Wisconsin missed a bowl game for the first time in 22 years and underwent plenty of changes over the offseason. The program parted ways with Phil Longo and his air raid offense and lost 26 players to the transfer portal throughout the winter months.
While Badger fans may still have a sour taste in their mouth after watching Wisconsin drop five consecutive games to end the 2024 campaign, spring practice -- which begins Thursday, March 13 -- provides an opportunity for excitement to build. That's especially the case this year considering new OC Jeff Grimes has pledged to get Wisconsin "back to what it's known for," and the defensive overhaul this roster underwent.
Here's four questions I'm looking to find answers to this Spring:
1. How Much Can the Defensive Line Improve?
This headline assumes that the defensive line can't get worse than it was in 2024, which would be a rather impressive feat. Wisconsin allowed 165.0 rushing yards per game last season -- which ranked ahead of only Purdue in the Big 10 -- and generated merely 17 sacks on the year, which stood as the 13th fewest in FBS.
Whether it was by design or coincidence, Wisconsin lost a plethora of defensive lineman and edge rushers. Among the defensive line losses were Curt Neal (insert stats) and James Thompson (insert injury). who both transferred to Illinois and Elijah Hills (stats). As for edge rushers, 2024 transfers Leon Lowery (stats) and John Pius (stats) have left the program. So does Jaheim Thomas (stats) after running out of eligibility.
Wisconsin supplemented its defensive front through the transfer portal, adding five players to pair with three high school recruits. Corey Walker comes over from Western Michigan for his fifth season of collegiate football, and the 6-foot-5, 270-pound lineman logged 28 tackles and 5.5 sacks last season for the Broncos. Jay'viar Suggs -- a four-star transfer via 247sports -- notched 2.5 sacks last season for LSU, and Grambling State transfer Micheal Garner notched two sacks in six games during 2024. Charles Perkins of UT Martin comes with plenty of accolades, earning First-Team All-Conference honors last season and being named an FCS Freshman All-American in 2023. Tulane's Parker Petersen rounds out the class after logging 2.5 sacks and 25 tackles a season ago.
On the edge, the Badgers added a pair of transfers. However, only one will be available for spring practice. Mason Reiger underwent correctional surgery on his right leg after missing the entire 2024 campaign due to the injury. It's unclear when he'll be back on the field, but Reiger was expected to compete for snaps immediately. Tyreese Fearbry rounds out the transfer haul, coming over from Kentucky, where he logged 14 tackles in 11 games in 2024 -- including a five-tackle performance against Texas.
Considering the massive turnover on the defensive front and lack of 2024 production, spring practice will be Badger fans' first glimpse into how much change, and improvement, the unit can undergo
2. How will Jeff Grimes' offense look?
When Wisconsin vaulted itself into a new era with the hire of Luke Fickell and Phil Longo, many fans were nervously optimistic. Could the Air Raid offense thrive at an institution that historically prided itself on its run game and physicality? Would we see a blend of the two philosophies? Or perhaps, just take to the sky? Reality offered few answers to those questions. Starting QB's Tanner Mordecai and Tyler Van Dyke each battled injuries during their time in Madison, and it never felt like Longo's system was never in full effect. Regardless, fans' attention has shifted to Grimes ahead of the 2025 campaign. The former Kansas offensive coordinator runs what he calls a reliable, violent offense, or RVO for short.
The running game lays the foundation for the offense to flourish, often with both the running back and quarterback being viable options on the ground. Past that, Grimes' system throws several different looks at defenses, through personnel, motions and formations in order to best exploit defenses. Considering the intricacies and depth of his offense, Badger fans shouldn't expect to see the offense in full flow during spring camp just three months after being hired.
Still, there's plenty of information to be gleaned about Wisconsin's new playbook. How much will 12 personnel (two tight ends, two wide receivers, one running back) be used? Will the Badgers be more comfortable going under center, particularly in short yardage situations? How can versatile playmakers like Trech Kekahuna, Vinny Anthony and Tanner Koziol be put in advantageous positions?
Expect some mistakes and miscommunications as Grimes and co. install the system and work in the incoming transfers and early enrollees, but Wisconsin fans should be looking for the flashes of excellence this Spring.
3. Can Dillin Jones and Darrion Dupree make a jump?
Dupree and Jones headlined a three-deep 2024 running back class, one Wisconsin felt confident enough in to let Tawee Walker walk and not bring any new tailbacks aboard for the 2025 campaign. Jones redshirted in his first season, but toted the rock 16 times for 88 yards in his three appearances. Dupree put together an impressive camp and emerged as the Badgers change-of-pace option behind Walker after Chez Mellusi stepped away from the program. Dupree turned 79 carries into 317 yards (4.0 avg) and a touchdown.
While Dupree and Jones may have the inside track for first-team snaps, expect junior tailback Cade Yacamelli to be a factor in the backfield. In 2024, Yacamelli averaged 8.3 yards per carry in a limited role and scored a pair of touchdowns. The junior from Trafford, Pennsylvania also showed his receiving chops, catching four passes in each of the last two seasons.
Spring practice should help Badger fans get a better idea of the run-game pecking order and will also provide insight into Jones and Dupree's offseason progression.
4. Will there be enough depth in the secondary?
Wisconsin lost 10 defensive backs this offseason and, for months, it was unclear if Ricardo Hallman and Nyzier Fourqurean would return. Thankfully for the Badgers, Hallman delayed his professional pursuit, and Fourqurean was granted an additional year of eligibility after a court battle with the NCAA. Redshirt freshmen Omillo Agard and Jay Harper are the only other scholarship corners to return.
All-Big 10 player Hunter Wohler and senior Kamoi'i Latu are the biggest losses from the safety room. However, starter Preston Zachman returns for his fifth season and should anchor the position.
Past the trio of Hallman, Fourqurean and Zachman, there isn't much proven talent. Wisconsin brought in senior D'yoni Hill and junior Geimere Latimer from the transfer portal to assist on the boundary. Hill started his college career at Marshall before transferring to Miami (Fl.) in 2024, where he tallied 33 tackles and one pass deflection. Latimer enters the program from Jacksonville State, where he made 46 tackles and logged three interceptions. The Badgers brought in two recruits as well. Four-star Jahmare Washington will be in Madison for Spring Practice, and with a strong performance, could make a case for snaps after being named the No. 1 CB in the state of Illinois coming out of high school.
The Badgers brought in four freshman safeties, but their transfer additions figure to play the most snaps. Matthew Traynor, a redshirt sophomore transfer from Richmond, gives Mike Tressel a versatile piece to plug and play. Traynor logged 69 tackles and made two interceptions in 2024 while playing on the back end, in the box and at the nickel. Despite Traynor's versatility, Division III transfer Matt Jung piques my interest most. Jung hails from Neenah, Wisconsin, and spent his first two collegiate seasons at Bethel University. He earned DIII First Team All-American honors and was named the AP Defensive Player of the year in 2024 after totaling 109 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, nine interceptions -- four of which were returned for a touchdown -- 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.