Wisconsin Football Snap Counts & PFF Grades vs. Buffalo

Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin Badgers football team started the year off 1-0 after taking down the visiting Buffalo Bulls 38-17 at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

In this post-game recap, we will delve into the performance of the Wisconsin Badgers by analyzing snap counts and Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades for each position group.

By examining these metrics, we can better understand how each unit contributed to the team’s overall performance, who did what things well, and who was a key contributor to the Wisconsin football program.

Let’s dive in.

Wisconsin Badgers Football Offensive Snap Counts & PFF Grades

Sep 2, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Braelon Allen (0) rushes with the football during the first quarter against the Buffalo Bulls at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Quarterbacks:

Tanner Mordecai – Snap Count: [72] – PFF Grade: [61.9]

Running Backs:

Braelon Allen – Snap Count: [46] – PFF Grade: [76.1]

Chez Mellusi – Snap Count: [20] – PFF Grade: [81.8]

Jackson Acker – Snap Count: [6] – PFF Grade: [65.7]

Wide Receivers:

Chimere Dike – Snap Count: [60] – PFF Grade: [52.1]

Bryson Green – Snap Count: [46] – PFF Grade: [59.4]

Will Pauling – Snap Count: [40] – PFF Grade: [77.3]

C.J. Williams – Snap Count: [26] – PFF Grade: [45.2]

Skyler Bell – Snap Count: [21] – PFF Grade: [50.2]

Keontez Lewis – Snap Count: [6] – PFF Grade: [75.4]

Quincy Burroughs – Snap Count: [6] – PFF Grade: [56.8]

Tight Ends:

Hayden Rucci – Snap Count: [45] – PFF Grade: [51.9]

Tucker Ashcraft – Snap Count: [33] – PFF Grade: [65.3]

Offensive Line:

Jack Nelson – Snap Count: [72] – PFF Grade: [64.0]

Joe Huber – Snap Count: [64] – PFF Grade: [68.8]

Tanor Bortolini – Snap Count: [72] – PFF Grade: [60.9]

Michael Furtney – Snap Count: [55] – PFF Grade: [65.7]

Riley Mahlman – Snap Count: [72] – PFF Grade: [63.9]

Trey Wedig – Snap Count: [25] – PFF Grade: [58.6]

Offensive Analysis:

The Wisconsin Badgers football offense looked disjointed for much of the afternoon. However, the Badgers 1, 2 punch of Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi at tailback put on a show when they were able to get in rhythm. 

I was disappointed with the offensive line because I thought this was a chance for Wisconsin to come out and push around an inferior opponent, but that wasn’t the case. Overall, UW performed well in pass protection, allowing just one sack, which was credited to Riley Mahlman. It was the lack of push as a run-blocking unit that left me wanting more. 

Wisconsin ran a vanilla version of its offense in week one, but the wide receivers didn’t do anything that jumped off the page. For Tanner Mordecai‘s sake, Badgers fans would have left feeling good about the passing game if Skyler Bell caught that 60-yard walk-in touchdown.  

One last thing worth noting: true freshman Tucker Ashcraft looked pretty damn good for someone making his collegiate debut for the Wisconsin Badgers football team. Intriguing player to watch in the coming weeks. 

Wisconsin Badgers Football Defensive Snap Counts & PFF Grades

Sep 2, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Buffalo Bulls running back Jacqez Barksdale (20) is tackled during the fourth quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive Line:

Rodas Johnson – Snap Count: [40] – PFF Grade: [61.6]

James Thomspon – Snap Count: [34] – PFF Grade: [61.3]

Gio Paez – Snap Count: [38] – PFF Grade: [74.0]

Cade McDonald – Snap Count: [5] – PFF Grade: [58.9]

Ben Barten – Snap Count: [23] – PFF Grade: [69.5]

Curt Neal – Snap Count: [8] – PFF Grade: [60.7]

Inside Linebackers:

Maema Njongmeta – Snap Count: [56] – PFF Grade: [55.3]

Jordan Turner – Snap Count: [43] – PFF Grade: [65.6]

Jake Chaney – Snap Count: [43] – PFF Grade: [57.5]

Outside Linebackers:

C.J. Goetz – Snap Count: [50] – PFF Grade: [68.7]

Darryl Peterson – Snap Count: [40] – PFF Grade: [84.5]

Jeff Pietrowski – Snap Count: [27] – PFF Grade: [60.2]

Kaden Johnson – Snap Count: [7] – PFF Grade: [71.0]

Cornerbacks:

Alexander Smith – Snap Count: [38] – PFF Grade: [72.5]

Ricardo Hallman – Snap Count: [71] – PFF Grade: [70.7]

Jason Maitre – Snap Count: [65] – PFF Grade: [60.4]

Nyzier Fourqurean – Snap Count: [33] – PFF Grade: [67.8]

Safeties:

Hunter Wohler – Snap Count: [71] – PFF Grade: [56.4]

Kamo’i Latu – Snap Count: [59] – PFF Grade: [43.7]

Travian Blaylock – Snap Count: [29] – PFF Grade: [63.8]

Preston Zachman – Snap Count: [1] – PFF Grade: [60.4]

Defensive Analysis:

There’s no way to mince words about this; the Wisconsin Badgers football team didn’t put on the defensive clinic most people expected in week one. 

It was a terrible week for Kamo’i Latu, who was credited with five missed tackles while giving up four catches on four targets. It was definitely a day to forget for the Hawaii native. 

I was also shocked to see how enamored PFF was with Darryl Peterson‘s outing. He received borderline elite markings and was credited with a team-high four pressures on the afternoon. I thought he did some nice things late in the game, but otherwise, I didn’t view his outing as one to write home about. 

Buffalo did an excellent job getting the ball out of the quarterback’s hands quickly, which gave the Badgers defense some fits. The inside linebacker trio of Njongmeta, Turner, and Chaney combined for seven pressures, according to PFF, which should come as no surprise. 

Lastly, I wanted to recognize Gio Paez, Ben Barten, and Jeff Pietrowski, who did some nice things for the Wisconsin Badgers football team on Saturday — they could be solid role players as the year wears on. 

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