back-to-back touchdowns to Kendric Pryor. He threw a 55-yard touchdown pass to receiver Adam Krumholz on Aug. 11. Coan unofficially completed 15 of 26 passes for 149 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions in the scrimmage.
He looks like a player coaches can be comfortable with in the event Hornibrook sustains an injury and can’t play. In a perfect world, Coan could retain a year of eligibility by taking a redshirt. But he’s also clearly the second-best quarterback on the roster right now.
9. The value of freshmen enrolling early is evident
Five members of the Badgers’ 2018 recruiting class graduated high school early and enrolled at Wisconsin in time to participate in spring practice: safety Reggie Pearson, nose guard Bryson Williams, receiver Aron Cruickshank, receiver Taj Mustapha and cornerback Donte Burton. It shouldn’t come as a surprise how much further ahead those players are from other new teammates in the class.
All five of those players have positioned themselves to have a role with the team this season. Burton, Mustapha and Pearson each were featured on the main kickoff unit Saturday, while Cruickshank served as kickoff return man. Burton thrived in the scrimmage at cornerback. Mustapha is behind several other receivers but moves up the depth chart with Cephus not participating.
Pearson also has regularly earned reps at safety with the second-team defense and continues to make plays. He recorded an interception of Jack Coan on Saturday when he jumped a route over the middle.
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Williams will serve as the backup nose guard to starter Olive Sagapolu and has the potential to become a three-year starter at the position. Williams is listed at 6 feet 2 and 301 pounds, and his size stood out instantly when spring practice began. When Williams, who lives in Lincoln, Neb., turned down a late scholarship offer from Nebraska to stick with Wisconsin, it represented a major recruiting victory for the Badgers, who need depth on the defensive line.
Before fall camp began, a couple names that surfaced as potential candidates for early playing time were running back Nakia Watson and defensive end Isaiah Mullens. Watson has earned some carries with the reserves, but he still has much to learn if he wants to elevate himself on the depth chart. He carried eight times for 11 yards in the scrimmage. Settle spent time after practice Wednesday coaching Watson on footwork and how to properly field a handoff from Coan.
“He’s a little bit away,” Settle told me Thursday. “But I tell you what, the last two practices, he’s made great strides. I told him he looks like a college football player. And he looks like a guy we’re going to be able to keep.
“That’s kind of one of the things we’ve been waiting for is for him to be able to process all the information that’s going into that and put it all together without thinking about it. The last two practices, he’s been able to come out and relax and play ball. He’s giving himself a chance to be mentioned in it.
The NCAA implemented a new redshirt rule that allows players to play in four games and still retain their redshirt. That’s a big deal for young players who are on the cusp of earning playing time. Last season, for example, safety Scott Nelson was ready to play late in the season but coaches didn’t want to burn his redshirt.
If a player is good enough to play early in the season, then I’d expect him to play the entire way. But there are a number of players that improve so drastically between the start of fall camp and the end of the regular season that they could see time in November. Perhaps someone like Mullens can make that jump.
10. Athleticism at outside linebacker bodes well
The outside linebacker combination of Zack Baun and Andrew Van Ginkel will look different than it did last season for Wisconsin. Baun is listed at 230 pounds, while Van Ginkel is 236 pounds, and their styles are more about speed than straight power — although they can generate pressure that way as well. A year ago, Garret Dooley (246 pounds) and Leon Jacobs (245 pounds) made up the top outside linebacker unit. I’d expect Baun and Van Ginkel to dominate in their own way, and both players have been stellar in fall camp.
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Van Ginkel really came on strong late last season against Ohio State in the Big Ten championship and against Miami in the Orange Bowl. He finished with 6 1/2 sacks even though he didn’t start any games. This fall, he has been a menace for the Badgers’ offensive tackles in 1-on-1 pass rushing drills.
He also has flashed his ability to impact the game in pass coverage. Two weeks ago, he picked off a Hornibrook pass with one hand in the back of the end zone during red zone skeleton drills, essentially stealing a touchdown from Cephus. Last Tuesday, he intercepted Hornibrook again on the right sideline after linebacker Chris Orr applied pressure. Van Ginkel tallied two more interceptions in the scrimmage.
Baun, meanwhile, has been a regular in the backfield. During practice two Fridays ago, he would have recorded at least two sacks in live drills. He blew past left tackle Jon Dietzen during an 11-on-11 session and had a clear path to Hornibrook. Later, he shot through the line during a red-zone drill. A day later, Baun eluded right tackle David Edwards for a would-be sack of Hornibrook again in 11-on-11 drills.
Tyler Johnson appears to be the third outside linebacker at this stage, although Christian Bell has steadily improved. If Baun can stay healthy, the Badgers will have a heck of a 1-2 combination at outside linebacker.
Projected depth chart
A fall camp observations post wouldn’t be complete without a projected depth chat. We should have our answer next Monday, when Wisconsin holds its first game week press conference. Several of these positions seem pretty well sorted out, although I’m not yet sure who will be the starting punt or kick returner, and the cornerback competition remains open. I’m plugging in Aron Cruickshank as the top kick returner with the thinking that A.J. Taylor will have a bigger role at receiver, and coaches might not want to stretch him too thin. Cruickshank’s kick return Saturday was plenty impressive.
Wisconsin defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard has questioned the consistency of cornerback Dontye Carriere-Williams’ competitive drive and has moved him off the first-team unit the past week. I’ve gone back and forth on this, but I’m going to bump him down to the second-team unit, although plenty can change before the first game.
I’ll acknowledge my selections at those positions are largely educated guesses and could be totally different when the depth chart is released. My depth chart does not include Cephus, as well as defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk, a starter who is still recovering from offseason knee surgery. I’m leaving kicker Rafael Gaglianone with the first group until we learn the duration of his injury, but Collin Larsh is clearly next in line. Here’s a look at the full projected two-deep roster.
Offense
Defense
Specialists
