Previewing Wisconsin With A Badger Insider

Jake Kocorowski of BadgerBlitz.com was kind enough to swing by this week and break down Wisconsin's football team prior to its weekend showdown with the Michigan Wolverines at The Big House.

The analyst provided a preview of which Badger players fans should keep an eye on, while also giving a final score prediction and a forecast of how he thinks the game will go.

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• Redshirt freshman QB Graham Mertz — He put on a masterful performance in his first career start Oct. 23 against Illinois, connecting on 20 of his 21 passes for 248 yards with five touchdowns and no picks. Mertz's 95.2 completion percentage that night was the best in a game in school history.

• Fifth-year senior FB Mason Stokke — He carried the ball only once in the season opener, but also served as a receiving threat by hauling in a 10-yard touchdown reception. At 6-2, 239, Stokke is a prototypical fullback in a Badger offense that is one of the few still employing the position in today's game.

• Fifth-year senior RB Garrett Groshek — He has an "OR" following his name on Wisconsin's official depth chart, with redshirt sophomore Nakia Watson being the other player who could earn the starting nod here. Regardless, both Groshek and Watson will see plenty of carries against Michigan after they combined for 132 yards on 32 attempts versus Illinois.

• Senior WR Danny Davis – He has been a staple in the Badger offense since his arrival in 2017, having played in 38 games while amassing 1,158 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. Davis reeled in two passes for 72 yards and a score Oct. 23 against Illinois.

• Fifth-year senior WR Kendric Pryor — Like Davis, Pryor has also been a mainstay in the Badgers' offensive attack, having racked up 774 yards and four touchdowns since the beginning of 2017. He hauled in three passes for 44 yards in the club's 45-7 win over the Illini.

• Redshirt junior TE Jake Ferguson — He was the team's top receiving threat in the opener, leading the squad in receptions (seven), yards (72) and touchdowns (three). Ferguson has also been one of the best all-around tight ends in the league each of the past two years, accumulating 456 yards in 2018 and 407 yards last season.

• Fifth-year senior LT Cole Van Lanen — Pro Football Focus (PFF) tabbed him as the Badgers' best offensive lineman against Illinois, rewarding him with a 76.3 grade (64 is considered average). The 41 career games Van Lanen has appeared in are the fifth most of any Badger on the roster.

• Redshirt junior LG Josh Seltzner — PFF gave him an 84.1 mark as a pass blocker in the win over Illinois, which was the best of anyone on the team. At 327 pounds, he is the heaviest player on the roster.

• Redshirt junior C Kayden Lyles — He is PFF's lowest-graded of Wisconsin's five starting offensive linemen on the year, checking in with a subpar 60.7 overall tally. Lyles did, however, excel as a pass blocker Oct. 23, receiving an 82.1 mark in that department.

• Sixth-year senior RG Jon Dietzen — He has an incredible story, having given up football in 2019 after serving as a three-year starter from 2016-18. Dietzen then reversed course and came out of retirement in 2020, re-earning his starting right guard duties as a sixth-year senior.

• Redshirt junior RT Logan Bruss — This is the only starting offensive line spot that doesn't appear to be set in stone, with Bruss possessing an "OR" next to his name on Wisconsin's official depth chart. Redshirt junior Tyler Beach is the other possible starter here, though he played only six snaps in the season opener.

• Fifth-year senior DE Isaiahh Loudermilk — He finished with a tackle for loss and grabbed one of the team's three sacks in Wisconsin's lone game so far the year. At 6-7, Loudermilk is tied as the second-tallest player on the roster.

• Sophomore DT Keeanu Benton — He is a load at 6-4, 315, residing as the heaviest player on Wisconsin's entire defense. Benton received a 67.2 overall grade from PFF for his performance against Illinois (three tackles).

• Fifth-year senior DE Garrett Rand — His four stops on Oct. 23 were tied for the club lead, with the Chandler, Ariz., native also adding a tackle for loss. Rand's 68.3 PFF mark on the year is the second best of any of the Badgers' defensive linemen.

• Redshirt junior LB Izayah Green-May — He has an "OR" next to his name on Wisconsin's depth chart, with freshman Nick Herbig the other player who could potentially get the start. Green-May played 22 snaps in the victory over Illinois, but failed to register any stats.

• Junior LB Jack Sanborn — He put together a fabulous 2019 campaign, leading the team with 80 tackles while also chipping in nine tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Sanborn's three stops against the Illini were tied for the fourth most on the Badger defense.

• Sophomore LB Leo Chenal — He received the highest grade of any defensive starter in the opener, with PFF tabbing him with a 72.3 mark. The outlet also declared him the team's second-best tackler, giving him a 79.4 tally in that area.

• Fifth-year senior LB Noah Burks — He is one of the most-experienced players on the UW defense with 36 career appearances under his belt. The 72.8 mark Burks received as a run defender against Illinois was the third highest on Wisconsin's team.

• Junior CB Rachad Wildgoose — He has started 16 of the 24 games he's appeared in since bursting onto the scene as a freshman in 2018 (seven starts that year). The 36 snaps Wildgoose played against the Illini were tied for the most of any Wisconsin defensive back.

• Fifth-year senior CB Caesar Williams — Redshirt junior Faion Hicks could also potentially get the start here, though head coach Paul Chryst primarily used Williams against Illinois (36 snaps for Williams and 13 for Hicks). Williams checked in, however, with the fifth-lowest PFF grade (58.7) of any of the 26 Badger defensive players who saw the field.

• Fifth-year senior S Eric Burrell — The 42 games he has competed in during his time in Madison are tied for the most of any player on the roster. The 78.6 tally Burrell received as a tackler in the season opener was the third best of any Badger.

• Fifth-year senior S Collin Wilder – Redshirt junior Scott Nelson could also get the nod here, per Wisconsin's depth chart, though Wilder's 41 snaps versus the Illini were the third most on the club's defense. Wilder's 72.2 grade from PFF was the second best of any Badger defensive starter.

• Redshirt junior K Collin Larsh — He connected on his lone field goal of the game against Illinois (a 19-yarder) and made all six of his extra points. Larsh experienced plenty of ups and downs last year, converting 12 of his 18 tries and only five of the 11 he attempted from beyond 30 yards.

• Junior P Andy Vujnovich — He averaged 46 yards on four punts in the season opener, including one ball he booted 60 yards. Redshirt junior Conor Schlichting is also pegged as a possible starter on the Badgers' depth chart, but it's a safe bet Vujnovich will see the majority of the action after he handled the punting duties against Illinois.

"Right now, and with just one game in a small sample size, I would say the passing attack is its biggest strength," Kocorowski revealed. "Now, that may ride on whether quarterback Graham Mertz actually suits up to play on Saturday night, but even if someone like fourth-string signal-caller Danny Vanden Boom is called upon, I really like how the Badgers' aerial attack looked and could look (depending upon who will or will not play).

"Tight end Jake Ferguson showed All-Big Ten skills and was a frequent target for Mertz against Illinois, while wide receivers Kendric Pryor and Danny Davis each caught passes that either moved the chains, or in Davis' case, added points to the scoreboard from a deep reception right before halftime.

"Again, just one contest to look off of, but it was impressive to see Wisconsin do so much through the air."

"I would not call it a concern or a weakness per se, but Wisconsin’s rushing attack will need to show improvements from its week-one output," the analyst noted. "That’s especially true depending upon who plays at quarterback and who is held out due to positive COVID-19 cases and the Big Ten’s 21-day protocol.

"Although [Wisconsin] gained 182 rushing yards, it did so at a mere 3.4 yards-per-carry clip. I felt like redshirt senior Garrett Groshek was perhaps the most patient out of the three backs that played against Illinois and gained 70 yards on the evening, though much of those were in the second half with the game already decided.

"There are a lot of pieces needing to be replaced in the run game from a year ago besides running back Jonathan Taylor, and that includes center Tyler Biadasz along with interior linemen David Moorman and Jason Erdmann. Depending upon who's available, I believe there should be improvements in the backfield and with that retooled offensive line."

"I think Wisconsin's biggest strength lies within the experience it has returned both on the defensive line and in the secondary," Kocorowski said. "Defensive line coach Inoke Breckterfield boasted in October about his two-deep of players on the line.

"Defensive ends Isaiahh Loudermilk, Garrett Rand and Matt Henningsen all have seen valuable snaps and are starting-caliber players. Sophomore sensation Keeanu Benton could be a breakout star at nose tackle, and Bryson Williams behind him completes a dynamic duo at that particular position.

"Looking at the secondary, the cornerback group has a three-deep of players who have started a college football game. The top three are Caesar Williams, Faion Hicks and Rachad Wildgoose, the latter of whom is very versatile in the slot and on the outside.

"Eric Burrell, Collin Wilder and Scott Nelson all provide something a little different for the safeties and are great complements to each other."

"In terms of weaknesses, I do wonder who will continue to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks this season," the insider opined. "[Graduated] linebackers Zack Baun and Chris Orr combined for 33.5 tackles for loss and 24 sacks in 2019.

"We've had a small sample size with just one game the Badgers have played, but redshirt senior Noah Burks has been consistent since last season. Who steps up opposite him at outside linebacker, whether redshirt junior Izayah Green-May or freshman standout Nick Herbig, will be something to keep tabs on.

"Herbig, a former four-star recruit and high school teammate of Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson, registered a sack and nearly grabbed a pick against Illinois (he actually started the contest); however, he is still a first-year player.

"Jack Sanborn at inside linebacker is one of the leaders of the defense. That being said, assistant coach Bob Bostad said before the season that he has three players within that room he feels 'rock solid about' in Sanborn, sophomore Leo Chenal and redshirt senior Mike Maskalunas.

"If injuries or other circumstances drain numbers, that may be the weakest in depth."

"Despite Wisconsin being down some players to an unknown extent, I think the Big Ten West program has a really good shot to stay undefeated," Kocorowski revealed. "I'm sure Michigan, in a rough situation and not wanting to fall to 1-3 on the season, will throw all the effort in the world to stop from falling two games under .500 in what currently feels like an underachieving season.

"I think Wisconsin matches up well with Michigan's strengths, particularly against the Wolverines' offense and the passing game with the Badgers' secondary, and I believe UW's offense makes some plays through the air.

"I think Wisconsin comes away with a victory after two weeks of not playing. I'll say 27-24ish for now."

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