Wisconsin Football Offensive Lineman Returning for Fifth Season

The Wisconsin football program will have one of its offensive line stalwarts returning for a fifth season. 

According to a report by Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Badgers OT Jack Nelson will be back with the team next year. 

#Badgers OT Jack Nelson on his future: He is coming back in 2024.

— Jeff Potrykus (@jaypo1961) December 27, 2023

Wisconsin Football OL Jack Nelson Returning in 2024

Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman Jack Nelson (79) during Wisconsin Badgers football media day at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. – Mike De Sisti / The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Before the start of the 2023 season, Nelson was seen as one of UW’s biggest NFL Draft prospects, but some issues with penalties plagued the redshirt junior. Though he had his struggles, Nelson played in all 12 games last season.

Nelson joined the Badgers as part of the 2020 recruiting class. The Stoughton native was ranked as a four-star prospect, the No. 104 player in the nation, the No. 10 offensive tackle, and the No. 2 player in Wisconsin, according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite. He also received an invitation to the All-American Bowl and took home the Joe Thomas Award for the state of Wisconsin’s top senior offensive lineman.

Nelson would redshirt after appearing in one game during the 2020 season, but he saw a big uptick in playing time after that. The 6-foot-7, 311-pound lineman started all 13 games at right guard in 2021 before moving to left tackle in 2022, making 12 starts. Nelson was named an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention in both seasons.

The Badgers have lost Tanor Bortolini to the NFL Draft, as well as Trey Wedig and Dylan Barrett to the transfer portal. Though Nelson had his struggles last season, having some continuity at offensive line could be a good thing for the Wisconsin football program. 

Wisconsin is set to take on the LSU Tigers on New Year’s Day in the ReliaQuest Bowl to close out the first season under Luke Fickell and the new regime.

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