One of the biggest questions hanging over Wisconsin’s start under Luke Fickell has been the offensive line, a unit that once defined the Badgers and then slipped well below that standard. This offseason, Fickell and his staff made it clear they wanted to drag that identity back into place, and the early returns say the group has taken a step forward.
The grade so far lands at a B.
That’s a fair snapshot of where things stand: noticeably better than the recent past, but still not quite the finished product. The biggest issue has been the run game, where Wisconsin has been too uneven for a team that wants to control the line of scrimmage.
Stylz Blackman and Kevin Heywood have held up well, and Austin Kawecki has done solid work cleaning up the A and B gaps. Even so, the left side has been inconsistent enough to let opponents crowd the Badgers’ run game and disrupt any real rhythm on the ground.
There have been explosive moments. Wisconsin has produced three runs of more than 25 yards, which shows the line has had some success opening lanes.
But the day-to-day business of blocking the hard stuff - especially against better competition - has been harder to win. That’s the area that still needs the most cleanup.
Pass protection has been a much steadier story. For the most part, the entire line has done a good job keeping pressure off the quarterback, and Wisconsin has allowed only three sacks on the season.
Colton Joseph has also done some work in avoiding sacks, but the pocket hasn’t been spotless. Pressure has still shown up, especially from P.J.
Wilkins’ side.
Kevin Heywood’s work at right tackle has been strong enough to draw notice, including a Week 4 grade of 88.0, the highest among right tackles in Cam Mellor’s list. That kind of individual performance is part of why the overall picture looks encouraging, even if it isn’t complete yet.
Luke Fickell has also started to tinker with the group, looking for the best mix up front. With only a one-game sample on those adjustments, it’s tough to say exactly how much they’ve changed things, but it’s something to watch as the season moves on.
For now, Wisconsin’s offensive line has mostly done its job. The foundation looks better, the ceiling is still there, and as the schedule stiffens, the Badgers should get a clearer answer on whether this unit can grow into one of the Big Ten’s better groups.
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