Luke Fickell and Wisconsin have offered 2026 recruit McCoy Smith as a fullback, which drastically signals a change in philosophy for the Wisconsin offense. New offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes is bringing balance back to the offense and will use a fullback of sorts in the new style of play. The big question for Wisconsin is who can play it this fall.
Don't be surprised to see Jackson Acker taking snaps at fullback next season for Wisconsin
The best candidate for fullback next season is Jackson Acker, the only fullback left on the roster. He's been listed as a tight end since 2023 but was recruited to Wisconsin as a fullback and was on the roster as a fullback under Paul Chryst.
Acker has been getting action as a tight end and yet knows the position of fullback. The reality is that he's the perfect candidate not just because he has played the position but because the converted tight end is Jeff Grimes' favorite fullback. In fact, having a roster position for fullback is not something that Grimes usually does, so the fact that they are recruiting a fullback is a bit surprising. It may be another wrinkle for Grimes, but he does use the position, and he does like the I-formation.
The difference is that he likes to bring hybrid tight-ends into that spot. Last season at Kansas, it was a preferred walk-on named Jared Casey who played fullback and tight end for the Jayhawks. Casey was listed on the Kansas roster as 6'0", 245 lbs. Acker is listed for Wisconsin at 6'1" and 250 lbs.
Acker, similar to Casey, is also a compact blocking first tight end who uses physicality to play the position. This is ideal for Grimes' system. Casey, under Grimes, would line up as an H-back or sniffer tight end just off the line of scrimmage, be the lead blocker in more outside and zone run concepts, would also be the motion man to come back inside as a fullback-type role, and would even leak out to get into a route.
It seems as if Grimes already has the perfect fullback on the roster in Jackson Acker. Don't be surprised to see him take on this role.