Wisconsin’s fall camp is getting tight on media access, and that makes every rep matter a little more. The Badgers still have time before Week 1 to sort out some of the depth chart, but the competition has clearly sharpened in a few key spots. A handful of projected starters have done enough to hold their ground - but not enough to stop the guys behind them from making this interesting.
At linebacker, Jon Jon Kamara arrived in Madison with a clean path to the third starting job. The former Kansas Jayhawks defender brought the kind of athletic upside that usually gives a player a comfortable edge.
That edge has gotten thinner, though, because Thomas Heiberger has taken a step forward and pushed Kamara, while JUCO transfer Taylor Schaefer has also started applying pressure. What looked settled before camp now feels a lot less certain.
Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano still appear locked in, but the third spot is starting to draw a real fight.
Wide receiver has turned into one of the deepest and most crowded rooms on the roster, and Jaylon Domingeaux is right in the middle of it. He was one of the best wide receivers in the FCS last season and brings size, physicality, and strong ball skills on contested catches.
Even with that résumé, he hasn’t been able to seize clear control of WR1, WR2, or any of the top outside roles. Eugene Hilton Jr. may be the front-runner now, Chris Brooks Jr. is right there with him, and Shamar Rigby is healthy again.
True freshman Kash Brock has also shown up, while Malachi Coleman and Zion Kearney are names still in the mix on the outside. That’s a crowded room, and Domingeaux can’t assume anything.
Safety is another spot with some movement. Matthew Jung is viewed as one of the team leaders, and he was at Big Ten Media Days with Luke Fickell.
Even so, his starting role isn’t locked in. Carson Van Dinter has been making a strong push and has turned in an impressive fall camp, putting real heat on Jung.
The running back room might be the most fun battle on the team, because there is talent everywhere and somebody is going to end up buried. Abu Sama III still looks like the safest bet to open as RB1, and the top spot still appears to be his.
But the separation is not huge. Darrion Dupree and Bryan Jackson II have both had strong camps, and JuJu Pope, while still a bit behind that top trio, has obvious talent and could work his way into the conversation once it clicks.
Nate Palmer is another name to keep on the radar. For now, the likely top three are Sama, Dupree, and Jackson, with Sama still the bell-cow - just not by much.
In Other News...
Wisconsin Captain Sees Two Big Changes Before Notre Dame Test
With fall camp winding down, Wisconsin is moving into the part of August where all the offseason talk finally has to meet a real opponent. The Badgers have leaned on a wave of transfers they expect to help right away, with quarterback Colton Joseph and cornerback Javan Robinson among the newcomers drawing attention as the opener against Notre Dame approaches.
Captain Chris Brooks Jr. has liked what he has seen so far, pointing to better quarterback play and a stronger sense of camaraderie than the group showed a year ago. For Wisconsin, those are the kinds of signs that matter most this time of year, even if the real test does not come until the Irish show up and the Badgers find out whether those gains hold up under pressure. [Read more 🡒]
Former Badger Vinny Anthony Is Making Atlanta's Decision Tough
Vinny Anthony II is making a strong case for himself in Atlanta, and the former Wisconsin receiver is doing it with the kind of all-around work that can catch a coaching staffs eye. In his second preseason game, Anthony helped himself with four catches for 43 yards and added a 28-yard kick return, showing why the Falcons have been paying attention to his versatility as an undrafted free agent.
For a player fighting for a place on the 53-man roster, those are the kinds of reps that matter. Anthony has stood out not just as a pass catcher, but as someone who can help on special teams too, and that combination has made his path more interesting as the Falcons sort through their decisions ahead of roster cuts. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Still Has One Big O-Line Decision Before Notre Dame
Wisconsin wrapped up fall camp with a live scrimmage and now turns its attention to the opener against Notre Dame, but the biggest question left on the offensive line is still in front of Luke Fickell and his staff. Emerson Mandell and Kevin Heywood have missed most of camp because of injuries, spending their time away from full team drills, and the Badgers are now racing the calendar as they sort out who will be ready and who will have to step in.
Lucas Simmons-Johansson looks positioned to fill in for Heywood if needed, while Blake Cherry or Stylz Blackmon could be the answer at Mandells spot. Fickell said those calls will come in the next few days, which means Wisconsin still has a little time to settle the front before facing one of the tougher early tests on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]