MADISON, Wis. — During Wisconsin’s first spring practice of the Luke Fickell era last March, transfer Will Pauling lined up as a backup slot receiver who had 13 career catches for 128 yards while at Cincinnati. By the time the spring session finished five weeks later, Pauling had established himself as one of the team’s top playmakers, paving the way for a redshirt sophomore season in which he led the Badgers with 74 catches, 837 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
Breakout players emerge every spring, and Year 2 under Fickell figures to be no different. The biggest question now is which players could fit that category. Here are 12 underclassmen (redshirt sophomores or younger from the 2022 class and on) who had minimal roles last season but possess breakthrough potential in 2024. This list takes into account early enrollees but not members of the 2024 recruiting class who are signed and won’t be on campus until after spring practice concludes.
QB Nick Evers (redshirt sophomore)
The quarterback pecking order likely features Miami transfer Tyler Van Dyke as the starter and Braedyn Locke as the backup. But no quarterback on the roster possesses the combination of arm strength and athleticism that Evers has. Those two traits were on display during brief stretches of open practices last spring and into the preseason. What has held Evers back since his arrival as a transfer from Oklahoma is his ability to translate what he learns from the playbook onto the field. With a full year at Wisconsin under his belt, can he push for snaps or be a part of a package of plays that utilizes his unique skill set?
RB Nate White (redshirt freshman)
It’s not a stretch to suggest that this spring is a make-or-break opportunity for White early in his career, given that Wisconsin signed three scholarship freshman running backs. Fickell has said Chez Mellusi “won’t get a big load, if any load, in the spring” as he returns from injury last season. That leaves Oklahoma transfer Tawee Walker, Jackson Acker, Cade Yacamelli, White and Ituka as the available scholarship tailbacks this spring.
White has plenty of speed. He clocked in as the third-fastest Wisconsin player for 20-yard sprint speeds at 20.13 miles per hour two weeks ago, according to numbers that strength and conditioning coach Brady Collins provides. White needs to add muscle to his frame and take advantage of the opportunities he receives.
Kekahuna’s breakout moment came during the ReliaQuest Bowl, when he caught four passes for 64 yards while earning his first offensive snaps. He didn’t arrive on campus until last summer and was sidelined for much of the season after suffering a fifth metatarsal fracture in his right foot just weeks into summer workouts.
Kekahuna has a major opportunity this spring to establish himself as the No. 2 slot receiver behind Pauling or as an option on the field alongside Pauling. His speed and cutting ability make him dynamic.
Trech Kekahuna had four catches for 64 yards in the ReliaQuest Bowl. (Matt Pendleton / USA Today)
New wide receivers coach Kenny Guiton said during his introductory news conference that the Badgers need more production on the outside. Bryson Green, Vinny Anthony, C.J. Williams and Quincy Burroughs are some of the top candidates to occupy those roles. But don’t forget about Brooks when healthy.
He made two of the best catches during the first week of spring practices last year, hauling in a 40-yard pass down the left sideline during skeleton drills on the first day and then reaching back to grab a 30-yard touchdown a few days later. Brooks then injured his left leg and didn’t play during the season. At 6 feet 2 and 225 pounds, he’s a big target who can help the offense.
WR Quincy Burroughs (redshirt sophomore)
Wisconsin’s other three wide receiver transfers last year — Green, Williams and Pauling — received more attention than Burroughs Still, there is a lot to like about what Burroughs can provide on the outside. He finished last season with four catches for 30 yards and became a bigger part of the offense late in year, playing 62 of his 85 offensive snaps over the last four games, per Pro Football Focus.
Wisconsin needs more offensive production from its tight ends. Tucker Ashcraft and Riley Nowakowski combined to catch 15 passes for 143 yards with a touchdown. McGohan didn’t catch any passes as a true freshman at LSU last season but has loads of potential. Over his last two high school seasons, McGohan caught 99 passes for 1,640 yards and 21 touchdowns. He was a top-25 tight end in the 247Sports Composite out of high school who was committed to Fickell at Cincinnati for nearly a year before Fickell left for Wisconsin.
OL Joe Brunner (redshirt sophomore)
Four of Wisconsin’s offensive linemen who started in the bowl game are back. Who earns the fifth starting spot next season? Brunner sure seems like a top candidate. It likely wouldn’t be a big deal for Joe Huber to move from left guard to right guard and allow Brunner — the backup left guard last season — to play. Brunner, the highest-rated signee in Wisconsin’s 2022 recruiting class, has the potential to be the next great Badgers offensive lineman from the state.
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Howard signing with Wisconsin represented one of the more significant recruiting wins in the 2023 class, considering the need the Badgers had up front defensively. There are plenty of veteran defensive linemen on the roster, including Albany transfer Elijah Hills. Curt Neal, who started in the bowl game, will be a redshirt sophomore. But Howard, listed at 6-2, 318 pounds last season, is a space-eater with the talent to push for reps.
Alliegro moved from outside linebacker to the inside during the season and played 21 of his 53 defensive snaps in the bowl game. He has the size and length that defensive coordinator Mike Tressel is looking for, but the path to playing time could be more challenging with the additions of Arkansas transfer Jaheim Thomas and USC transfer Tackett Curtis. Returner Jake Chaney gives Wisconsin three inside linebackers with starting experience. Still, the staff is high on Alliegro, who should be able to earn snaps in the two-deep.
Heiberger might possess the highest upside in Wisconsin’s 2024 class. He has a 39-inch vertical leap, can broad jump 10 feet, 7 inches, runs a 4.6-second 40-yard dash and fits the mold of length and athleticism that the coaching staff wants. There are five veteran outside linebackers on the roster with Aaron Witt, John Pius, Leon Lowery, Jeff Pietrowski and Darryl Peterson. And while that group should earn the bulk of the work this spring, Heiberger and fellow outside linebacker early enrollee Anelu Lafaele could receive a good initial look for the staff.
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Duclona finished last spring as an early enrollee with the second-team defense, so it’s not as though he’s an unknown quantity this year. But he wasn’t part of the regular rotation, as he played a total of 32 defensive snaps, including 20 in the bowl game. Ricardo Hallman and Nyzier Fourqurean likely are the top two outside corners, and Air Force transfer Michael Mack II should be in the mix as well after sitting out last season. Duclona has the talent to be a key contributor next season.
S Braedyn Moore (redshirt freshman)
Wisconsin doesn’t have a ton of safeties, though the top end has to be considered as good as any safety unit in the Big Ten with Hunter Wohler, Kamo’i Latu, Preston Zachman and Austin Brown. With Wohler, Latu and Zachman all seniors, Moore represents the future at safety for Wisconsin. He has excellent ball skills, which he demonstrated as a high school senior in Ohio when he not only intercepted four passes and broke up six more passes, but caught 79 passes for 1,039 yards and 15 touchdowns as a receiver.
(Top photo of Nick Evers: Mark Hoffman / USA Today)
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Publish date : 2024-02-19 03:00:00
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