After adding Luke Fickell from Cincinnati, the Wisconsin Badgers aim to take college football by storm in 2023. This new era of Wisconsin football could also give the program a needed facelift in the 2024 NFL Draft cycle.
Wisconsin Badgers Roster and Depth Chart Changes
The most notable losses for the Badgers came through the 2023 NFL Draft. The team’s two best players in the trenches — Joe Tippmann and Keeanu Benton — both went in the second round to the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers, respectively. Additionally, productive OLB Nick Herbig went in Round 4 to the Steelers.
That’s a lot of foundational talent for Wisconsin to replace. At center, they added Jake Renfro from Cincinnati, but the defensive line is more uncertain. Luckily, the Badgers retained most of their players at linebacker and in the secondary, and brought in a few transfer defensive linemen like Darian Varner and Jeff Pietrowski Jr.
The offensive line should look fairly similar outside of Tippmann’s departure, with Jack Nelson, Tanor Bortolini, Michael Furtney, and Trey Wedig all returning after starting games in 2022.
The biggest cosmetic difference on offense will be the absence of QB Graham Mertz, who transferred to Florida after a middling 2022 showing. In his stead, however, the Badgers were able to add a much more productive and efficient passer in Tanner Mordecai.
Wisconsin Badgers NFL Draft Prospects
Tanner Mordecai, QB
The Badgers scored a major upgrade at QB via the transfer portal in Mordecai. For the past two seasons, Mordecai was at SMU, where he completed 596 of 897 attempts for 7,152 yards, 72 touchdowns, and just 22 interceptions.
He’s a gunslinger who’s not afraid to pull the trigger on high-volume shots, but Mordecai’s also a stable pocket operator who can go through progressions and roll out when he needs to. His arm is average at best, but he’ll produce.
Braelon Allen, RB
Braelon Allen has had hype since 2021, and not just because he was Jonathan Taylor’s successor. Since taking the RB1 mantle at Wisconsin, Allen has churned along for 416 carries, 2,510 yards, and 23 touchdowns in two seasons.
The 6’2″, 240-pound Allen doesn’t have the creative ability or short-area flexibility that other backs have, but he’s just so hard to take down once he’s at the second level because of his size and physicality.
Chez Mellusi, RB
Allen is the most well-known name in Wisconsin’s RB room, but don’t be surprised if Chez Mellusi also finds a place at the NFL level. The 5’11”, 208-pound Mellusi doesn’t have the sheer size and mass that Allen has, but he does employ more finesse and flexibility in his running style. He’ll use curvilinear acceleration to hit holes efficiently and can also roll his hips to navigate through the trenches to reach the second level.
Skyler Bell, WR
With Mordecai taking the starting QB role, one can expect a noticeable uptick in passing production for Wisconsin’s offense, and the receivers are sure to benefit.
Skyler Bell might be first in line for a breakout. The 6’0″, 195-pound WR was a summer phenom for the Badgers in 2022 and put up 444 yards and five scores. His athleticism is a strength, and he can glide through zones, but Bell’s high-level catching instincts set him apart.
Chimere Dike, WR
Seeing what Chimere Dike had to deal with while Mertz was at the helm in 2022, it’s impressive that he was able to come away with 47 catches for 689 yards and six touchdowns. The 6’1″, 198-pound veteran can play from the slot or the boundary and has the explosiveness to stack defensive backs, as well as the smooth ball-tracking ability and coordination to capitalize. Mordecai could usher in another career year for Dike.
Bryson Green, WR
Fickell perhaps knows that opportunity is afoot with Mordecai at QB because he didn’t hesitate to give him another weapon from the transfer portal in former Oklahoma State WR Bryson Green.
The 6’0″, 205-pound Green profiles as more of a RAC threat in tandem with Bell and Dike, but he proved his value in 2022 with 36 catches for 584 yards and five scores. Green is a broken-tackle machine who also doubles as an acrobat in the air.
Keontez Lewis, WR
Keontez Lewis spent a year at UCLA before transferring to Wisconsin in 2022. Immediately upon arriving with the Badgers, Lewis was able to work into a rotational role, compiling 20 receptions for 313 yards and three touchdowns.
The 6’2″, 197-pound pass catcher has a lean, long-striding style that’s unique among Wisconsin’s weapons, but Lewis can also cut his stems with rapid efficiency. Keep an eye on him as an ascending player in 2023.
Clay Cundiff, TE
Clay Cundiff might have been on track for a breakout season in 2022 had it not been for a season-ending leg injury suffered after four games. In that span, the 6’3″, 240-pound Cundiff put up nine catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns.
Cundiff has battled injuries, so the hope is that he’ll stay healthy in 2023. If he does, he can put his efficient route-running style, targeted physicality, and his ball-tracking ability up the seam on display.
Jack Eschenbach, TE
Provided that Cundiff enters the year with a good bill of health, he’ll likely be the primary Te weapon for Wisconsin. Nevertheless, Jack Eschenbach is also worth mentioning after a respectable 2022 campaign that saw him log 14 catches for 120 yards.
Eschenbach is a different mold of TE than his teammate. At 6’6″, 240 pounds, he’s noticeably leaner, but his height can be an asset in tight receiving situations.
Jack Nelson, OT
In Jack Nelson, the Badgers could have their first early-round OT prospect since Ryan Ramczyk in 2017. The 6’7″, 305-pound Nelson has an NFL frame with great length and brings a visible explosive element to the fold off the snap. He gets to the second level with ease as a run blocker and has the foot speed and smooth weight transfers to match rushers around the apex. Hand placement and block sustainment must improve, but Nelson has talent.
Trey Wedig, OT
First, Trey Wedig has to fend off Riley Mahlman for the starting RT job entering the season. If he does, we can talk about him potentially entering the massive 2024 NFL Draft pool.
At 6’7″, 322 pounds, Wedig has the measurements on his side. But at that size, he doesn’t have great proportional length, and his upper body is noticeably lighter, which can lead to lapses in anchor strength. If Wedig can get stronger and play with better leverage, that’s key.
Tanor Bortolini, G
Joe Tippmann was the prospect to watch on Wisconsin’s interior offensive line in 2022. This cycle, it’s guard Tanor Bortolini.
At 6’4″, 310 pounds, Bortolini has a dense, well-proportioned, and malleable frame with good length. He’s an extremely explosive athlete who instantly climbs to the second level but needs to improve his hand precision and foot consistency. Nevertheless, Bortolini is a physical finisher who piledrives ill-fated opponents.
Michael Furtney, G
The 2022 campaign broke new ground for Michael Furtney, who started nine games at right guard for the Badgers. Furtney has good size at 6’5″ and 314 pounds, and when he’s able to apply his tools effectively, he’s shown to anchor as well.
Furtney is very top-heavy as a player, however, and that movement style can draw in issues with leverage. He also struggles to bring his feet through contact at times, but he’ll have his chance to grow in 2023.
Jake Renfro, C
Jake Renfro followed Fickell to Wisconsin, where he’ll presumably take the starting center role in light of Tippmann’s departure. The 6’4″, 316-pound Renfro missed the 2022 season due to a knee injury suffered in the offseason. Before the injury, he was a good mover in space, so it’ll be interesting to see if he’s kept that movement freedom. Regardless, Renfro has the experience to anchor the Badgers’ front.
James Thompson Jr., DT
Leading Wisconsin’s interior DL rotation this season will likely be James Thompson Jr. In 2022, the 6’5″, 290-pound Thompson put up two sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss. And with Benton gone, he could be in line for more production in 2023.
Thompson isn’t as explosive or dynamic as Benton, and he’s not a very flexible player, either. But he can at least pry through blocks and work across-face with his length and strong base.
Isaiah Mullens, DT
Isaiah Mullens, like others on this list, has been more of a rotational defender for the past two seasons, with 10 starts over that span. He’s been a marginal producer as well, with two sacks and 2.5 TFLs in 2021 and an additional 1.5 TFLs in 2022. Still, at 6’4″, 295 pounds, Mullens does have an intriguing physical makeup, with the natural leverage and proportional length necessary to give blockers trouble in the trenches.
Rodas Johnson, DT
At 6’2″, 299 pounds, Rodas Johnson better resembles a block of rock than a human being on the football field. He’s built extremely dense and compact, and with his frame, can easily absorb power exertions and maintain positioning.
Johnson’s not a great athlete, but he has enough lateral mobility to stunt across-face against the pass. For his size, Johnson has intriguing alignment flexibility — which could help his aspirations as a rotational defender.
Darian Varner, DL
Losing Benton hurt Wisconsin, and while they won’t be able to find a 1-to-1 replacement, they added back to their line by acquiring Temple transfer Darian Varner.
Varner was quietly productive for the Owls in 2022, putting up 7.5 sacks and 12.5 TFLs. He comes to Wisconsin with the ability to play the edge or inside the tackle. Listed at 6’3″, 278 pounds, it’s safe to expect he’ll be doing both for the Badgers.
C.J. Goetz, EDGE
Herbig’s loss creates another big void for Wisconsin’s defense — one that senior C.J. Goetz will be called upon to help fill. At 6’3″, 235 pounds, Goetz has better size and length than Herbig, and he’s a nimble athlete whose mobility and range can be an asset in pursuit and contain roles. As evidenced by his 62 tackles and eight TFLs, Goetz is a very good pursuit defender, but he’s still improving his upper-lower synergy as a pass-rushing threat.
Jeff Pietrowski Jr., EDGE
To improve the depth of their EDGE rotation, the Badgers also added former Michigan State defender Jeff Pietrowski Jr. through the transfer portal. The 6’2″, 244-pound Pietrowski fits the scheme’s needs as a rush linebacker, and he’s proven his mettle as a pass-rushing threat before.
In 2021, he accrued 5.5 sacks and seven TFLs for the Spartans. Pietrowski lacks elite physical tools, but his constant motor will ensure he stays in plays.
Maema Njongmeta, LB
Wisconsin has more than one notable LB prospect in 2023, but Maema Njongmeta is the top player at the position. At 6’0″, 240 pounds, he’s a stout and superdense linebacker. Njongmeta is rocked-up, incredibly physical in contact situations, and a strong tackler. He’s not quite an elite athlete but has enough explosiveness and lateral twitch to get by. Additionally, Njongmeta’s combination of burst, tenacity, and power grants him value as a pass-rushing threat.
Jordan Turner, LB
Alongside Njongmeta, Jordan Turner is also a player worth keeping an eye on. The 6’1″, 235-pound LB put up 65 tackles, five TFLs, and two sacks in 2022.
Some of Turner’s best moments come in run defense. He’s shown he can track run plays laterally and flow to the ball, but Turner also redirects inside when needed. He has good exterior gap discipline and can surge inside to wrangle runners in pursuit. A stout tackler and an explosive blitzer, Turner has appeal.
Jake Chaney, LB
Njongmeta and Turner are in line to get most of the linebacker reps, but even beyond them, Wisconsin has more depth to make note of. Tatum Grass is a young player who showed promise in spurts, and Jake Chaney also brings utility to the table.
By NFL standards, Chaney is a bit undersized at 5’11”, 233 pounds. However, he’s ultimately a high-energy defender who’s shown he can flow into the backfield and make plays behind the line.
Ricardo Hallman, CB
Ricardo Hallman is only a redshirt sophomore, so a declaration might not be on the horizon just yet. Nevertheless, the 5’10”, 180-pound defender is worth putting in the memory vault.
Earning more defensive reps in 2022, Hallman was able to snag a pick and three deflections. Athletically, his incredibly snappy, fluid lower half allows for instant corrective maneuvers against all kinds of routes, plus he’s shown to handle route exchanges and process concepts quickly.
Alexander Smith, CB
Now a sixth-year senior, Alexander Smith will provide stability to Wisconsin’s secondary — in a season where change is on the forefront. At 5’11”, 190 pounds, Smith is around average stature, and 2022 was the first season where he logged consistent starting snaps. Across five seasons at Wisconsin, Smith has just a pick and five deflections, but his experience is unique to him, which could help him reach new heights in 2023.
Jason Maitre, DB
Like Smith, Jason Maitre is also a sixth-year senior. However, he spent his previous five years at Boston College and was much more productive. Over that span, Maitre served as a starter at both cornerback and safety, showcasing his all-around utility and positional flexibility.
To date, Maitre has 133 tackles, nine TFLs, four sacks, three picks, and 19 pass breakups on his stat sheet. He’ll be a valuable “wild card” piece for a Badgers secondary that could use his versatility.
Kamo’i Latu, S
Kamo’i Latu put up 55 tackles, three TFLs, two sacks, two picks, and three deflections in 2022. With Fickell on the way, he’s a well-rounded safety prospect who could be due for even greater production.
In run support, Latu can process run directions quickly from depth. He’s willing to square up runners, but he’s also an explosive, fluid athlete who can match routes in zone coverage and sink on transitions.
Wisconsin Badgers Schedule
- Week 1
BYE - Week 2
Sept. 2: vs. Buffalo Bulls - Week 3
Sept. 9: at Washington State Cougars - Week 4
Sept. 16: vs. Georgia Southern Eagles - Week 5
Sept. 22: at Purdue Boilermakers - Week 6
BYE - Week 7
Oct. 7: vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights - Week 8
Oct. 14: vs. Iowa Hawkeyes - Week 9
Oct. 21: at Illinois Fighting Illini - Week 10
Oct. 28: vs. Ohio State Buckeyes - Week 11
Nov. 4: at Indiana Hoosiers - Week 12
Nov. 11: vs. Northwestern Wildcats - Week 13
Nov. 18: vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers - Week 14
Nov. 25: at Minnesota Golden Gophers - Week 15
BYE
