2024 Wisconsin Season Thread

[FearlessF]

so, a transfer?

[847badgerfan]

HS

[847badgerfan]

This is the start of a new trend in Madison. Beating blue bloods has never really been much of a thing.

Hardy Watts, Dexter School, Offensive Line (247sports.com)

Physical four-star OL Hardy Watts commits to Wisconsin (247sports.com)

[847badgerfan]

I'm pretty bullish on this year's team, but that is not an easy schedule. 

It's good they catch Bama early, in Madison. I don't know what to expect out of them, but Kalen Deboer is a really good coach. He's proven that, and now has even better talent than he did in Seattle. How does it translate? How important was Penix to his offense?

[bayareabadger]

There is so much new skill talent that I’m just kind of playing wait-and-see with them. Push to shove, the line has to be better unless the QB plays conceptional, which I don’t think will happen.

I’m still interested in this defense and if they can clean up enough small things to put themselves in
Good position.

[847badgerfan]

It sounds like the staff is much more cohesive this year than it was last season. Namely the OL coach. If he can coach like he recruits, the OL will be a strength.

The defense has a chance to be elite. The DB room has more talent than it has in a long time. LB's are really solid and fast. DL is a question mark, but will they ever play more than two at a time?

[bayareabadger]

It sounds like the staff is much more cohesive this year than it was last season. Namely the OL coach. If he can coach like he recruits, the OL will be a strength.

The defense has a chance to be elite. The DB room has more talent than it has in a long time. LB's are really solid and fast. DL is a question mark, but will they ever play more than two at a time?

I need to double check, but I’m interested how they replace the Turner kid. He’s kinda a plugger and at least one insider said the staff was not too bothered. He seemed a bit of a plugger, but you can use those guys at times. 

[847badgerfan]

Turner was useful but I gleaned that he was told to look at opportunities. He found it at MSU. Maybe just not a fit in Madison anymore.

[847badgerfan]

Looking at the running backs, man that is crowded room. They took 3 in the 2024 class alone.

1. Chez Melusi - if he can stay healthy
2. Tawee Walker - transfer from OU
3. Jackson Acker/Cade Yacamelli/Nate White

Plus the three newbies.

[bayareabadger]

Looking at the running backs, man that is crowded room. They took 3 in the 2024 class alone.

1. Chez Melusi - if he can stay healthy
2. Tawee Walker - transfer from OU
3. Jackson Acker/Cade Yacamelli/Nate White

Plus the three newbies.

Melusi/Walker/Acker is enough to be a solid base and bulwark vs injury. 

If anyone wants to step up and take roles/jobs, that’s fine too. The only question is workload. This offense often splits carries/doesn’t have enough for the workload we’re used to with UW teams. 

[847badgerfan]

Melusi and Walker are seniors. I don't know if Walker has an extra year or now, but Melusi will be gone.

I suspect we'll see others leave too, with the new stud recruits in the fold. Acker could play H back too. 

[bayareabadger]

Melusi and Walker are seniors. I don't know if Walker has an extra year or now, but Melusi will be gone.

I suspect we'll see others leave too, with the new stud recruits in the fold. Acker could play H back too.

Walker doesn’t. 

But I think this is the last year for the vast majority of extra year guys. Anyone who was a true freshman in 2020 and didn’t do a later-in-career redshirt is gone after this coming year. 

[Hawkinole]

Wisc. has a challenging schedule. This isn't the hump year.

[847badgerfan]

I think this is a good move.

Wisconsin football names Casey Rabach assistant O-line coach (badgerextra.com)