Wisconsin’s 10th fall camp practice came a day before Tuesday’s open session, and even with a lighter feel to the workout, there was still enough live action to separate a few players on both sides of the ball.
The biggest offensive buzz centered on tight end Jayden Harris. Jeff Grimes kept mixing up the personnel and rolling multiple tight ends through first-team snaps, but Harris made the strongest case for himself.
At 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds, the Bowling Green transfer showed exactly why he can matter near the goal line, catching two touchdowns in red-zone work with no pass rush. The first came on a throw that was a little behind him, but he used his hands well and reached back to haul it in.
The second was cleaner, and it highlighted how he can slip into open space and give his quarterback a huge target. It was another day that showed off Harris’ unusual fluidity for his size, and he continued to look like a useful piece for Grimes and Colton Joseph.
On the edge, sophomore Clayton had one of the more forceful stretches of the day. There’s clearly a spot up for grabs there, and he looked like someone who could grab it.
During one live period, he ripped through a tackle for loss, then followed it up almost immediately with what would have been a sack on the next snap. He came through the line untouched, and even without full tackling, the sequence made the point loud and clear.
Sebastian Cheeks has also been productive with consistency, and Clayton’s job now is to keep that level going so Mike Tressel can trust him in a bigger role this fall.
Receiver Kyion Grayes Rigby, the Oklahoma State transfer, also kept building momentum after a second straight strong day. He’s still ramping up after not going live much earlier in camp, and the day started with a red-zone drop on a touchdown opportunity.
But once 11-on-11 work began, he settled in. His best play may have been the longest from scrimmage on the day, when he shook loose near the sideline and tracked down a deep ball from Deuce Adams.
Later, in the final live period from around the 10-yard line, he came down with a contested catch in the end zone. He’s already working with the ones and twos, and the production is a welcome sign for a receiver room that needs multiple players to take a step.
Safety Jonas Traynor had a day that should have felt pretty good for a player still trying to carve out his place in Madison. He played some special teams in 2025 and saw limited defensive action before his season ended with injury, but Tuesday brought a few moments that stood out.
He first delivered a solid pop in the run game, then quickly followed it with back-to-back plays that got the defense fired up. He hit the run again, then came downhill to strike a receiver in the flat hard enough to jar the ball loose for a breakup.
With Matt Jung and Marvin Burks set as the starters, snaps may be tough to find, but Traynor is giving the staff something to think about, just like Carson Van Dinter has throughout camp.
The run game was tough to fully judge without pads and tackling, but the backs still had a productive day, and Jeff Sims? No, the source doesn't mention him.
For the Wisconsin backs, Iowa State transfer Quintez Sama stood out most for his patience. The offensive line is still being shuffled by Eric Mateos, and Sama adapted to what was in front of him.
His best moment came in the final live period from the 10-yard line, when a designed touch didn’t immediately open up. Rather than forcing it, he paused just long enough for space to develop, and that patience helped create a clean path to the end zone.
Several of his carries also seemed to feature him finding gaps and slipping through untouched for solid gains, even with the limitations of a practice that didn’t include tackling.
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