Is Tawee Walker an NFL running back and how many '24 kids play this season for the Badgers

how many players in that really good 2024 class are going to get into the two deep this year this season for this team you are locked on Badgers your daily podcast on the Wisconsin Badgers part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day Badger fans what is going on welcome to lockdown Badgers your team every day thank you so much for tuning in appreciate you so much I'm your ran herrings part of the lockdown podcast Network today's episode is brought to you by our good friends zor at FanDuel this summer long FanDuel is hooking you up boost and bonus daily all summer long every single day just H fanduel.com to get started okay so I wanted to do well the best part about this show is honestly the interactions with people like talking to them getting to meet them reading the comments on the Discord so we're just going to Loop it all together into a community show all your thoughts and comments and questions let's let's talk about it let's chop it up let's get around the old Badgers fireplace here and let's let's talk let's talk sports let's talk Badgers together so the first comment I want to get into GT Mueller how many freshman can play into the to deep this year great question um this usually when you're talking about freshman jumping into the to deep It's a combination of two things and I've talked about this 24 Class A lot I've lotted how good I think it is how deep I think it is how it's going to be a Bedrock for this program going forward but usually for two deep players to really get into that or freshman to get into that two deep It's a combination of they have to be really good physically Advanced and that position also has to be lacking in depth so there there's some players that I think are really good in this 24 class and I just think this team is a little de is deep enough that they're not going to get in to deep but there's some positions where this team just doesn't have much depth so players are going to be propelled into the two deep whether they're ready or not let's ask let's answer the question right so quarterback no running back no and again people might push back and say whoa whoa Dupri Jones I love them but they're not unseating chz or Walker they just not uh I people may disagree with that I don't think it's barring injury and we're going to approach this list uh without talking about people getting hurt because it's impossible to predict barring injury chz and tawe are your one and two this year in some combination and Dylan will play debr could play akr's gonna play but chz and Tai we are wed to so I don't think a running back's getting into to deep tight end no receiver no offensive line is interesting right it goes back to the point I made earlier it's a position without a lot of depth right to get into the two deep you have to have a position without a lot of depth and you have to have some pretty special players that's a perfect ex explanation of what we're seeing on the offensive line who have we seen in the two deep in practice Colin cubberly Derek Jensen Emerson Mandel Kevin Haywood now I don't think Jensen's necessarily going to stay on that two deep line but I do think in the two deep you potentially looking at three guys cubberly Mandel and and Haywood so three on the defense line I think Dylan Johnson gets into the two deep so there's four linebacker I think uh anelu lafaele does I think he sneaks into the two deep at outside linebacker so that's five um cornerback I do think by the end of the year it's possible uh Xavier Lucas sneaks into that two deep as well so that gives you six right gives you six um four on the lines one at linebacker one at corner now other players are going to play you know I like I said the running backs are going to play I think st's going to play I think May's going to get some mop-up minutes but I think gnes Willer is going to play but I think that's the group and Tommy hyberger would have been in this discussion as well if not for um getting a little banged up with a knee injury so I think the answer is six and six with potentially a few other that are a few other players are going to play uh Dimitri asks I would love to hear a more detailed evaluation of Griffin Joseph Griffin Jr the transfer receiver from Boston College what are Vinnie Anthony and CJ Williams doing better they're playing they're getting reps I mean I don't know howse to explain it um Demitri and Dimitri comments on a lot of stuff and I really appreciate it but quite frankly they're just they're playing they're getting reps and Joseph Griffin isn't he definitely not at their level so I do think listen Vinnie Anthony's faster CJ Williams is probably just a little more polished Griffin came over kind of late so he's I'm sure he's still kind of learning the system but he's just he's pretty far down on the depth chart and quite frankly I don't expect to see him much this year unless unless that light clicks on right unless it comes together but yeah I don't expect to see a ton there Mr octob ber not a peep either way on Aaron wit I did some looking around a groin feel awful theid yeah it stinks man you you you nailed my sentiment here man um I'm rooting for him I just feel terrible for him like fight back through everything he's fought through and then to have a groin injury it just feels like he's a little cursed quite frankly super unlucky um but again this is partially why with him already being out this is why you're seeing anelu lafaa get more reps this is why you're seeing him get into the comp competition and the conversation to to jump into that too deep it's because Aaron W just he's already hurt he's hurt again and because that outside linebacker depth which was a major issue last year the coaches have talked about it again and again and again it's a little thin which is why I do think you're gonna see a laf jump in there and play a big role this year uh ah Hills asks Ryan just wonder what round do you think tywi Walker will be drafted in or will he be a udfa yeah this is a tough one it's going to depend so much on what he runs now obviously he needs to put together the year that I think he's going to put together he needs to stay healthy he needs to show that he can catch the ball which he's shown in practice up to this point um I think pass protection is going to be a check for him which is a huge part of NFL evaluations I think the physicalities a check for him which they look for but what's he gonna run I don't know I really don't know and that's such a big part of NFL evaluations right like how fast are you even even above great film and above so much else they just look at the stopwatch they look at the measurables and I'm not sure if he's a four five guy he might be more like a four five5 guy um I don't know we have to see we really have to see what he runs if he runs well if he if he can put like a four five or a 448 um on the table if he can do that with this type of season I think he's gonna have I think he could be a fourth round pick I think he can be a fourth or fifth round pick somewhere in that range um but you don't have to be an NFL draft pick either to be a really really good College running back Cody shrer led to the SEC in rushing last year for Missouri and he went undrafted he had like 1600 yards in the SEC U not the same type of back as tywi like he doesn't have that type of power but he's a similarly undersized back he didn't put up great numbers at the combine and he didn't get drafted but he had an incredible College year so I don't know I I think Walker is probably a fourth or fifth round guy if he runs well enough but I think he has the talent to be a a college running back that is a that that is better than a fourth or F round Talent right like I think he can he can be a dynamic College running back Badger bill says any word on Nate white receiver ever since he won the Heisman in my Dynasty I want to see him on the field yeah I I didn't see him getting reps I I gotta be honest when I see players switch position um I I kind of just don't think it's in the cards and I this is not to I I like I root for the kid I have nothing against him uh he definitely has unique some unique quick quickness and short area stuff uh there's some there's some explosiveness to his game when you go back and watch his high school film when you talk to people but I is he going to be better at receiver than guys like kenberry Johnson then guys like Treet Kahuna then guys like um you know you look at some of what we're bringing in I he's not going to be better than those guys he's already starting behind them because those those players have been repping being a receiver for years I'm not going to write him off right but I I would be it would surprise me typically people switching positions um they they don't they don't come to a new position and and become an impact player certainly there's some examples of it like Leon uh Leon Jacobs went from fullback to outside linebacker and got drafted by the by the Jaguars I I don't see that happening for Nate white I'm not trying to be a jerk about it but I'm also always GNA try to be honest on this show all we're gonna take a quick break there we're g to come back and talk about one of the big talking points the rushing game has looked good is that because the rushing game is really good or the defense has had some issues we're going to talk about that next on lockdown Badgers but first a quick break for our friends of the show over at fandel fandel Remains the number one source for all of your sports betting needs it it's the official Sports Book of Major League Baseball the official sports book of the lockdown podcast Network for a reason right it's easy to use which is what we all need easy to get your payouts when you win Futures parlays teaser spreads it's all there plus they're hooking everybody up like I said all summer long in the intro boost or bonus daily uh something for everyone every day all 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back of Oklahoma all the running backs are apparently looking good and are D struggled to stop the run last year sure hope I'm wrong but these things seem to point to a potential issue on defense okay let's let's break this down bit by bit I think this is a great comment I think there's a lot of meat to dive into here from from David the first one is um is walk W talking about tywi Walker he wasn't a starter at Oklahoma last year he wasn't but Oklahoma recruits really well at the running back spot he had a really good year had seven touchdowns and I'm not trying to sugarcoat it I'm not trying to like paint lipstick on a pig whatever like talking to the Oklahoma guys they're very high on him then talking to other people who are more veteran than I'm who have watched the entirety of practice they all seem surprised by how good tywi Walkers looked and then talking to the defensive players we had the linebackers yesterday we were able to talk to uh John Pas we were able to talk to Leon Lowry we were able to talk to darl Peterson I mean the the words banded about with tywi Walker bulldozzer um tough physical hard to bring down wins plenty battles like I think the hype is real on Walker and sometimes it just isn't the right situation for a player to start we've seen that in a lot of areas like a player may not start in program a goes to program B and becomes an NFL draft pick just because that Situation's better maybe the scheme fits better whatever it is I'm I'm I'm pretty on board with tywi Walker not listen not as like the best running back in the Big 10 but as a really good starting Big 10 running back I'm pretty on board there um his second point and there's there's some truth there right but some of that is because I think the running back group is actually literally pretty good I talked about tywi um both those those freshman running backs those are four-star kids fourstar kids who are coming in physically ready to go so I do think there's a lot to like there and and akre is a upper classman that's played a lot of ball he's in the best shape of his life he's a big physical guy he's looked pretty solid too so I do think tywi Walker hype is real I do think the running back room is really good but getting to your last Point here I also do think there's legitimate concerns with the defense two things can be true here multiple things can be true um in this case three things can be true like I said I think the Walker hype's real I think the freshman running backs are really good and I do think the interior defens line is still struggles a little bit with the run I still think the guys like the the Ernest Willers and the Dylan Johnson's um are a year away I still think you can use some reinfor Ms there Brandon Lane got better I think as you know from even the few practices I saw he's flashed but yeah I do think that's a legitimate question I do wonder if we're going to struggle defending the run this year and I didn't come away I'll say this I didn't come away from practice feeling a ton better about a rush defense so yeah it's a very legitimate Point David and I think some of it is because of how good I think a rushing attack will be but I don't think our rushing attack is going to look quite this good against Iowa or against Oregon right so some of both is what I'd say and it's very fair point alad says um alad says the badger schedule is brutal we need to be careful to not oversell this season I just an interesting comment right because I feel like I've been pretty optimistic after watching practice I feel like a lot of people have um but I don't know if being optimistic and liking the team more is overselling the season I still think it's like an eight and4 team right I still think this team is going to drop a couple games this year there's still some holes on the roster um but it's also okay to get excited right it's okay to be a fan and and see the Improvement and then speak on the Improvement that the roster I think the roster is better I think the defense is faster I think there's more skill players I think TVD is a slightly better quarterback than Tanner morai I think the receiver rooms a year better I like the offensive line listen there's depth questions and this team is going to lose a couple games but I I I don't think being excited is overselling it right and that's kind of where I'm at I think I'm I'm excited for it I'm really anxious to see the season I'm a fan I'm hopeful these pieces are going to come together um but yeah I don't know like it could it it's going to be bumpy in spots for sure because this is still a team that has gonna have to rely on some young pieces it's a team that is relying on a transfer quarterback that has ups and downs and inconsistencies uh and it's a team that quite frankly is going to need some uning pieces to step up on the defensive line so I hear you um but I'm excited in general I I I come away from practice being a little more excited than I that I was going into practice so we'll see John K says sounds like we could use Len nordgard in the tight end room so Lon norgard again I've talked about him for a couple days I just want to reset the picture on him he was a preferred walk-on instate kid I think toar I'm trying to remember where it came out of ah it's gonna drive me nuts I know it's on the tip of my brain but instate kid 64 64 and a half somewhere in that range about 190 pounds you know if you go and watch his high school film and again he's he's he's he's a walk- on like let's I don't want to oversell it right but if you go and watch his high school film what you would see is great hands the ability to make contested catches uh the ability to really high point the ball you know a lot of what we were hoping oh who is the Tommy madosh a lot of kind of what we were hoping he would be for this offense it's possible Lane did nordgard grows into a version of that it really is a lot of what we're hoping Vernon or Joseph Griffin is for this office it's Poss offense it's possible L to nard grows into a version of that uh he had some track stuff in high school how fast is he uh I think he's probably like a 46 guy but may I don't know he does have some track stuff some multiports multiports stuff uh to John K's Point could we use him in the Titan room he's not big enough like he's he's not going to be that big in physical you know he's 20 pounds lighter than a guy like Jackson M mcen and mgan isn't a very good blocker so no maybe down the road in two or three years if he puts on a lot of weight but I don't know if has the frame for that John but could he be a functional receiver it's not I would say it's not impossible um but he's going to have to prove that he's got the speed there were a couple nice Clips I thought in practice like he had a couple contested catches um we'll see it's definitely I would say this there's certain players there there's certain players that you just I would just say put a pin in it and think remember the name just in case and I would say nordgard is one of those guys all right we're going to take a quick Break um we're going to come back and talk a little bit about the previous couple recruiting classes and maybe why it why it didn't work out for some players and what it means for these 24 kids uh and how they're kind of connected we're going to talk about that plus Jamal Howard Chris Brooks and a few other spots as well coming up on lockdown badges but first a quick break for our friends of the show over at game time game time is the number one source for all of your ticket needs whatever it is that you want to go to go go get there through Gam Time game time is awesome specific games or matchups you want to see huge inventory best prices you don't have to plan things out it's logistically simple pictures of the seats before you sit down Flash Deals right so you can get sometimes better prices the closer the event comes up so you don't have to plan extensively in 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out yeah like you look at what should be the the backbone of this team right it should be the 2021 class it should be the 2022 class the 2021 class there's like six guys left from it right so you have um and seven if you count brayan all who left early but was obviously an impact player listen to some of these names from the 2021 class Nolan ruchie Brian sanborne Jake ratzloff um TJ Bowlers Deacon Hill Jack Pew Marcus Allen loyal Crawford Mike Jarvis Al Ashford Skyler Bell Antoine Roberts and IO ogdan that class was gutted with departures with players that didn't pan out with players that had off the field issues with those two running backs with player Marcus Allen another one with players that transferred with players that retired that should be the bulk of this program that that 21 class right now um which still has like a Riley M's from that class you know there there's still some pieces AR Rico is from that class but that class and that's partially why you're seeing these depth issues in area areas because that 21 class is basically not much left of it um and that 22 class you've already lost Isaac ham never showed up Adon Jones and Cory Li Tristan Monday miles brette Aiden Bon Tommy Macintosh so you look at across those two classes there's been a ton of attrition more more than than there should be right and some of that is coaching change some of that is due but some of that was just due to bad evils some of that was due to off the- field issues so yeah it's a really good point um that that's one of the reasons a a lot of these 24 kids are in place to play early it's because those preceding classes haven't panned out quite as well as they should uh ehof said surprised to hear Whit being one of our top four linebackers outside linebackers when he's healthy he is but he just doesn't stay healthy and they really like him um but it just it doesn't it has he just can't stay healthy man that sucks it it's terrible but the best ability is availability and he hasn't been able to demonstrate it and with with the lack of that you don't get the Reps you don't develop you you know he talked he talked about he said you know I'm still trying to find my my way and because of of him getting hurt again I think that's where lafel is gonna really come kind of come into the f um Badger Pat says I'm really looking forward to hearing how the defensive line is coming along in particular how is Mr Howard doing we could sure you use him if he reaches his potential yeah I didn't see a ton from Jamal Howard and I agree with you man there is a lot of potential there the high school film was pretty good the offer list showcased the pedigree um a lot of BigTime schools were after him we definitely need him like we could absolutely need a a big time another big time body in the middle to help clog things up but we haven't seen a ton and uh I would say the the book is definitely not closed on him right we're talking about a player who's still pretty young in his career Arc I it would be nice to see him start to make some noise at some point this year though Randle B says is Brooks going to get play with all the receivers this is a great question so Chris Brooks Jr I thought had a really good couple practices other people said he was flashing before and the week before as well let's look at the receivers right where would Chris Brooks play so you have their slot positions right now you have trch you have Pauling kenberry Johnson has got some R with the twos that's kind of your slot spots and then on the boundary right you have Bryson Green CJ Williams Quincy when he's healthy Vinnie Anthony and then you have Chris Brooks Somewhere in that mix um it it's a tough battle for him it really is I think there's an opportunity I was talking to Justin about this I do think there's an opportunity where in some sets he maybe plays kind of a big slot because he's not really the guy on the boundary that's going to run a deep vertical and run by somebody right so in that slot position he can kind of do a slant and in across and out you use his big body to post up you know kind of box people out so there's a potential there I I just I got to be honest Randall I do think he's going to get some reps because I just think he's been so consistent in practice and again I think he gives you something that the other guys don't give you which is just a big huge physical Target with baseball Ms for for hands like he just catches everything that hits in on the hands so I think you're gonna find a rooll for him I I don't think it's gonna be a ton I don't think he's gonna unseat anybody necessarily but I think there's GNA be certain packages where they're going to want to see what he can do out there so I'm going to say yes but it's not going to be a big role um um let's see couple other questions and thoughts here honey be says uh totally agree with you about basketball team nobody thinks he'll be good which is which is normally when guard puts his best team together I know people yell at me about basketball comments during football practice season but yeah like I'm still here for basketball and honeybee I agree I agree I I think this team could surprise people I really do listen there's a lot of shooting they've overhauled the roster I do think there were some elements of the team that got a little stagnant last year um and I do think that the loss of AJ store is a little overrated the the scoring is great like the pedigree is is definitely great he gives you size on the wing there were a lot of things he didn't do a great job of of being efficient at in Madison and I kind of wonder if the collective will be a little better this year the it also like last year the the hole was less than the some of the parts and this year I think the hole might be a little greater than the some of the parts but we'll see um this one's from TC he said just based on the limited Clips I've seen over the past couple years Chris Brooks Jr looks like the best outside Prospect we have looks like he is easily the best combination of size and speed I'm telling you like I think he's gonna play and you've seen some clips of him bearing Hunter Waller being physical as a blocker you've seen some clips of him coming down with a deep ball those that were released from the the Badgers media staff he brings some unique stuff to the room and I do think we're going to see him on the field at in moments this year Nick says biggest failure off season they didn't get a proven tight end still puzzles me why they didn't all they need is like one guy who had 200 yards or something I mean so they did go out and get Jackson mgan right they did go out and get an LSU guy now you're right Nick that's definitely not a proven guy and this might come back to bite him I'm not sure uh I Tucker ashcraft's gonna play I don't know how proven you want to call him they use him as a blocker they use him with some physical like he's a guy who can set the edge who can block a little bit who can get on a linebacker and he's a guy who's a capable pass receiver like a capable guy like he can be a bit of an outlet he can um you know run a route on a linebacker on third down and catch pass like he's he's fine there so I think it's probably a combination of Tucker Ashcraft they feel good there and then I think they they like the receivers and the running backs and some of those guys are going to fill bigger roles uh no Kowski still on the roster I know they're going to use him in spots uh Jackson akr is going to be used as a bit of an HB back which is also going to lessen the need for that tight end a little bit but yeah I think maybe if you asked them they would like they would have liked to have added more to that room I think it's a fair point uh playmaker says for all the for me all practice has brought me so far as I'm feeling more and more confident in our floors is eight and four with above average Quarterback play yeah if they get above average Quarterback play I I agree I think they're going to win eight games eight to nine games if they get above average to good quarterback play I agree with that I I think a lot of pieces and and I would say and health on the lines I think it relatively lucky with with health on the lines and get above average Quarterback play I think it's going to be a good year and I think they could surpr surpris some people so yeah I'm excited for it anyway on wiscons we're going to do uh a couple more shows this week continue tracking practice as we see it really do appreciate everybody tuning in on Wisconsin and we will talk tomorrow