Wisconsin Football 2024 Spring Practice Preview: Tight Ends

Wisconsin Badgers head football coach Luke Fickell and his staff are preparing for their second round of spring practices with the program. 

The Badgers are set to begin spring ball on March 22 and run until May 2. Several of those practices are expected to be open to the media.  

Here’s a look at Wisconsin’s tight end room, along with a player to watch, a newcomer that excites me, and the biggest question mark. 

Wisconsin Football Team’s Projected TE Depth Chart 

Dec 27, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Wisconsin Badgers fullback Riley Nowakowski (37) against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bowl at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Starter: Tucker Ashcraft OR Riley Nowakowski

Backup: Jackson McGohan 

Others: JT Seagreaves, Robert Booker, and Grant Stec 

Anything suggested in the Wisconsin football depth chart prediction at tight end is complete speculation heading into spring, considering this position group’s lack of production during the 2023 season.

Hayden Rucci — who decided to move on from the program — caught 11 passes for 125 yards last season and accounted for nearly half of the Badgers’ production at tight end. He leaves a void as an in-line blocker.

Under offensive coordinator Phil Longo, tight ends were underutilized in the passing game during his first season in Madison. With only 44 targets for the room compared to 331 targets for wide receivers, it’s evident that Longo’s offensive scheme favors more versatile and athletic tight ends.

Among the leading candidates to start is Tucker Ashcraft, who showcased promise as a true freshman with eight receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown. With his athleticism and size, Ashcraft has the potential to become a key contributor to the Wisconsin football team’s offense, but there’s plenty of work to be done as a blocker.

Senior Riley Nowakowski, who earned a scholarship after transitioning from fullback, caught seven passes for 57 yards and scored a touchdown in the Axe Game last season. He provides a versatile and assignment-sound option for the Badgers to rotate in.

LSU transfer Jackson McGohan is the unknown among the group, but his athleticism and untapped potential add plenty of intrigue. Despite playing just eight snaps as a freshman last season, McGowan’s arrival brings UW a dynamic pass-catcher to develop who could also push for time.

Additionally, the early enrollment of true freshmen Robert Booker and Grant Stec provides immediate, high-upside depth and competition. Both possess the athleticism and receiving skills desired by Longo, offering promising options for the Badgers’ tight-end group moving forward.

Badgers Player to Watch 

Jackson McGohan is the player I’m most interested in seeing/following throughout the Badgers’ spring practice.

This is a player who initially committed to play for Luke Fickell and his staff at Cincinnati before he left to take the Badgers job. I’ve heard the staff loves his upside and what he could bring to the table, and I expect that McGohan will have every chance to earn legit snaps this spring.

The 6-foot-4, 225-pound sophomore is a catch-first tight end with plus athleticism that can win 50-50 balls and could be a legit red-zone threat.

With how wide open this competition is, I wouldn’t be shocked if McGohan works his way into the TE1 role by the end of spring.

Wisconsin Football Newcomer That Excites Me

For me, this is super easy. Grant Stec is one of my favorite additions to Wisconsin football in the 2024 recruiting class, so he’s my choice.

Per the spring roster update, Stec, who is 6-foot-6, tipped the scales at an impressive 260 pounds. He has all the physical attributes needed to make an immediate impact as a run blocker in the Badgers offense. Stec can also split out wide and stretch the seam as a pass-catcher, making him one of the most well-rounded prospects on the team.

I’m not expecting anything from a true freshman — but given the youth and lack of proven options in this tight-end room — anything is possible.

Tight End Room’s Biggest Question Mark 

The Wisconsin football team’s biggest question mark at tight end is whether or not someone from this rebuilt room can step up and produce. 

The entire tight end room under position coach Nate Letton combined to catch 24 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns. Long-term that’s nowhere near good enough — but there were a lot of factors in play. 

It was a decimated group last year, and I imagine it’ll be markedly better in 2024 — it’s just tough to say how much. For that to happen, the Badgers will need a few young guys to rise to the top of the depth chart and should make for a fun competition throughout the spring and fall. 

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