Breaking down every position along Badgers' offensive line entering fall camp
Here's a full breakdown with analysis of every position along the Badgers offensive line:
At a school like Wisconsin, the offensive line is the heart and soul of the entire program. Football games are won and lost in the trenches, dating back to the Barry Alvarez era – a strategy that hasn’t been deviated from since.
Next season, things could look slightly different along the offensive line as the Badgers gear up for fall camp. After several years working with the inside linebackers, Bob Bostad has returned to his rightful place as the Badgers’ offensive line coach.
According to PFF, Wisconsin’s O-line ranked No. 3 in the country as a run-blocking unit (88.6). However, their pass-blocking ranked No. 98 (55.5) out of 130 division one programs in 2021.
Coach Bostad is a no-nonsense coach that expects perfection. The program desperately needs the offensive line play to return to the Wisconsin standard, and he’s precisely what the Badgers need to iron things out.
Wisconsin saw two significant departures this offseason in starting RT Logan Bruss and LG Josh Seltzner, both of whom are now in the NFL. Thankfully for Paul Chryst and company, they’re talent-rich along the offensive line. At the moment, Wisconsin has eight scholarship offensive linemen rated as four or five-star prospects coming out of high school.
Coach Bostad also differs in philosophy from former offensive line coach Joe Rudolph. Instead of cross-training, he likes to find a specific position for his players to specialize in where they can work to master their craft.
Here’s a full breakdown with an analysis of every position along the offensive line as Coach Chryst and Bostad work to find the best starting five for week one:
Offseason Roundup:
ADDITIONS:
Joe Brunner (four-star OT)
Barrett Nelson (three-star OT)
DEPARTURES:
Josh Seltzner (NFL)
Logan Bruss (NFL)
Blake Smithback (Graduation)
RETURNING PRODUCTION:
Tyler Beach – 827 snaps
Jack Nelson – 769 snaps.
Joe Tippmann – 687 snaps.
Tanor Bortolini – 329 snaps.
Michael Furtney – 187 snaps.
Logan Brown – 70 snaps.
Trey Wedig – 30 snaps.
Riley Mahlman – 12 snaps.
Left Tackle:
The Badgers’ quickly shifted starting right guard Jack Nelson to his more natural position out at left tackle this offseason.
The Wisconsin native started all 13 games for Wisconsin in 2021, allowing 13 pressures and two sacks in 769 total snaps en route to being named honorable mention All-Big Ten.
Nelson, a former four-star recruit, has the necessary athleticism to thrive while playing out in space and figures to be an upgrade for UW at LT.
Behind Nelson on the two-deep is another top-150 recruit Riley Mahlman, who the coaching staff is reportedly very high on.
Mahlman earned first-team reps at LT during the spring when Nelson was held out and appears to be on the fast track to becoming a starter sooner rather than later. Don’t be surprised to see the Minnesota native get a chance to push for time at right tackle during fall camp.
Left Guard:
There won’t be much competition for the starting spot at left guard come fall camp. Wisconsin shifted multi-year starting offensive tackle Tyler Beach inside to LG this spring, a position where he figures to be sharpied in as the starter.
After battling injury last fall, Beach struggled to find his footing at LT and registered a paltry 32.2 pass-blocking grade, according to PFF. However, he excelled as a run blocker last season and should now benefit from playing in close quarters where he can focus on what he does best.
Regarding depth, I expect redshirt senior Michael Furtney to be the top reserve at both guard spots if he doesn’t win a starting job. Dylan Barrett and J.P. Benzschawel also saw time at LG with the second-team offensive line.
Center:
Like LG, the starting center looks easy to predict with Joe Tippmann, an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten linemen returning after a breakout season for the Badgers.
After beating out Kaden Lyles for the starting spot in fall camp last season, Tippmann played like a seasoned vet and helped anchor the Badgers’ offensive line.
In 687 snaps at center, the Indiana native allowed four pressures and didn’t allow a single sack all season.
Per PFF, Tippmann finished last season as Wisconsin’s second-highest-graded offensive lineman (85.1). The 6-foot-6, 320-pound C also finished with the second-best run-blocking grade (85.0) and best pass-blocking grade on the team (76.7).
Behind Tippmann, the Badgers will likely have redshirt sophomore Dylan Barrett, stepping in as the second-team center following the departure of swiss-army knife Cormac Sampson, whose experience will be sorely missed.