3 Badger WRs who are primed for a breakout year in Wisconsin

It's no secret that the Wisconsin Badgers' offense has struggled mightily in the Luke Fickell era. The days of Wisconsin controlling the pace of games and dominating opposing defenses are seemingly days of the past, but with some recent acquisitions, things have begun to look up. The Badgers have seemingly found their QB1 in Old Dominion transfer Colton Joseph, and have a running back room deep enough to keep defenses honest.

However, Wisconsin’s receiver room remains unproven, with most of their projected starters being unproven depth pieces from previous years. Even in the glory days, Badger football wideout was never a strong suit, often holding the team back from achieving high-end success. With all that said, Wisconsin will need one or two guys to step up this year if it wishes to see a bowl game. All that to say, hope is not lost, as a few players are standing out as potential breakout candidates.

Eugene Hilton Jr.

Amongst the Badgers' current receiving corps, sophomore Eugene Hilton Jr. stands out as the most likely to take the leap into stardom. Hilton chose to return to Wisconsin after a brief stint in the transfer portal and seems excited about what the season ahead will hold. The 19-year-old’s freshman year in Madison was encouraging but lacked consistency — pretty run of the mill for a freshman in a poor offensive environment.

Now heading into year two, Hilton continues to catch eyes, showcasing an advanced route tree and ball skills for a player his age. It's not just his receiving ability that has caught eyes, either, as Hilton also made numerous plays on special teams in spring ball. His skillset may not reflect that of an X receiver right now, but his developmental trajectory and physical tools suggest that he could be a star for Wisconsin in the near future.

Shamar Rigby

Although it's not saying much, Shamar Rigby will enter next year as the most experienced Badgers wideout. In his sophomore year at Oklahoma State, Rigby was a solid rotational piece, catching 25 balls for 351 yards and a touchdown. He has also proven himself to be quite versatile despite playing primarily on the boundary, recording a 64.1 run-blocking grade and even throwing for 63 yards and a touchdown.

Rigby’s size and speed allow him to be a constant threat over the top, commanding defensive attention on each route he runs. Despite his clear talent, Rigby is far from perfect. Although he is physically gifted, he isn’t the most polished or creative route runner, limiting the number of ways Wisconsin can get him the ball. With that said, development can happen in an instant with players his age, especially with players who possess his physical gifts.

Malachi Coleman

The biggest wildcard in the Badgers' receiver room is Malachi Coleman. The former highly regarded four-star recruit possesses some of the best physical traits of any receiver, not only on Wisconsin, but in the entire country. With that said, Coleman has yet to apply his freakish physical gifts to tangible on-field play, making his production difficult to project.

However, if he hits, it will be in a big way. Amongst the many years of Badger football, it's hard to argue that any player possesses better natural gifts than Coleman. His speed and size make him an instant threat the second he steps on the field, and his lack of experience suggests tons of untapped potential. Coleman is a long shot, but he could end up being the missing piece to a near-complete Wisconsin offense.

Best of the Rest

If you couldn't tell by now, the Badgers have an influx of guys that could easily breakout this season. Although they haven't caught as many headlines, Jaylon Domingeaux and Chris Brooks Jr. are also worth mentioning as potential breakout candidates. To put it simply, there is a lot of talent on the boundary this season in Madison.

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