In Luke Fickell and Phil Longo's first full season, the Wisconsin Badger offense looked anemic. They only averaged 23.5 points per game, which was 87th in the country, and a far cry from what fans expected in the new look air raid offense. There wasn't a lot to feel good about outside of some good individual performances from Will Pauling, Braelon Allen and a few others. But in 2024, there are a few reasons to feel optimistic about the Badger offense.
Running Back Depth
The Badgers enter the season with essentially two starter quality runners in Chez Mellusi and transfer Tawee Walker. Look for them to split carries fairly evenly to start the year. Beyond those two though, the Badgers still have a quality stable of backs. Jackson Acker, Cade Yacamelli and two true freshman in Darrion Dupree and Dilin Jones could all see the field at some point this year.
After the Mellusi injury last season, the Badgers didn't have a lot to lean on outside of Braelon Allen. 2024 won't have those problems. Walker may end up being even better than Mellusi and Dupree has had a very impressive fall camp. There's a lot to be excited for in the backfield this season.
Offensive Line Continuity
The offensive line didn't have their best year in 2023, but with most of unit returning and a healthy Jake Renfro at center, the group should hopefully be much improved. Outside of Tanor Bortolini who now plays in the NFL for the Indianapolis Colts, the group will have another year in the system under its belt. Jack Nelson, Riley Mahlman and Joe Huber all return as starters and have NFL potential.
For a group that largely underperformed, 2024 will provide another opportunity to showcase the talent that most fans had hoped to see last year. Tackle Kevin Heywood, one of the most highly-touted freshman in the country, is also waiting in the wings if injury or poor play rears its ugly head.
Phil Longo
Longo had a rough first season as the offensive coordinator for the Badgers, posting career lows for numerous statistics. But now with a new quarterback and another year with his coaches, there's a lot of reasons to think he could get things back on track.
During Phil Longo's first six years as a Power 5 OC, his QBs put up an average of 3,847 passing yards and 31 TD passes each season.
— Dillon Graff (@DillonGraff) June 13, 2024
In his first year with the #Badgers, those numbers dipped to 2,862 passing yards and 14 TDs.
Are you buying the dip?
Longo's quarterbacks averaged 3,847 yards and 31 touchdowns in his first six seasons as a Power Conference coordinator. Last year with the Badgers that dropped to 2,862 yards and 14 touchdowns. With another year at UW and a quarterback in Tyler Van Dyke that better fits his system, odds are that he can turn this thing back around.