Wisconsin’s fall camp is already two-thirds of the way in, and a few names have pushed themselves into the conversation faster than expected. The Badgers have seen a handful of receivers flash, and a couple of battles that looked straightforward in the spring have turned into real fights. Three players, in particular, have stood out as the biggest surprises.
One of the most interesting developments has come at cornerback, where D’Yoni Fletcher has turned what looked like a shaky summer outlook into a genuine competition. When Wisconsin brought him in from Oklahoma State in the winter, he seemed lined up to start opposite Javan Robinson because of his Power Four experience.
The early read, though, was never especially rosy. Fletcher showed toughness and a willingness to tackle in Stillwater, but his coverage work was the concern, especially when he was left alone in man coverage - an area Wisconsin wants to sharpen.
Spring didn’t help his case much. Fletcher dealt with an injury while Jai’mier Scott, the younger corner, kept building momentum and drawing praise for his talent and upside.
But fall camp has changed the picture. The two have gone back and forth for the field-side job, and Luke Fickell said the battle has stayed even.
"Which one has the upper hand right there with Fletch and Jai’mier? I don’t know, it goes back and forth every day. And I don’t think there’s anything better for us," Fickell said during camp.
Fletcher has looked better in coverage than he did on last season’s film, and he’s pairing that with the same physical edge he brings as a tackler. Cornerbacks coach Robert Steeples even calls him "Flash." What once looked like Scott’s job to lose now feels like a real contest, and Fletcher appears to have at least locked down a rotational role on the outside.
On the defensive line, Nolan Vils has gone from afterthought to real depth piece. The Prairie Du Sac, Wisconsin, native is a fourth-year walk-on, and his rise has been one of the quieter success stories of camp.
Defensive coordinator Mike Tressel first pointed out his progress in the spring, saying he’d taken "great strides" on his own. Later, defensive line coach EJ Whitlow made it clear just how much work Vils had put in.
“Nolan Vils has really worked his ass off. Coming from a guy that was a walk-on, he’s really put in the time.
He’s changed his body. He’s got himself over 300 pounds.
He’s worked in the offseason as far as increasing his foot speed," he said.
"But he plays the game the right way, too. He plays with a nastiness, he plays with an edge to him, which at the end of the day, that’s what it takes inside.”
That effort has translated into a real climb up the depth chart. Vils is now rotating with the second unit, and it’s easy to see him ending up as high as the No. 4 player in the room by total snaps. For a walk-on who played 34 snaps last fall, that’s a huge jump.
The third surprise is true freshman receiver Kash Brock, who was already drawing attention before his breakout showing on practice No. 9 Sunday.
Even in a crowded and unsettled wideout group, the 6-3 Arizona native has forced his way into second-team reps. That matters, because he’s taking snaps from more experienced and better-known receivers in a room that still has plenty to prove.
Brock still looks lean, which makes sense for a player who hasn’t even started his first semester of college yet. But his size gives him a real edge against defensive backs, and his hands have stood out as he’s caught passes from Deuce Adams and Ryan Hopkins with the second-team offense. He may not be set to play much this fall, but his early progress is a positive sign for a Wisconsin receiver room that has needed it.
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