The Wisconsin Badgers are just days away from beginning training camp in preparation for the upcoming 2024 football season.
Wisconsin will again travel to UW-Platteville for the first two weeks of camp from July 29 to Aug. 12, including a practice open to the public on Aug. 10. The team will then return to Madison, Wisconsin where preparation will continue until the team opens its season on Friday, Aug. 30 against the Western Michigan Broncos.
Related: The 6 most likely scenarios for Wisconsin’s 2024 football season
Wisconsin enters the 2024 season with numerous significant question marks on both sides of the football. Many of those questions surround the team’s newcomers, including projected starting QB Tyler Van Dyke and nearly the team’s entire linebacker room. Some of those questions will be answered as training camp progresses and the 2024 season nears. But the rest cannot be solved until a different team lines up on the opposing sideline — most notably the question surrounding the performance level of Phil Longo’s offense in his second year at the helm.
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Preseason Previews
Big Ten Team Previews: Indiana Hoosiers — Purdue Boilermakers — Illinois Fighting Illini — Northwestern Wildcats — Minnesota Golden Gophers — Nebraska Cornhuskers — Iowa Hawkeyes — Rutgers Scarlet Knights — Maryland Terrapins — Michigan State Spartans — USC Trojans — UCLA Bruins — Washington Huskies — Michigan Wolverines — Penn State Nittany Lions — Ohio State Buckeyes — Oregon Ducks — Wisconsin Badgers
Big Ten Position Previews: Quarterbacks — Running Backs — Wide Receivers — Offensive Lines — Tight Ends — Defensive Line — Linebackers — Cornerbacks — Safeties
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While many unknowns exist as the Badgers enter the second season of the Luke Fickell era, the year is sure to see new stars emerge on both sides of the football. That’s the case in any season. But it’s especially true when a program brings in a loaded transfer group and program-best high school class.
Now with training camp set to begin in only days, here are 13 Wisconsin Badgers who could break out to be those stars. Don’t be surprised if a collection of these players become household names as the 2024 season continues:
WR Trech Kekahuna
Jan 1, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Trech Kekahuna (12) catches a pass during the first half against the LSU Tigers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports
Wide receiver Trech Kekahuna may be the fastest player on the 2024 Badgers. Star WR Will Pauling is the team’s starter in the slot, but Kekahuna’s speed will be too much for Longo to leave on the bench. The redshirt freshman WR caught four passes for 64 yards in Wisconsin’s bowl loss to LSU in 2023, showing a glimpse at what was to come.
2024 is almost sure to be a breakout season for the young receiver as the offense looks to reach its stride.
WR Joseph Griffin Jr.
Sep 30, 2023; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Boston College Eagles wide receiver Joseph Griffin Jr. (2) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
Griffin was a spring portal addition by Fickell and his staff. The veteran receiver caught 43 passes for 579 yards and six touchdowns over the last two seasons with the Boston College Eagles. He figures to slide into Wisconsin’s wide receiver rotation, though could challenge for a top job alongside Pauling and Bryson Green.
The 6’3″ receiver could lead the Badgers in touchdowns if he gets the opportunity.
WR Quincy Burroughs
Wisconsin receiver Quincy Burroughs makes a sideline catch during the team’s 14th spring practice, which was held Tuesday morning April 30, 2024 at the McClain Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
Wisconsin has several breakout candidates at wide receiver thanks to Longo’s air raid attack and the lack of established players next to Pauling and Green.
The next option is Burroughs, who transferred to Wisconsin after the 2022 season and played mostly a reserve role for the 2023 team. He has the speed to test opposing defenses and give Longo’s offense a vertical dimension.
The Badgers will throw the ball a lot in 2024. 4-5 wide receivers need to be substantial options. That leaves room for Kekahuna, Griffin and Burroughs to all have breakout campaigns.
LG Joe Brunner
Wisconsin offensive lineman Joe Brunner (56) goes through drills with Jake Renfro (57) during spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wisconsin on Tuesday April 2, 2024.Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
Brunner will be Wisconsin’s starting left guard in 2024 as only a redshirt sophomore. Offensive linemen are rarely known better than positions that touch the football — but not at Wisconsin.
The former top recruit appears to already be an ascending star at the position and should only continue to improve. He is one of the easier bets to be a breakout star in 2024.
OT Kevin Heywood
Heywood joins the Wisconsin program as the No. 50 overall player in the class of 2024 and No. 4 offensive tackle. If he becomes a household name, it means either LT Jack Nelson or RT Riley Mahlman went down with an injury — which would be a bad thing. But Heywood has reportedly already earned a backup role as only a true freshman. He looks like the Badgers’ next great offensive tackle at this early stage in his career.
RB Tawee Walker
Wisconsin running back Tawee Walker turns upfield after catching a pass during the team’s final spring practice, which was held on the field north of Camp Randall Stadium on Thursday May 2, 2024 in Madison, Wisconsin. Credit: Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
Go poll a local bar on who the Badgers’ leading rusher will be in 2024. Many will say Chez Mellusi, and the rest may not even know who the team’s other top running back is.
That’s Tawee Walker, who rushed for 513 yards and seven touchdowns on 102 carries with Oklahoma in 2023. He enters 2024 as the 1b to Mellusi’s 1a in the backfield. Given Mellusi’s injury history, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Walker leads the team in rushing this season.
Edge rusher John Pius
Oct 7, 2023; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers quarterback Tony Muskett (11) is sacked by William & Mary Tribe linebacker John Pius (8) during the first half at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
John Pius transferred to Wisconsin this winter after a decorated career at William & Mary. He is looking to prove his talent at the Big Ten level, while the Badgers are desperately in need of impact pass-rushers.
Pius is in line to possibly lead the team in sacks this season. He’s currently an unknown due to transferring from the FCS level. But that should quickly change when the season begins.
ILB Jaheim Thomas
Oct 7, 2023; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels running back Ulysses Bentley IV (24) runs the ball as Arkansas Razorbacks linebacker Jaheim Thomas (28) makes the tackle during the first half at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Wisconsin’s leading tackler in 2024 should again be star safety Hunter Wohler (120 tackles in 2023). But Thomas could finish close behind him.
The former Arkansas transfer (via Cincinnati) registered 90 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in 2023. He is projected to start alongside Jake Chaney in a new-look linebacker room. Fickell, DC Mike Tressel and the Badgers staff emphasized linebacker in the transfer portal this offseason. That effort should pay dividends with some of the additions becoming household names.
ILB Jake Chaney
Jan 1, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Jake Chaney (36) reacts after a stop during the first half against the LSU Tigers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports
Many of the thoughts surrounding Thomas also apply to Chaney. But add the fact that Chaney is the Badgers’ returning contributor at the position after he registered 80 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks in limited action in 2023.
He is now the clear leader at the position and is in line to be one of the team’s impact defenders. Don’t be surprised if Chaney is No. 2 to Wohler in most defensive categories and plays himself into NFL draft consideration.
ILB Tackett Curtis
Oct 28, 2023; Berkeley, California, USA; USC Trojans linebacker Tackett Curtis (25) celebrates with long snapper Jac Casasante (39) after recovering a fumble against the California Golden Bears during the fourth quarter at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
The inside linebacker room needs one more highlight, this one for former USC linebacker Tackett Curtis. The former four-star recruit was thrust into action as a freshman in 2023, probably before he was fully ready to play.
He now joins Wisconsin’s linebacker room with the potential to be its best player. That date may not be Week 1 against Western Michigan. But there’s a scenario where Curtis steps in late in the season and has a big impact.
CB R.J. Delancy
Wisconsin defensive back RJ Delancy (5) covers Jace Arnold during a drill in spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wisconsin on Tuesday April 16, 2024. Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
Delancy transferred to Wisconsin this offseason after a strong 2023 at Toledo. He will battle with Nyzier Fourqurean for the No. 2 cornerback job across from Ricardo Hallman. The veteran was one of PFF’s highest-graded cornerbacks in the portal this offseason and could help make the Badgers’ CB room one of the better in the conference.
DL Curt Neal
Wisconsin defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow talks with Curt Neal during spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wisconsin on Tuesday April 2, 2024. Credit: Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
These last two are the most important breakout players on this list. Both play defensive line, arguably Wisconsin’s weakest position entering the season.
The first player is Neal, who returns to the Badgers after recording 13 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in limited action in 2023. He was a three-star recruit back in the class of 2020 and is yet to fully break out. The opportunity will be there in 2024, and the Badgers desperately need studs at the position.
DL Brandon Lane
Lane was a last-minute transfer addition as Fickell worked to bolster his defensive line room. The veteran transfers from Stephen F. Austin, where he recorded 16 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in 2023.
There are plenty of snaps available at the position next to James Thompson Jr. Lane is well-equipped to earn those snaps and prove himself at the Big Ten level. Wisconsin badly needs him to do so.
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Publish date : 2024-07-27 09:10:00
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