2020 First Glance: Week One at Wisconsin
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Image: Wisconsin Athletics
Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
Week One: Wisconsin Badgers
Date & Time: Friday, September 4, 2020, Time: TBA
Venue: Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin
TV: TBA
Badgers at a Glance
Head Coach: Paul Chryst
Entering his 5th year as Wisconsin’s Head Coach, 8th year overall
Overall Record: 71-35
At Wisconsin: 52-15
Last Season: 10-4 (7-2) Lost to Oregon 28-27 in the Rose Bowl
Badgers Returning Leaders
Passing: Jack Coan (236-339 passing (69.6%), 2,727 yards, 18 TDs, 5 INTs)
Rushing: Nakia Watson (74 rushes, 331 yards, 4.5 YPC, 2TDs)
Receiving: Jake Fergusson (33 receptions, 407 yards, 2 TDs)
Tackles: LB Jack Sanborn (80 tackles, 50 solo tackles, 9 TFLs, 5.5 Sacks, 3 INTs)
Badgers Preseason Predictions
Athlon: 1st in the Big Ten West
Lindy’s: 1st in the Big Ten West
Phil Steele: Not Published
Street & Smith’s:1st in the Big Ten West
SP+: 14th (8.9 wins)
Impact Newcomers for the Badgers
Jalen Berger, Running Back
Biggest Questions Facing the 2020 Badgers
1. How do the Badgers spell Jonathan Taylor and Quintez Chepus?
2. Can QB Jack Coan take them to the next level?
3. How does Wisconsin fill the holes at linebacker?
Offensive Preview
The philosophy of Wisconsin’s offense isn’t going to change just because Jonathan Taylor decided to forego his senior season and head to the NFL, but filling his shoes is going to be a tall task. Taylor carried the ball 320 times for 2,003 yards and scored 26 total touchdowns.
The good news for the Badgers is that they return two starters on an offensive line, which is headlined by All-Big Ten left tackle Cole Van Lanen and will be full of upperclassmen. Wisconsin’s projected starters average six-foot-five and 315 pounds, so they will be stout.
Running behind them will be a number of backs including senior Garret Groshek, sophomore Nakia Watson as well as a pair of freshmen in Isaac Guerendo and Jalen Berger. Berger was a four-star recruit out of New Jersey and could take control of the job in fall camp.
The Badgers return senior quarterback Jack Coan who threw for 2,727 yards and 18 touchdowns en route to a big Ten West title and a 10-win season. He is a good quarterback, but a more talented quarterback is waiting for his turn in redshirt freshman Graham Mertz. Coan had foot surgery and is out indefinitely, so it will be Mertz’s time to make his statement to start.
The Badgers need to replace their leading receiver from 2019 as Quintez Cephus’s time is done in Madison. Tight end Jake Fergusson is the returning leading receiver and one of the best at his position in the league.
Danny Davis who has been more of a possession receiver averaging just 8.3 yards a reception (30 catches, 250 yards in 2019) would be one of the senior receivers that needs to produce more. The other senior who needs to step up is Kendric Pryor who finished fourth on the team in receiving yards last year with 278 on 23 receptions. Pryor is also used a lot in the run game on sweeps.
Behind Pryor and Davis are fellow seniors Jack Dunn and Adam Krumholtz who combined for seven catches, 61 yards and a touchdown. The Badgers signed a trio of three-star wide receivers in their 2020 class in Chimere Dike, Isaac Smith and Devin Chandler. Expect one or two of them to be in the mix early.
Defensive Preview
The Badgers lose two of their top three tacklers from the 2019 season in Chris Orr and Zack Baun. Baun led the team with 12.5 sacks last year. Replacing their production is Wisconsin’s biggest task.
The Badger defense finished third in the conference with 22 takeaways created, fourth in tackles for loss and second in sacks. They pressure the offense relentlessly into making mistakes.
Returning starting linebackers Noah Burks and Jack Sanborn will spearhead a defense that returns eight starters. The Badgers run a three-man front, so joining Burks and Sanborn are sophomore Leo Chanel (20 tackles in ’19) and junior Izayah Green-May (5 tackles in ’19). In reserve will be freshmen Spencer Lytle, a former four-star recruit, Maema Njongmeta, senior Mike Maskalunas who is a 36-game veteran and sophomore Jaylan Franklin
The Badgers return two senior starters along the defensive line in Isaiahh Loudermilk and Garrett Rand. Loudermilk made 24 tackles, five tackles for loss and three sacks while Rand added 27 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack. Sophomore Keeanu Benton is penciled in as the starter at nose tackle after posting four tackles for loss as a freshman. In reserve are juniors Matt Henningsen and Bryson Williams along with sophomore Isaiah Mullens.
Wisconsin returns all four starters from the 2019 secondary that made seven of the team’s 12 interceptions. Five players have starting experience and the two-deep features three seniors and three juniors. Faion Hicks and Caeser Williams will be the front-line corners with junior Rachad Wildgoose backing them up. Scott Nelson is lined up to start over Reggie Pearson at strong safety while senior Eric Burrell will man the free safety position with Collin Wilder backing him up.
Special Teams Preview
Wisconsin has holes to fill on special teams. Kickoff specialist Zach Hintze graduated after kicking 69 of his 89 kickoffs for touchbacks and leading kick returner Aron Cruickshank who returned two kicks for touchdowns in 2019 will be with Rutgers this fall.
Wisconsin will also need to improve their field goal kicker. Junior Collin Larsh only made 12-of-18 field goals as a sophomore and was a woeful 5-of-11 from 30 yards or more.
Wisconsin will also have to find a punter as both players who punted last season graduated. The Badgers brought in Andy Vujnovich as a transfer from Dubuque. As a junior, Vujnovich punted 49 times with a 36.7-yard average last season. He booted five attempts of over 50 yards. Fifteen of the 49 landed inside the 20-yard line. Wisconsin also brought in Jack Van Dyke in the 2020 recruiting cycle.