Wisconsin Badgers football: The names to know heading into the 2024 season

my guest is Mark Stewart he is the Badgers reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel chatting about this Badger team that's going to get going August 30th uh to open up the 2024 season the second year under new head coach Luke fickle and uh Mark the I think the first question is is one of the more prominent positions on the roster and that's quarterback you've got two guys who've been competing in Tyler van djk and Braden lock Tyler van djk over the toward the end of of of the Platville sessions the uh the twoe getaway worth of practice sort of started to seize the Reigns there and now we're seeing that he is he has been declared the number you know the starting quarterback on day one for the Wisconsin Badgers give me your thoughts on the on the on the race between them on what you've seen from those guys I know BR lock was pretty disappointed it seemed like seemed like it was a like a legitimate open competition Tyler van djk was the transfer brought in from Miami so you kind of assumed he had a leg up but give me everything you have thought about that quarterback race well uh to start off with I mean I don't think in the end it's a surprise that van Dy is the starter I mean he's you know he started for three years three plus years in Miami um when you bring a quarterback in from the transfer portal you're bringing him in for a reason you know Wisconsin had all last year to see Bron lock and kind of see where he was at as a player so so the final decision doesn't surprise me I mean I do think you know not only did they bring Tyler van djk out to talk to the reporters they brought braon lock out I mean and that's that's a tough pill to swallow you know publicly for you know you I know he's a quarterback but even for a young guy uh so one I was impressed with how he handled you know that situation even though he was clearly uh disappointed I mean I think it's a positive that he pushed van dijk as much as he did uh I mean I think the key for for Braden lock is are you putting yourself in position so that come December when Wisconsin looks at his quarterback situation they're thinking okay we're in a good spot we don't have to go outside the program to find our next starter um so I mean so I think that's that's the key thing as far as Bradon lck goes and as far as Tyler van djk goes I mean he's a you know a lot of times you know I don't like to get into what star an athlete was he was a four-star quarterback he was highly touted out out of high school he has some of the physical tools that you know will allow maybe Wisconsin to be a little more aggressive in the past game um maybe he'll be able to fit you know fit some balls into places where you know that Bron you know couldn't um and he and he's been running pretty well you know I think you know coaches mentioned that van djk lost a few pounds and he's been moving pretty well so I think that's G to be maybe a surprising piece of his game once once the season gets going last year you got to see Tanner morai similar situation a transfer coming in kind of Highly touted I would say more highly touted even than Tyler vend djk and I think it took a while for everything to gel whether that was on Tanner morai or the system being introduced or whatever it took some time before I think we saw the best version of Tanner morai there was an injury thrown in there as well I don't know how you feel this might be different if it is different you know because I think obviously the schedule's so tough this year the foes are so great they can't afford there's no Runway right there's no way that they're you know they can afford to be at their best by the end of the year so does it feel different does it seem the same how would you compare it you know for for whatever reason it does feel different it feels like and I think this is just about the entire team overall that you know the team we're looking at this year is is deeper you know it seems on defense it's it's more athletic um so overall you feel better about its prospects and on an offensive standpoint you know it just seems like you know the receivers are you know a little farther along Bryson Green I think has had a really good camp and he's a guy that you know when you talk about um getting the ball downfield you know he's he's an obvious guy he's about 63 he's 215 you know a good siiz guy that you know maybe you could take some chances downfield or in the red zone and make things happen he's had a really good camp uh will Pauling Wisconsin's leading receiver he's back no another really good camp trch kekahuna uh who probably is a star of the future you know has been playing well so it just seems like that whole receiver group is farther along this year and that's definitely going to help the quarterback I love Bryson Green I I don't know if you'll see you know he's such a deep threat I don't know if it's gonna be like consistent production from him but I think he could be really special and kekahuna I want to talk a little more about him later because I want to ask about guys that maybe are sort of quote unquote newcomers that's not really him he did get some playing time last year but guys are going to take a huge leap forward that no one maybe anybody who watched last year's Badger team might not yet know about but I want to go to another skill position and that's running back this is a really interesting one for me too chz maloi is a guy who's back many injuries he's just been really snake bitten with injuries and I don't know if he's 100% healthy I assume he's pretty close but whether or not you'll see more of him or there's transfer Twi Walker who's a lot and really seems to be a type of guy who could be a number one sort of Workhorse running back and then you've got just some really exciting true freshman not the least of which is Daren Dupri but Dylan Jones is there as well these are guys who are flashing big time I don't know if there are enough carries to go around for everybody but it feels like none of those guys are guys that you're going to be able to keep on the sideline the whole season so I'm curious to know how you see that battle you know that shaping up well as far as you know chz M Luc and we Walker go I mean I do think and I was just working on kind of a you know early depth chart and I kind of had them marked like the quarterbacks where they talk about a onea and a one B I see that with Walker and and chess I mean I see both those guys it's hard to differen differentiate who has been better I mean Walker is when you know when he gets going especially in the Red Zone he's like 5'9 he's like 220 and and he's like you know a bulldozer it's it's just going to be interesting to see him in the Red Zone um you know chz is more I mean I think he can do those Red Zone carries but I think he's more of a guy that you know is is might be a little better little better in space I think those guys compliment each other well and you talk about carries it might just be snaps I mean you just might see more guys on the field together um you didn't mention Jackson nakre you know kid from Verona and and he he's had a nice camp and it's going to be interesting to see how they employ him it might be a little different than what you know we saw last year he's a little bigger I mean like he's 61 245 I mean that's that's a lot of running back to bring down it's a deep group not to mention Kade yelli who play he uh who played last year uh red shirt sophomore he's had a good camp again you know we I kind of touched on it before there's just so many more bodies that you can Envision helping them and those freshmen I think they're just gonna be they're gonna force their way on the field somehow it's gonna be interesting to see how that that all what about on the offensive line because if if there's an injury situation that I think at least has my attention it's Riley mullman the right tackle who hasn't been available recently I I know that you know they struggled last year the offensive line they got a couple key pieces back Jack Nelson of course is is the left tackle he's kind of the maybe the spotlighted guy they lose Tanner bortolini in the middle but you know they have guys who were here last year who are now on the line but I would say there's still in my mind some concern about whether or not they have the the guys and the depth as well to you know be able to block for these running backs to get back to that level of football where Wisconsin teams can run for you know close to 200 yards so what what do you uh what do you see when you see the the offensive and how concerning is that injury well you know they don't really as it is the case in the college game they don't really get into how bad you know they're very vague on on injuries uh you know Riley did you know Miss probably you know a good week you know week and a half uh he's been out you know he's been at practice um some days he's been in one of those uh yellow caution jerseys and he's gone through walk through portions of practice um I mean I think it sounds like you'll be ready for the season um but as far as depth goes you know there there's a lot of Youth in the depth which you know can be a good thing and a and a bad thing um usually if you're playing freshman um it's not a good thing but uh Kevin Haywood a 68 like 325 pound guy while Ro while Riley mman was out was able to get a lot of those first team snaps that was good experience for him uh Barrett Nelson who is Jack Nelson's younger brother uh red shirt sophomore uh he had been out with an injury and when he came back he kind of supplanted Haywood and was getting those number one snaps at right tackle with um you know while mman has been out so I mean I think like I said I think since Riley I I believe Riley will be back you know that's good experience for those younger guys to get get in there and work with those um you know work with the ones um uh JP Ben wall JP Ben wall that's kind of a tongue tighter uh Grafton kid you know he's probably their their number six offensive lineman so if you had you know your five starters you know JP's probably the next next best guy um you know there there's there is some question there you want want them to stay healthy but there's good you know potential there as well I'm G kind of go use this as a transition from offense to defense the tight end situation I think by the end of last year was pretty unclear who their Playmakers would be this season if they had any Playmakers this season they I know they brought in a guy Jackson mcgaan in the transfer portal and he's in the equation and there there are others but that has been I think there haven't been maybe impact guys lately in in that group since Jake Ferguson has been gone maybe even and then um the defensive line is another area that they were also weak at in terms of depth there not alone it was very difficult to even find you know there were athletes who left Wisconsin as quality defensive lineman but guys you wouldn't think of as differen makers ending up at major major programs so they're clearly in demand Wisconsin is no different I know Kevin Haywood one of the true freshman has has kind of uh or he's offensive line isn't he I guess yeah y yep he's had some decent reps on the offensive line but but defensive line I know you know they've had a couple injuries there too either one of those areas concern you tight Ender defensive line something that you need to particularly be worried about if you're a Badgers fan um well talking interior defensive line they they did bring in uh new guys Brandon Lane uh transfer from I think Stephen Austin um Elijah Hills transfer from uh Albany so those are a couple of um you know FCS type programs um and I do think those guys are going to play and help the depth so I mean I think they're in in better shape in the interior line what's kind of intrigued me a little bit is on on the edges on defense where you've got guys like uh Aaron wit uh who's been injured Aon witz uh you know about 65 220 guy and he throughout the spring was one of the top four um you know outside linebackers so you know that that's one less Guy They'll have on the outside that's potentially going to make some uh some plays but I mean again I look at that group and I think I see you know with the addition of Leon Lowry and and John Pas I mean I think that there's some really nice potential there as well and then what you know the coaches did during Camp is they added uh they moved uh Sebastian Cheeks from inside linebacker to outside linebacker and the guy that what you notice is like he's he's fast like he he runs down stuff he's just like a different you know different body type out there and he kind of might bring a different you know a different skill set um I don't want to go and say you know we're gonna see Nick herbick you know like we saw a couple years ago where he just was dominant but I I do think there there's some really good potential there to be just disruptive you know you it it isn't always the Sachs it's just being disruptive and and and making your presence felt and I think this group has that potential uh tight end I don't know if there's any big play guys there Riley noow Market highr you know very dependable solid uh Tucker Ashcraft is a guy that you know he's a sophomore maybe down the road is a guy that could emerge as one of those you know big Play Type uh tight ends um played a lot last year as a freshman and he's probably their best most well-rounded tight end um Jackson mgan you mentioned him the uh transfer from LSU really fast like for a tight end he he's really fast I think he's going to be a tough he could be a tough matchup for defenses you know just CU he's not the biggest tight end but he really moves well and he catches the ball well cool yeah I know Tucker Ashcraft got on the field as a true freshman last year kind of surprising but he's got some experience even even as a guy who you know doesn't have many games under his belt so that's that's an interesting guy that you mentioned there tell me about Jahim Thomas his name came up on a one of those preseason lists of like preseason All Conference the Badgers not well represented on those teams because the depth of the Big 10 is so outrageous but his name did surface of all the transfer guys and newcomers uh as as somebody who could make diff a big difference as a linebacker is he an X Factor that it's going to surprise people like how how should people uh interpret what his role is going to be I think he's gonna have a huge role I mean from what I've seen the preseason Accolade he receiv received from the Big 10 is was welld deserved he probably you know of the looking back at all the transfers that came in you know and all the excitement that comes in you know with when you get different guys you know sometimes you know the hype and the excitement that you hear and read about a guy once you see him on the field doesn't always translate but with with Jahim you really you really see it he can you know he can line up in different areas I mean I think he's a guy that's you know you can see him on the Edge at times or you know he can play inside um you know he's a good siiz guy he I think he's goingon to be a guy that they can move around a lot so that when they're trying to get their best players on the field okay you you know if you're if you you might be able to get an extra linebacker on the field because you can put Jahim somewhere else and he can still make make plays and make him at a high level um you know obviously he was all SEC last year at Arkansas and you know that obviously that that's a phenomenal conference so it's he's going to be really good I mean I guess I don't know how to understate that but I I'm I'm looking for him to have a real big year and to be and just to be you know really immediate impact at a position where you know Wisconsin really went into the transfer portal and really tried to make some changes to that to that linebacker room since we're going around the horn got to stop at the secondary real quick with Hunter Waller is back at safety of course moso kid who is C certainly could have flirted with the NFL draft this offseason elected not to elected to come back so he's one of the you know the standouts I would say in that secondary I know they got a lot of depth at cornerback I'm highly intrigued by this freshman Xavier Lucas to know where he fits into the equation but um how uh how does it look at the back end how do you feel about that one well you you got Ricardo hman you know who was like a third team All-American one of the nation's leaders in interceptions and and he's back so that that bods well so you got him and Hunter back and those two are probably two of your more talented players overall in terms of guys performing at their position well um I think what's you know gonna help is you know they they did add a transfer from Toledo RJ Delany and I think one of the things that you know overall they're just trying to do is just get more depth I think hman played a lot of snaps last year and and you know we might see less of him I think they they might have some more depth where they're not going to have to wear a guy like hman out throughout the game so that when they need plays in the fourth quarter when they need to finish strong he can be a guy that's out there on the field um you know so so you got that Preston zachman had a really nice Camp he's had like three or four interceptions at safety uh Austin Brown and another safety's had a really strong camp they're really deep at safety uh camoy latu has been banged up yeah most of the camp but whenever he gets healthy I can't imagine him you know he's gonna be another guy that's gonna be in the mix so you know I like what they've got there um you know you mentioned Xavier Lucas he's a a freshman cornerback from uh I think he's from Florida um or maybe Philadelphia so many guys he was another guy that pickle was like well he might just be so good that we have to figure out a way to use him even though even though that position has more depth this year you know he is definitely a freshman that you know we might see uh in the mix um but at cornerback you also got Jonas Delona uh sophomore who was uh backing up Ricardo hman last year so we might see more snaps from him uh Jace Arnold's a guy he's been around for a while Max Loy uh he was injured kind of banged up a lot last year looks like he's going to be their number one nickel Corner um so yeah there there there's a lot of there's a lot more depth there and they've been making plays in Camp and if you know football practice it's it's hard for DBS to make plays in Camp because a lot of times the quarterback is just th there's no pass rush uh obviously the receivers know where they're going quarterbacks got all day to make these throw rows and the secondaries been make you know done a nice job of you know getting in there and getting their hands on balls and even sometimes picking them off we've said some of the names of players who who could make a difference that are either true freshman or newcomers whose name haven't we said who are some names of of guys that Badgers fans may not yet be familiar with because they haven't been on the field or have only been on the field very limited amounts you know maybe even that is a Delona or or like a kekahuna but who who else is going to make plays this year um Joe Brunner Joe Brunner's uh Whitefish Bay High School grad he's about to uh he'll be the starter at left guard and you know so you're gonna have on the left side you're gonna have Jack Nelson and you're gonna have um Joe Brunner two guys that you know football coaches like a little nasty in their players and both those guys have that um so Joe Brunner is definitely won uh let's see we mentioned TR I think he's going to um you know have a have a breakout year in terms of just being able to you know make some make some plays there uh I gotta just popped in my head as from a receiver standpoint uh Vinnie Anthony uh who got a lot of lot of play on kick return last year had a really nice spring and um and summer camp so far so I I think he's a guy that's you know got a chance to you know help that receiver core and and and you know kind of be a playmaker for him um let's see we mentioned uh Lucas you know the clona could you know take a step um oh linebacker has been playing he had a really nice Camp so I think he's a guy at the inside linebacker that we're gonna um who was here last year that's GNA Maybe break out a little more um who was that guy by the way I lost you for a second the inside linebacker who's going to make Christian allegri yeah okay yes okay yeah number 28 in your program is what he'll he'll be wearing this year um and then another guy who's made a nice jumping inside linebacker is uh from last year to this year is Tyler janzy uh he's a guy from bavia Illinois didn't get didn't get played a lot of play last year but you know he's been getting a lot of a lot of snaps with the ones and twos he's one of probably the five linebackers that are going to play a lot in some in some capacity they play Western Michigan on August 30th last year I remember how excited everyone was for that first Luke fical experience and they got into those first preseason games and it was just okay like generously speaking and then that translated throughout the course of the season they really struggled when they got into Big 10 play they're going to struggle in Big 10 play because they're going to face juggernaut after Juggernaut no matter how good they are it's going to be tough so what are you looking for especially early in the season what is gonna what is going to tell you mark Stewart who has seen this team okay it's not like last year it's going to be a team that's improved no matter what their record says at the end of the year this is a better football team than it was in 2023 well I mean start off with let's go back to what hurt them last year slow starts let's see let's see how they come out the gates how they come out the blocks um and there's been a big emphasis this year on um having more physical practices more more live contacting practices and the hope is that will be better tackling they'll do better at protecting the ball but they'll also on defense be better at making plays in space so that's going to be another thing to look out for um and then obviously you hate to it's easy to focus on the quarterbacks but let's see let's see how Tyler van dijk and and the receiving Corp you know how they come out the gate you know let's see if they can you know build some some nice momentum going into week one um and you know go you know see where they can take it all right here is Mark Stewart Milwaukee Journal Sentinal beat reporter covering the Wisconsin Badgers again August 30th Camp Randle Stadium Wisconsin and Western Michigan it'll kick you off with the uh for the 2024 season Alabama is going to be in town within a couple weeks so it's going to be some early tests they get a they get they get a couple uh couple good like easy wi to the schedule games before things get get really heavy thanks for joining us Mark we'll chat with you again soon all right thank you