Cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean was penciled in to play opposite Ricardo Hallman on the Wisconsin defense. That all changed yesterday, when his case for eligibility to play in 2025 was denied. Unfortunately for the Badgers, there isn't a clear direction moving forward to replace him. So what will Luke Fickell and Wisconsin do to try find another starting corner?
What are the options for replacing Fourqurean at cornerback?
While there aren't a lack of options, none stand out as the obvious solution. The most likely might be moving one of the new transfers to the outside. Both Geimere Latimer and D'Yoni Hill have the ability to play on the boundary, but it might not be their most suitable position. Latimer had mostly been taking first team reps at nickel this spring and looked to be a nice fit in the slot. Moving him or Hill to the outside might then involve moving safety Austin Brown back to nickel, making the transition one with several moving parts.
Other options, like elevating a freshman to the task, or somehow finding another transfer this late, feel less certain and probably unwise. Handing the reigns of a starting job to someone with no experience or just a month of practice isn't the most ideal situation. All of this begs the question: did the Badgers push all of their chips in on Fourqurean playing? It certainly seems that way, and the job of finding his replacement now isn't an envious one. What was once one of the strongest units on the team now finds itself searching for answers.
Wisconsin does have talent in the secondary, but this challenge mostly comes down to fit. Can Latimer or Hill fill in and do a fine job? Sure, but they lack the typical size Wisconsin likes on the boundary. This will be one of the most watched camp decisions come August.