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Ferguson, Sanborn, Hicks To Return For UW

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Just days after winning the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, the Badgers found out three key veterans would be returning for their senior seasons at UW.  Redshirt junior tight end Jake Ferguson, junior linebacker Jack Sanborn and redshirt junior cornerback Faion Hicks all announced that they are returning next season.

Ferguson led the Badgers with 30 receptions for 305 yards and four touchdowns.  Sanborn led UW in tackles with 41 1/2 and Hicks had four passes defensed and 10 tackles.

The Badgers will lose a running back after Nakia Watson became the second player to enter the NCAA’s transfer portal.  He joins QB Jack Coan.  Watson started four games and played in five games this season.

The Badgers have three returning tailbacks on their roster, Jalen Berger, Julius Davis and Isaac Guerendo.  They added three more during the early signing period in December.

 

Berger Could Return For Badgers Bowl Game

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A decision by the Big Ten Conference to reduce the number of days players must sit out after contracting COVID-19 to 17 from 21 could put Wisconsin Badgers freshman running back Jalen Berger in the picture to play in the December 30th Duke’s Mayo Bowl game against Wake Forest.

Berger has played in just three games this season but still leads Wisconsin in rushing with 267 yards while averaging 5.9 yards a carry.

Berger tested positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 11, the day before Wisconsin played Iowa.

Both he and Nakia Watson missed last week’s game against Minnesota, as did wide receivers Kendrick Pryor and Danny Davis, as well as left tackle Cole Van Lanen.  Just how many of those players will be available against Wake Forest remains to be seen.

Badgers Offense Struggles Again In Loss At Iowa, Minnesota’s Next

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Paul Chryst

Another struggling offensive performance led to another Wisconsin defeat, 28-7 against the Iowa Hawkeyes on Saturday afternoon in Iowa City.

The Hawkeyes broke open a close game with a pair of long touchdown drives in the third quarter, handing the Badgers their third straight loss.  The Badgers failed to reach 10-points for the third straight game.

The Badgers (2-3) fell below the .500 mark for just the second time under head coach Paul Chryst.

The Badgers played again without their top two receivers, Danny Davis and Kendric Pryor due to injury.  They also played without their leading rusher, freshman Jalen Berger, who came in averaging 89 yards a game on the ground, but tested positive for the coronavirus.

As a result, the Badgers offense managed just 225 yards and a lone touchdown by running back Nakia Watson.  The Badgers finished with 56 rushing yards on 33 carries.  Redshirt freshman quarterback Graham Mertz finished with 169 yards and an interception.

The Badgers will try to finish the season on a positive note and climb back to .500 when they host rival Minnesota at 3 p.m. on Saturday [Read more…]

Mertz, offense struggle in Badger loss at Northwestern (AUDIO)

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Graham Mertz – Photo Courtesy of David Stluka / UW Athletics

Redshirt freshman quarterback Graham Mertz committed three first half turnovers and four overall as the Wisconsin Badgers (2-1) fell to the Northwestern Wildcats
(5-0) (17-7 in Evanston, Illinois on Saturday.

The Badgers, who played without injured wide receivers Danny Davis and Kendric Pryor, lost for the fifth time in the last six trips to Evanston.

The Badgers managed just one score on 17 offensive possessions and finished three for 16 on third downs, committing five turnovers for the game.  UW has committed 18 turnovers in the last six meetings against the Wildcats.

Graham Mertz, who hadn’t turned the ball over in his first two games, finished 23 of 41 for 230 yards with a touchdown [Read more…]

Badgers kick off 2020 season tonight

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Graham Mertz – Photo Courtesy of David Stluka / UW Athletics

The college football schedule gets a bit more crowded with the start of Big Ten play this weekend.  The 14th ranked Wisconsin Badgers kick things off Friday night against Illinois (7 p.m. kickoff) at Camp Randall Stadium.

Highly touted quarterback Graham Mertz makes his first collegiate start for the Badgers.  The redshirt freshman from Kansas takes over for Jack Coan, who is out after having foot surgery.

While the Badgers are big favorites, Mertz will be challenged by an Illinois defense that ranked in the top 10 in takeaways last season.  The Illini recovered 16 fumbles and intercepted 12 passes last season, which ranked fourth among FBS teams.  Three of those 28 takeaways came against the Badgers last season, when the Illini came from behind to upset Wisconsin 24-23 in Champaign.

The Badgers have stressed ball security with Mertz during training camp and need that mentality to translate to the field on gameday.  Coan threw just five [Read more…]