Badger of Honor
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Wisconsin Football: 3 reasons Wisconsin will beat Penn State

By Christian Borman

Nov 10, 2018; University Park, PA, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Paul Chryst taps the helmet of tight end Kyle Penniston (49) during a warmup prior to a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 10, 2018; University Park, PA, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Paul Chryst taps the helmet of tight end Kyle Penniston (49) during a warmup prior to a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports /
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Graham Mertz, Wisconsin Football
Dec 12, 2020; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz (5) prepares to throw a pass against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Graham Mertz

I wrote earlier this week how Graham Mertz was going to be the X-factor for the Wisconsin football team this year. He has an elite defense, so the Badgers aren’t going to have to have a shootout to win games. He has a solid offensive line with great depth and a lot of experience at the skill positions.

His top two receivers are seniors Danny Davis and Kendric Pryor. Senior Jake Ferguson is his potential all-conference tight end who Mertz has shown he likes to throw to. Sophomore Chimere Dike, who played a lot as a true freshman and showed a lot of promise, is Mertz’s fourth option in the passing game. Not bad. Oh, and don’t forget Devin Chandler, who could make some plays on offense as well.

In the backfield, he has Clemson transfer Chez Mellusi who won the starting job, but redshirt freshman Jalen Berger will get a good amount of carries as well.

Mertz has talent all around him. If he comes in and plays as we saw in the first two games last season, this team is going to be hard to stop. I have confidence that as long as he stays healthy, Mertz is going to play a lot better and more confident this year than he did last year.

Penn State has a very talented defense and one of the top safeties in the country in Jaquan Brisker, but Mertz has faced some great defenders already. I think Mertz churns out a productive and efficient game on Saturday and leads the Badgers to a victory.