Wisconsin’s fourth practice of fall camp didn’t stay on the Camp Randall turf for long. Rain and lightning pushed the Badgers inside to the Kellner Family Athletic Center, but the session still had plenty of juice to it, with pads on and the tempo cranked up Sunday morning.
Badgers On SI was there, and six players separated themselves from the pack.
The most eye-catching presence on the field was Coleman, simply because of what he looks like in person. At 6-foot-5, the former Minnesota Gopher and Nebraska Cornhusker is a long, rangy receiver who can make life miserable for defenders.
He hasn’t generated much buzz since arriving on campus, but Sunday he may have been Wisconsin’s biggest standout. Coleman hauled in everything thrown his way, and his size gives him a real chance to finish catches that other receivers can’t even reach.
Wisconsin needs the ball in his hands this year.
On the line, Kawecki made his case the old-fashioned way: with steady, polished work. Full-pad trench play is easier to judge than a lighter practice setting, but he still looked sharp throughout the morning in both 11-on-11 work and offensive line run-game drills.
His experience showed up in the details. He understands leverage, plays with sound technique and doesn’t need to overwhelm anyone physically to get the job done.
He looks like a major upgrade over what the Badgers had in 2025.
Inside linebacker Catalano also looked locked in. The rising sophomore already has a reputation for finding the football, and that showed again Sunday.
What stood out even more was his work in coverage, along with Mason Posa. Catalano made the day’s flashiest defensive play in a 7-on-7 period, tipping a Carter Smith pass to himself and coming away with an acrobatic interception.
He looks ready to produce more splash plays this fall.
Clayton kept showing up around the quarterback. His pass-rush ability jumped off the field, as he collected multiple would-be sacks and found ways into the backfield with more than just speed.
He mixed in a power rush, too, and the result was constant disruption. He wasn’t running with the starters, but when Wisconsin gets into a must-have third-and-long, it’s tough to imagine keeping him on the sideline.
The Kansas transfer Manning didn’t land any headline-grabbing blows, but he was everywhere. Working at Wisconsin’s “STAR” position as the third inside backer, he moved around the formation and handled a wide range of assignments.
That included covering in the slot and rushing the passer. He appears set for a much bigger role than expected, and it’ll be worth watching just how many snaps he ends up playing.
For Hopkins, it was the first in-person look, and the impression was immediate. The offense as a whole had a rougher day, but his talent was obvious.
He was sharp mentally, constantly barking to get his receivers and linemen set. His best throw may have ended up incomplete: a beautiful ball to Darrion Dupree on a wheel route that the running back couldn’t haul in.
There were a few questionable throws mixed in, but Hopkins’ command of the offense and his leadership stood out most.
In Other News...
Colton Joseph Is Giving Wisconsin Fans A Reason To Believe
Colton Joseph has given Wisconsin a real spark in fall camp, and for a fan base that has spent too much time waiting for stability at quarterback, that alone matters. The starting quarterback has shown clear growth, flashing both as a passer and as a runner while making some tough throws under pressure that suggest the offense may finally have a more dynamic center of gravity.
There is still work to do, especially when it comes to accuracy in the end zone, but the early signs are encouraging enough to change the mood around the position. After seasons without a truly consistent starter, Josephs development is offering Wisconsin something it has needed for a while: a reason to think the offense can be more than just functional this fall. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Is Finally Leaning Back Into What Badger Fans Wanted
Wisconsins offense is making a noticeable shift under Luke Fickell, and for the first time in his tenure the roster now includes fullbacks again. It is a small but telling move for a program trying to reconnect with the traits that long defined Badger football: toughness, discipline and a style built on doing the dirty work well. McCoy Smith and Tyler Jansey have already given the staff some flexibility in practice, handling blocking duties while also showing they can carry the ball when needed.
The addition fits into a broader cultural reset around the program, one that reaches beyond the depth chart and into the identity of the team itself. Wisconsin has been working to strengthen ties with alumni and restore some of the traditional foundation that made the Badgers a difficult, physical opponent for so long. Bringing back fullbacks does not solve everything, but it does suggest the program is leaning back toward the formula many fans have been waiting to see again. [Read more 🡒]