The emergence of true freshman Ryan Hopkins has caused quite a buzz at Wisconsin. He's come out of nowhere, from a 3-star recruit to No. 2 on the Wisconsin depth chart. It's not just overly optimistic Wisconsin fans or media; the Big Ten Network swooped in and noticed his emergence too. There now may be another true freshman who is also making some noise and turning some heads.
According to reports out of Wisconsin fall camp, true freshman wide receiver Kash Brock is emerging as a big-play threat and a trusted playmaker for Hopkins. Brock has also risen to find reps with the No. 2 offense, and so he's getting balls slung to him from Hopkins as both signal a promising future for the Badgers.
True freshman Kash Brock, who continues to get a lot of second-team reps, caught a go-ball down the sidelines from Ryan Hopkins. Brock went up over Cai Bates and brought the ball down.
— Evan Flood (@Evan_Flood) August 16, 2026
Brock had another beautiful catch for about 25 yards, going up effortlessly and tip-toeing… pic.twitter.com/rbnsDGZcOp
Brock was also a 3-star recruit, like Hopkins, out of high school. He was one of the top receivers coming out of Arizona. Brock had 85Â receptions for 1,370Â yards and 15 touchdowns in his senior season, and with the depth at wide receiver this year, no one was expecting his rise on the depth chart in year one.
Ryan Hopkins and Kash Brock show a future and a hope that Wisconsin fans desperately need
Related: Tempering expectations for Wisconsin's camp breakout Eugene Hilton Jr.
Similar to Hopkins, who was competing against other players with more experience and time in college. Transfer quarterback Deuce Adams from Louisville was the expected No. 2 quarterback for Wisconsin; there's also sophomore Carter Smith, who had plenty of experience last year for the Badgers. Danny O'Neil may even be back to healthy by the start of the season, yet Hopkins landed in the spot behind starter Colton Joseph.
Brock is making a similar splash this fall. The wide receiver is absolutely loaded with high-ceiling talent. There are three players on the roster who are fighting for starting receiving reps but were on the roster last season: Eugene Hilton Jr., Tyrell Henry, and Chris Brooks Jr. Then Luke Fickell went into the portal and added former 4-star recruits Shamar Rigby, Malachi Coleman, Jackson McGohan, and Zion Kearny. With a strong addition from FCS star Jaylon Domingeaux.
There wasn't much room for a true freshman to make his impact, and yet, here is Brock rising the depth chart and making some noise with the No. 2 unit. More importantly, building a rapport with Hopkins. Those two could make a lot of noise for the future of the Badgers.
The narrative isn't forced this year like it was last year, when people were trying to find the silver linings in a roster that didn't have a lot of competition. This year, Fickell brought in competition from players who are trying to prove they belong and should be starters. Both Hopkins and Brock are stepping out from the crowd as true freshmen. The future is extremely bright, especially if the Badgers can find a way to keep them from dipping into the transfer portal after year one.
Stay tuned for how the rest of the position battles at fall camp shake out, here at Badger of Honor.
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