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Wisconsin Football Transfer Wide Receiver CJ Williams Has Star Potential

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3 weeks ago

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Wisconsin football WR CJ Williams and Phil Longo
Apr 11, 2023; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Phil Longo is shown during practice Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Madison, Wis. — CJ Williams is a name that Wisconsin football fans would be wise to start getting better acquainted with this offseason. 

Williams was a former five-star recruit from national powerhouse Mater Dei, where he received scholarship offers from Alabama, Texas, Notre Dame, Georgia, and about every other major program. In any case, he had his pick of the litter at the next level. 

Ultimately, he chose to attend USC and play for offensive guru Lincoln Riley. During his freshman season, he appeared in 11 games and recorded four receptions for 34 yards. However, he was in a crowded WR room full of high-end talent and decided to enter the portal and bet on himself. 

He eventually transferred to the University of Wisconsin this winter, seeing an opportunity to showcase his talents on the field and continue playing at the highest level under Luke Fickell in Phil Longo’s high-octane air raid offense.

“I think the city of Madison is very similar to the place I grew up, the Orange County area, minus the weather, obviously,” said Williams regarding his decision to join the Wisconsin football program. “But at the end of the day, it’s more of the fit as far as the players I’m around, the coaches, the football program, and then the culture…I think the biggest thing for me is I wanted to find somewhere where they believed in me as much as I believed in myself.”

Scouting Report 

On tape, CJ Williams has shown excellent speed and athleticism, with the ability to make plays in both the short and deep passing game. He has also displayed a willingness to go up and get the ball, making tough catches in traffic with a knack for finding the end zone.

His size (6-foot-2) and speed, reportedly a 4.48 40-yard dash time, give him the ideal tools to play on the boundary in any offense. He’s a natural hands catcher, runs crisp routes, tracks the ball well, and is an overall fluid athlete.

In Phil Longo’s system, he could be a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses and a major weapon Wisconsin football can count on.

CJ Williams Quickly Rising on the Wisconsin Football Depth Chart

CJ Williams entered spring practice as one of the names fans and media alike were most interested in watching due to his high pedigree, and he didn’t disappoint.

During the early portion of spring practice, the former Under Armour All-American was working with the second-team offense behind last season’s starting trio of Chimere Dike, Skyler Bell, and Keontez Lewis.

However, he quickly showed his playmaking ability and impressive catch radius, making an impression on coaches and teammates alike. As a result, he was promoted to the first-team offense by the end of spring practice, opposite of Dike.

“He’s young and super talented, and he’s got confidence, and he works hard,” Wisconsin football senior wideout Chimere Dike said. “He backs it up. I love the edge he plays with.”

Williams repping with the first-team offense is an encouraging development because he has arguably the highest ceiling among Wisconsin football pass catchers and could develop into a true WR1 for the Badgers during his career.

At the risk of overhyping him, the 6-foot-2 sophomore’s tools he brings to the table are unlike anything Wisconsin has had in quite some time.

Final Thoughts on Wisconsin Football Transfer WR

Although CJ Williams is off to a terrific start for Wisconsin, there is still much to be proven on the field. The California native must continue developing his game and throwing himself into the playbook between now and fall camp to maintain his spot with the first-team offense.

That said, I believe Williams will be a key contributor in the passing game in 2023 despite the crowded WR room. And as Williams gains experience, he could become a go-to pass-catcher for Badgers quarterbacks because his talent and potential are undeniable.

With the right work ethic, coaching, and support, he could become one of the Wisconsin football greats at WR.

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

This Wisconsin Football Player Could Break School Records in 2023

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2 hours 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

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. 

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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.

Follow this link and use promo code: BADGERNOTES for 25% off your next True Classic order.

Join the Badger Notes watch party and stream Wisconsin Badgers games by following this link.

*Subscribe to Locked on Badgers on Youtube and wherever you find podcasts, the only daily Wisconsin Badgers podcast on the internet.

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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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