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Wisconsin Football Spring Practice MVPs: Offense

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3 weeks ago

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Tanner Mordecai, Starting Quarterback for Wisconsin Football

Madison, Wis. – Spring practice is officially in the rearview mirror, and the new era of Wisconsin football is well underway.

It was a loaded spring for the Badgers as the new regime implemented schemes for the players to learn. The biggest change came on the offensive side, as offensive coordinator Phil Longo brought the air raid offense to Madison.

UW’s offense generated the most buzz throughout spring ball and for a good reason. Plenty of new additions made their mark, while some younger players saw a jump up the depth chart.

Here’s a look at my offensive MVPs by position group following spring practice.

Quarterbacks MVP: Tanner Mordecai

Yes, Mordecai’s play in the open scrimmage was disappointing, but you can’t discount all he did in spring based on that performance.

After every practice, all we heard was how impressive Mordecai looked. From his arm talent to his decision-making, the SMU transfer did everything to cement himself as Wisconsin’s QB1.

Mordecai will have a wealth of talent in the receiving corps this season. With a staggering amount of receiving options, the fifth-year senior can break out in his last year at the collegiate level.

Running Backs MVP: Braelon Allen

To nobody’s surprise, Allen was the MVP among the running back group. 

The junior tailback will be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the air raid offense, as he’ll finally be able to run into a less packed box. At “The Launch,” Allen unofficially received 15 carries for 71 yards and a touchdown. It was a small glimpse at what he has in store, but Allen is poised for a breakout year.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Allen left for the NFL Draft after this season.

Wide receiver MVP(s): Will Pauling & CJ Williams

I racked my brain on this pick but couldn’t choose just one of these guys. 

Pauling, a former Cincinnati receiver, climbed up to the first-team offense in spring ball. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound receiver impressed with his quick burst off of the line and his route-running ability out of the slot. He’ll be a mainstay in the receiving corps in 2023.

Williams also climbed his way up to the first-team offense. The former four-star prospect could be a breakout candidate after an impressive spring.

The two transfer receivers made considerable impacts in the spring, and both deserve to be named the receiver MVPs.

Tight end MVP: Jack Pugh

The tight ends were a complex group to choose from, as Jake Eschenbach, Jack Pugh, Hayden Rucci, and Riley Nowakowski got involved in some capacity. However, I’m going to give a slight edge to Pugh.

With Clay Cundiff still rehabbing from injury, Pugh took a step up and intermittently filled in on the first-team offense. The redshirt sophomore showcased his ability as a vertical threat and blocker throughout spring, and he could get involved in the air raid.

Pugh has dealt with some injuries in his first two seasons. He’ll surely be involved in the new offense if he stays healthy.

Offensive line MVP: Jack Nelson

The offensive line was another difficult position to choose from, but I’ll go with the seasoned vet on this one.

Nelson has been an anchor on UW’s offensive line for the past two seasons. Making 25 career starts, Nelson has received praise for his technique and athleticism.

The junior tackle could be another candidate to declare for the NFL Draft after the 2023 season.

Contact/Follow us @Badger_Notes on Twitter, Subscribe to the BadgerNotes Newsletter here, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin football news, notes, opinion, and analysis. You can also follow Jake Maier on Twitter. @JakeJMaier.

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FootBall

This Wisconsin Football Player Could Break School Records in 2023

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1 hour ago

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May 28, 2023

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Wisconsin football stadium: Camp Randall
Sep 10, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers mascot Bucky Badger prior to the game against the Washington State Cougars at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Expectations for the Wisconsin football program are sky-high entering the 2023 season. Part of that is Luke Fickell taking over as head coach, and another part is Phil Longo joining his staff and implementing his air raid offensive attack, bringing the Badgers into the 21st century.

And while that’s all well and good, Wisconsin needed someone capable of elevating the quarterback room to take the next step offensively. So the coaching staff went portaling this offseason and came out with a proven option to lead the charge.

That player is Tanner Mordecai, who is a quarterback to watch out for in the upcoming college football season. The former SMU quarterback transferred to the Wisconsin football program and is expected to make a significant impact in Phil Longo’s air raid passing attack.

In two seasons starting at SMU, Mordecai threw for 7,152 yards, 72 touchdowns, 22 interceptions, and had a 66.4% completion percentage. Mordecai’s arm talent and experience, coupled with the new offensive system, could lead him to break several passing records in his lone season in Madison.

Tanner Mordecai Could Re-Write the Badgers History Books 

Mordecai was a highly recruited quarterback out of high school, and he chose to attend the University of Oklahoma. He redshirted his freshman year and then served as a backup quarterback for two seasons behind Heisman Trophy winners Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray. He later transferred to SMU, where he went crazy and put himself on the NFL’s radar.

Mordecai’s transfer to Wisconsin has generated a lot of excitement among Badgers fans. The team has long been known for its strong running game, but with Mordecai at the helm, they could have a potent passing attack as well.

Phil Longo, the Badgers new offensive coordinator, is known for his air raid offense, which relies heavily on the passing game. This could be a perfect fit for Mordecai, who has shown that he can make accurate throws and read defenses well.

If the 6-foot-3, 214-pound signal-caller can replicate his performances from the past two seasons or even come close; he has a chance to break several long-standing passing records at Wisconsin.

The school’s single-season passing record is 3,175 yards, set by Russell Wilson in 2011 (the only Wisconsin football quarterback to eclipse 3k). Under coach Longo, his starting QBs have a five-year average of 3,704 passing yards per season. Also, consider that Mordecai threw for over 3,500 yards in the past two seasons.

Mordecai’s impressive arm strength, plentiful opportunities, and accuracy could help him surpass that mark. Of course, there will be challenges for the Texas native as he adjusts to a new offense and a new team.

Wisconsin Football is in Good Hands 

The Big Ten is known for its physical, hard-hitting defenses, and Mordecai will likely face some tough tests on the field. However, he has shown the talent and the drive to succeed at the highest level of college football.

Overall, Tanner Mordecai is a quarterback to watch in the upcoming season. His transfer to the Wisconsin football program has generated a lot of excitement, and if he can replicate his performances from the past two seasons, he could break the single-season passing record.

With Phil Longo’s air raid offense and Mordecai’s impressive arm talent, the Badgers could have one of the most potent passing attacks in the Big Ten if everything breaks right. 

Why Wisconsin Football is the Most Underrated Program in the Country

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Wisconsin Football Attempting to Flip ACC Commit, Recruiting Updates, More

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1 day ago

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May 27, 2023

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Wisconsin badgers football
Nov 26, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; A Wisconsin Badgers cheerleader carries the Wisconsin flag following a score during the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

It’s been a busy couple of days for the Wisconsin football program, especially on the recruiting front, but fear not because BadgerNotes can help get you back up to speed with a roundup of some important Badgers news you may have missed.

Wisconsin Badgers Trying to Flip a Defensive Line Commit 

Defensive line coach Greg Scruggs and the Wisconsin football program recently offered 2024 Pittsburgh commit Francis Brewu out of Columbus, Ohio, who committed to the Panthers in March.

According to the industry-generated composite rankings, he’s the No. 88 DL in the country and the No. 39 player in Ohio.

Brewu, a 6-foot-2, 270-pound three-star defensive lineman, registered 25 tackles and 12.5 sacks for Thomas Worthington High School as a junior.

It’s unknown whether or not Wisconsin has a real chance to flip the ACC commit, but from what I’m hearing, the Badgers coaching staff is trying to get him on campus for an official visit in June.

Wisconsin Football Makes the Cut for 2024 Offensive Tackle 

Wisconsin football currently holds just one offensive line commit in the 2024 recruiting cycle: four-star OT Derek Jensen, who pledged to the Badgers in April. However, they still need several more bodies at the position and made the cut for one of their top remaining targets.

Three-star offensive tackle Ronan O’Connell announced his top three schools: Clemson, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.

According to the 247Sports composite rankings, O’Connell is the No. 39 OT in the 2024 recruiting class and the No. 13 player in Tennessee.

The 6-foot-4, 270-pound Tennessee native probably projects best at guard in college and has an official visit on the books to visit Madison on June 9.

Other Wisconsin Football News

After Wisconsin football coaches flew out to Maryland to watch 2024 cornerback Lloyd Irvin workout in person, the coaching staff extended him a scholarship offer, and he wasted no time repaying the favor, scheduling an official visit to Madison shortly after that.

Irvin, a 6-foot-3 unranked cornerback prospect who holds offers from Michigan, Maryland, Boston College, Michigan State, West Virginia, and several others, will be on campus for an official visit the weekend of June 9-11.

“They’re a big contender,” Irvin said. “This coaching staff at Wisconsin has experience getting long cornerbacks into the league and helping them develop.”

Although he’s not currently ranked in the industry-generated recruiting rankings, some major schools are involved or circling, so this could be a sneaky talent worth locking down to develop.

It would be an understatement to say that the Badgers’ defensive coaching staff has a type with their defensive backs. If you don’t have plus size and length, you can forget about getting an offer from Wisconsin at this point.

Contact/Follow us @Badger_Notes on Twitter, Subscribe to the BadgerNotes Newsletter here, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, opinion, and analysis. You can also follow Dillon Graff on Twitter @DillonGraff.

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FootBall

Where Former Wisconsin Football Transfers Landed This Offseason

Published

2 days ago

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May 26, 2023

By

Wisconsin Football RB Julius Davis
Sep 17, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Julius Davis (32) rushes with the football during the fourth quarter against the New Mexico State Aggies at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
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The transfer portal has become an increasingly popular route for college players to find new opportunities and see if the grass is, in fact, greener on the other side. And just like every other school, Wisconsin football lost its fair share of players during the coaching transition from Paul Chryst to Luke Fickell.

Several former Badgers have entered the portal this off-season in search of a better system fit, more playing time, or potential NIL opportunities on the open market.

After recently taking a look at where former Wisconsin coaches found new homes, I figured it might be worthwhile to see where the Badgers who entered the transfer portal will play in 2023, starting with the defense.

Cornerback, Avyonne Jones –> Coastal Carolina 

Former Wisconsin Football Cornerback, Al Ashford –> Utah State

Former Wisconsin Football Safety, Titus Toler –> Boise State

Linebacker, Spencer Lytle –> Stanford

Defensive End, Tristan Monday –> Arizona State

Cornerback, Semar Melvin –> Michigan State

And now, a look at where the former Wisconsin football offensive players found homes in the transfer portal…

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