Wisconsin Football: Top Offensive Position Battles to Watch in Fall Camp

The off-season doldrums are in full swing, but the Wisconsin Badgers football program is drawing closer to fall camp. 

UW had an off-season full of changes on the offense. From transfer additions at wide receiver and quarterback to some newcomers on the offensive line, UW has several position groups that should be closely monitored as we gear up for the 2023 season.

Here’s a look at the position battles to watch in the upcoming fall training camp.

Wisconsin Football Positions to Watch: Wide Receiver

Although the Wisconsin football program has multiple returning receivers, the transfers will be the most intriguing grouping in fall camp. Players like Bryson Green, CJ Williams, Will Pauling, and Quincy Burroughs make up UW’s newcomers, and several of those transfers can make some immediate impacts this season.

Will Pauling, who saw a fast rise up the depth chart in spring ball, is one of the most intriguing additions through the portal. The speedy Cincinnati transfer logged just 12 catches for 122 yards last season but showed flashes of potential in his game. If he can build off his spring performance, I expect the redshirt sophomore to solidify his spot as the starting slot receiver and be a big-time target for Tanner Mordecai.

CJ Williams will also be a Badgers player to watch in the fall camp. The USC transfer appeared in 11 games last season but only registered 34 receiving yards. Williams had a standout spring performance that got him in the mix at the top of the depth chart, and it will be interesting to watch if he can crack the starting unit or be one of the first options in the two-deep.

Finally, Bryson Green should receive some significant attention. The Oklahoma State transfer was held out of spring ball due to injury but could secure a starting spot in the fall. Green logged 584 yards and five touchdowns last season at Oklahoma State, and if he can get back to pre-injury form, he could be the newcomer who makes the biggest impact.

Wisconsin Football Positions to Watch: Running Backs

Of course, the top two spots in the running back depth chart are solidified. However, watching who earns the RB3 spot between Jackson Acker and Cade Yacamelli will be something to watch closely. 

Yacamelli, who transitioned from safety to running back, had a solid spring performance that got him into the conversation for the third spot on the depth chart. Of course, after a season of playing on the defensive end of the ball, Yacamelli is more unproven as a tailback than other options. However, if he can build off his play in spring ball, he could earn himself a spot at RB3.

Acker, who seems likelier to take the spot, is also rather unproven but has seen some snaps sparingly thus far for the Badgers. The redshirt sophomore has appeared in 14 games during his first two seasons, with most of his reps coming at fullback (may that position rest in peace in the new air raid scheme). Acker is more tenured than any of the other options behind him, so he seems like a shoo-in for the role, but crazier things have happened.

Nate White and Grover Bortolotti will also be in the mix, but Acker and Yacamelli will be a battle to watch in the Wisconsin football program’s fall camp.

Wisconsin Football Positions to Watch: Tight End

On paper, this position battle seems less exciting than some others. However, the tight end group still has some questions left unanswered.

The biggest question of all is how Clay Cundiff will look returning from injury. The redshirt junior suffered a season-ending injury last season, the second time in his career that he’s been sidelined for an extended period. There shouldn’t be too much to worry about in his game, as he’s a proven player with loads of experience. However, it will be interesting to see if anything holds him back physically.

Behind Cundiff gets a little fuzzier. Jake Eschenbach, Hayden Rucci, Jack Pugh, and Riley Nowakowski will all be in the mix to fill in the depth chart, but who comes out on top of that?

Eschenbach seems like the clear second-string option, but I wouldn’t count out Rucci to push for some snaps. Both players did a serviceable job filling in for Cundiff, but neither showed the ability to take over the first-string spot. We’ll have to see how the redshirt seniors perform in the fall camp and who secures that TE2 role.

I also wouldn’t count out Jack Pugh here either. The redshirt sophomore was a strong performer in spring ball and saw some time with the first team. Even if he doesn’t get a large number of snaps, I’m high on his upside to contribute in the future.

The tight end room will arguably be the biggest question mark as we enter fall camp and will be one of the most exciting to watch. 

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