Wisconsin's 2026 season will need some players to emerge out of "nowhere," especially on offense. The Badgers were putrid last season on offense, and this season, it has to turn around, or the Luke Fickell ship will fully sink.
Fickell added some firepower for next season on the offensive side of the ball, known commodities like Colton Joseph, Abu Sama III, and retained potential star Eugene Hilton Jr. Those are the obvious answers for breakout candidates. Let's dig a little deeper and predict some sleepers to emerge. Here's 3 deeper sleepers on the Wisconsin roster that can break out next year.
1. Tyrell Henry - WR
Related: A dive into the Badger WR room shows there are more questions than answers
Henry feels like he could emerge as a security blanket for Joseph. He may not be the splash guy, but he could be a redzone nightmare and a chunk yardage getter. He's now been with Jeff Grimes for a couple of seasons, and it's his turn to step into the starting wide receiver position.
The competition in the wide receiver room is bustling this year, and so Henry will be pushed. This could be the sleeper pick you are looking for.
2. Bryan Jackson II - RB
Abu Sama III will be the starting workhorse in the backfield. He comes in with all the experience as a starter and the accolades to show for it. However, someone needs to emerge as the change of pace back. This feels like Jackson. He's bigger, stronger, and runs with a different style. Jackson may end up with more touchdowns on the season than Sama, simply because he's a bruiser at 6'2 and 240 pounds.
Goaline guy that will become a household name if he puts up 15+ touchdowns this season.
3. Grant Stec - TE
The tight end room is a little bit scary this season, and Wisconsin fans have learned that Jeff Grimes loves a good tight end. Grimes wants a tight end that doesn't mind getting his hands dirty and run blocking, but also can peel away and receive a pass. The room is wide open this year. Stec has had the most opportunities and knows the system. It's his time to shine and prove why he was a 4-star recruit.
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