(Photo Credit: John Fisher/Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
RB Braelon Allen, WR Skyler Bell, WR Chimere Dike, OG Michael Furtney, OT Riley Mahlman, OT Jack Nelson, DE Rodas Johnson, DE James Thompson Jr., NT Gio Paez, LB Jake Chaney, LB CJ Goetz, SS Kamo’i Latu and PK Nate Van Zelst.
Key Players Departing:
QB Graham Mertz, OC Joe Tippmann, OG Tyler Beach, NT Keeanu Benton, LB Nick Herbig, CB Cedrick Dort Jr., CB Jay Shaw, FS John Torchio, KR Isaac Guerendo, PR Dean Engram and PT Andy Vujnovich.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: QB Tanner Mordecai (SMU transfer), WR CJ Williams (USC transfer) and DS Braedyn Moore (Hamilton, Ohio).
3 Star Recruits: DL Darian Varner (Temple transfer), QB Nick Evers (Oklahoma transfer), WR Bryson Green (Oklahoma State transfer), QB Braedyn Burroughs (Cincinnati transfer), OL Jake Renfro (Cincinnati transfer), OT Joe Huber (Cincinnati transfer) and DL Darian Varner (Temple transfer).
2022 Results:
G01 ILLINOIS STATE W 38-0
G02 WASHINGTON STATE L 14-17
G03 NEW MEXICO STATE W 66-7
G04 @ #3 Ohio State L 21-52
G05 ILLINOIS L 10-34
G06 @ Northwestern W 42-7
G07 @ Michigan State L | OT 28-34
G08 PURDUE W 35-24
G09 MARYLAND W 23-10
G10 @ Iowa L 10-24
G11 @ Nebraska W 15-14
G12 MINNESOTA L 16-23
BOWL vs. Oklahoma State W 24-17
Team Info:
2022 Record: 7-6 (5th in Big Ten West)
Home: 4-3
Away: 2-3
Neutral: 1-0
B10: 6-3
Non-B10: 3-1
Head Coach: Luke Fickell
Wisconsin: 0-0
Career: 62-25
Bowls: 3-3
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Chase Wolf (18-32, 137 yards, 56.3%, 4.3 avg., 1 TD, 1 INT)
Rushing: Braelon Allen (230 car., 1242 yards, 5.4 avg., 11 TD)
Receiving: Chimere Dike (47 rec., 689 yards, 14.7 avg., 6 TD)
TDs Scored: Braelon Allen (11)
Sacks: Maema Njongmeta (3.5)
Tackles: Maema Njongmeta (95)
Tackles For Loss: Maema Njongmeta (12.5)
Interceptions: Kamo’I Latu (2)
Pass Deflections: Ricardo Hallman/Kamo’I Latu (3)
Forced Fumbles: Jordan Turner (1)
Kick Returns: Stephan Bracey (6 ret., 193 yards, 32.2 avg., 1 TD)
Punt Returns: Dean Engram (24 ret., 132 yards, 5.5 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Nate Van Zeist (11-14 fg/fga., 79%, 25-25 xp/xpa., 68 pts.)
Punting: Andy Vulnovich (63 ret., 2768 yards, 43.9 avg., 24 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 00 Tanner Mordecai (RS SR/TR)
RB: 0 Braelon Allen (JR)
WR: 13 Chimere Dike (SR)
WR: 9 Bryson Green (RS JR/TR)
WR: 6 Will Pauling (RS SO/TR)
TE: 87 Hayden Rucci (RS SR)
LT: 79 Jack Nelson (RS JR)
LG: 60 Joe Huber (RS JR/TR)
OC: 63 Tanor Bortolini (RS JR)
RG: 74 Michael Furtney (GR)
RT: 71 Riley Mahlman (RS SO)
KR: 13 Chimere Dike (SR)
PK: 00 Nathaniel Vakos (SO/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 56 Rodas Johnson (RS SR)
NT: 94 Gio Paez (RS SR)
DE: 90 James Thompson Jr. (RS JR)
LB: 17 Darryl Peterson (RS SO)
LB: 55 Maema Njongmeta (RS SR)
LB: 54 Jordan Turner (RS JR)
LB: 98 CJ Goetz (GR)
CB: 2 Ricardo Hallman (RS SO)
CB: 11 Alexander Smith (RS SR)
FS: 13 Kamo’i Latu (SR/TR)
SS: 24 Hunter Wohler (JR)
PR: 13 Chimere Dike (SR)
PT: 49 Atticus Bertrams (FR/TR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: A
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: A
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: B
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: A
Punters: C
Schedule:
09/02 BUFFALO BULLS | Wisconsin won (35-3) the only prior meeting between schools in 2006.
09/09 @ Washington State Cougars | Wisconsin trails the series 2-1. The Badgers lost (14-17) last season’s meeting between schools and their last series win (42-21) dates back to 2017.
09/16 GEORGIA SOUTHERN EAGLES | First meeting between schools.
09/23 @ Purdue Boilermakers | Wisconsin leads the series 52-29-8. The Badgers are 9-0 since 2013 and their last series loss (23-26) dates back to 2003.
10/07 RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS | Wisconsin leads the series 4-0. The Badgers won (52-3) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
10/14 IOWA HAWKEYES | Wisconsin leads the series 49-45-2. The Badgers are 7-3 since 2013 and their last series win (27-7) was in 2021.
10/21 @ Illinois Fighting Illini | Wisconsin leads the series 44-38-7. The Badgers are 8-2 since 2013 and their last series win (24-0) was in 2021.
10/28 OHIO STATE BUCKEYES | Wisconsin trails the series 18-62-5. The Badgers are 0-7 since 2013 and their last series win (31-18) dates back to 2010.
11/04 @ Indiana Hoosiers | Wisconsin leads the series 41-19-2. The Badgers lost (6-14) the last meeting between schools in 2020.
11/11 NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS | Wisconsin leads the series 62-37-5. The Badgers are 6-4 since 2013 and their last series loss (7-17) was in 2020.
11/18 NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS | Wisconsin leads the series 12-4. The Badgers are 8-0 since restarting the series in 2014 and their last series loss (27-30) dates back to 2012.
11/25 @ Minnesota Golden Gophers | The series is tied 62-62-8. The Badgers are 7-3 since 2013 and their last series win (20-17 OT) was in 2020.
Predictions:
Home: 6-1
Road: 5-0
Neutral: 0-0
B10: 8-1
Non-B10: 3-0
Overall: 11-1 (2nd in Big Ten West)
gridironpredictions.net 