Wisconsin Football Spring Roster Updates, Important Recruiting Miss, More

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

Wisconsin Badgers Spring Roster Changes 

Wisconsin football spring practice is just around the corner, and that means it’s time to overreact to the roster release and the updated heights and weights that come with it. 

If you didn’t already know, the only position changes of note are Jackson Acker going from fullback to running back, Riley Nowakowski going from fullback to tight end, and Cade Yacamelli switching from safety to running back.

There will also be no fullback in UW’s overhauled offense, which I find deeply offensive, but perhaps it’s for the best. 

Some notable weight changes: 

• OLB Kaden Johnson (+18) to 248
• OLB/DE? TJ Bollers (+17) to 268
• ILB Maema Njongmeta (+11) to 240 
• ILB Jordan Turner (+10) to 235
• DL Darian Varner (+13) to 278to 190
• S Travian Blaylock (+10) to 208 
• TE Jack Pugh (+16) to 252 
• TE JT Seagreaves (+10) to 234 
• WR Chris Brooks Jr (+10) to 225

Everything is speculation until the Badgers take the field, but it’s certainly interesting that the linebackers all seemingly packed on some serious weight.

One could reasonably assume that TJ Bollers might be transitioning into more of a hybrid role that moves him to defensive end. 

Wisconsin Football Misses on 4-Star Running Back 

Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin football program received some rare disappointing news on the recruiting front. 

2024 four-star running back Jordan Marshall out of Cincinnati, Ohio, who had the Badgers listed in his top four schools, committed to the Michigan Wolverines on Tuesday evening. 

“First of all, I just want to thank my mom and dad, family, friends, and the Moeller Community For supporting me,” Marshall wrote on Twitter. “With that being said…I Will be Committing to the University of Michigan. #GoBlue.”

First of all, I just want to thank my mom and dad, family, friends, and the Moeller Community For supporting me. With that being said…I Will be Committing to the University of Michigan 💙💛 #GoBlue @CoachMarkElder @MHart2032 @Coach_SMoore @coachclink pic.twitter.com/M0pmKWYpg6

— Jordan Marshall (@J_MARSH2024) March 21, 2023

As a junior, Marshall rushed for 1,951 yards and 30 touchdowns in addition to catching 19 passes for 364 yards and four more scores en route to becoming the Gatorade Player of the Year in Ohio.

Although it was unlikely Wisconsin would beat out Ohio State, Michigan, and Tennesee, it was great to see UW in the thick of a recruiting battle for one of the nation’s top talents. 

UW expects to take two running backs in the 2024 recruiting class and is still in a good position with in-state talent Corey Smith and recently scheduled a visit with Darrion Dupree for April, who is also high on their board. 

Other Wisconsin Football News

Wisconsin’s offensive scheme this fall will look entirely different, partly because of his air raid system and also because UW plans to go no-huddle under Phil Longo, which is a significant change for the Badgers. 

The goal is for Wisconsin’s offense to control the game’s tempo better by receiving their signals from the sidelines because it puts pressure on opposing defenses and puts them in uncomfortable personnel groupings where they can capitalize.

Going no-huddle puts additional pressure on the Badgers quarterback room, made up of transfer portal additions, because they’ll need to be knowledgeable of the playbook and become strong communicators to keep everyone on the same page.

“We’re used to utilizing every single one of those 40 seconds you get between plays,” Tanor Bortolini told reporters. “So for us, getting lined up at 20 (seconds on the play clock), it’s gonna be like the end of the game, two-minute drill, the whole game. I think it’ll take a little while to adjust to, but over time we’ll adapt and be just fine. And it’s exciting to kind of have that on your side compared to the past.”

I, for one, can’t wait to see how the offense comes together this spring. It’s a new era of Wisconsin football, and as Michael Jordan would say, the ceiling is the roof. 

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