The Wisconsin Badgers operate a run-heavy offense. So far this season, the Badgers have run the ball 53.1% of the time and thrown it just 46.9% of the time. Despite that, the Badgers are averaging just 153 rushing yards per game. They are averaging only 226.4 passing yards per game.
While the yardage numbers aren’t especially impressive, Wisconsin is averaging 31.6 points per game. Of course, that number is a bit inflated due to the Eastern Michigan game where the Badgers put up 54 points against a non-conference opponent.
That said, let’s look at Wisconsin’s offensive personnel.
Quarterback
Transfer senior Colton Joseph is the only Wisconsin quarterback to throw a pass this season. That’s significant considering how tough can be to keep the same quarterback on the field for an entire season.
Joseph hasn’t been a particularly accurate passer. He has only completed 81 of 143 pass attempts. That’s just a 56.64% completion percentage. While he’s thrown for 10 touchdowns, he’s also thrown five interceptions. That’s an average of one pick per game. Given how the Bruin defense has played, I fully expect him to throw at least two interceptions tomorrow, and maybe more.
It’s worth noting that Joseph is also Wisconsin’s leading rusher with 262 net yards on 51 carries and three rushing touchdowns.
While Wisconsin’s depth chart actually lists two QB2s, the only one which has played so far this season is true freshman Ryan Hopkins. Hopkins, who graduated from Mater Dei in Orange County, has carried four times for 14 rushing yards, but he hasn’t thrown a pass yet. The other quarterback listed is Louisville transfer Deuce Adams. While he hasn’t played this season, he did see action with the Cardinals in each of the past two seasons, and he started for Louisville against SMU last year.
Running Game
Wisconsin’s rushing stats from this season remind me a lot of UCLA’s rushing stats from last season. The leading rusher is Joseph and the running backs haven’t contributed as much as the Badgers would like.
Wisconsin’s starting running back is junior Darrion Dupree. He has carried 43 times for 195 net yards. So, he’s averaging just 39 yards per game.
The Badger rushing attack could get a shot in the arm this week if senior back Abu Sama III is able to play. He got hurt against Penn State and was unable to play two weeks ago against Michigan State. He is listed as probable on Wisconsin’s availability report as “probable.” In the three games Sama has played, he’s carried 28 times for 190 net yards. Obviously, his 63.30 yards per game is more than 50% better than Dupree. So, if he is able to play, it would certainly help the Badger offense out.
Wisconsin’s depth chart lists Southern Cal transfer Bryan Jackson II as the RB2 along with Nate Palmer. If you look at the stats on Wisconsin’s website, it looks like Jackson’s offensive stats are miscredited to safety Cairo Skanes because they both wear #21. Jackson has carried 22 times for 79 yards. Palmer is listed as “doubtful” on the availability report. Considering that Sama will likely be back and Palmer is doubtful, I don’t expect to see Palmer at all tomorrow.
Passing Game
Wisconsin’s top receiver is Tyrell Henry. So far, Henry has caught 26 passes, which is more than the Badgers’ next two receivers combined. He has 339 receiving yards along with a touchdown. He’s averaging 67.8 yards per game.
While Henry has more receptions and yardage than his teammates, tight end Jacob Harris is the Badgers’ receiver who is most likely to catch a pass for a touchdown. While he has only 13 receptions, three of them have been touchdowns. That’s almost 25% of his receptions finishing with six points. So, the Bruins need to watch him in when the Badgers cross the 50.
Chris Brooks, Jr. and Eugene Hilton, Jr. will be Wisconsin’s other two starting receivers. Brooks has made 11 receptions for 194 yards and two touchdowns while Hilton has made 10 receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown.
The only other Badger receiver with more than 100 receiving yards is backup receiver Malachi Coleman. While he only has five receptions, he has 122 receiving yards. At the same time, two of his five catches have been touchdowns.
Offensive Line
The Badgers started the same five guys on the offensive line for the first four games. For those games, senior tackle PJ Wilkins and junior guard Colin Cubberly started on the left side while juniors Kevin Heywood and Stylz Blackmon got the starts at right tackle and guard, respectively. Redshirt senior Austin Kawecki was the starting center.
But things changed against Michigan State.
Heywood moved from right tackle to left tackle and junior Emerson Mandel started at right tackle. It looks like the change might have been made to shore up the line because Wilkins did play against the Spartans. He just didn’t start. So, I expect Heywood and Mandel to be the starting tackles again.
At the same time, Kawecki is listed as “Questionable” on Wisconsin’s availability report. If he is unable to play, expect junior Ryan Cory to be the Badgers’ starting center.
Analysis
The Badger offense doesn’t seem especially impressive. Nothing stands out as being especially dangerous except for Colton Joseph and tight end Jacob Harris.
I expect the Bruin defense to shut down the running game and the secondary to make at least two picks. Overall, I expect the stingy Bruin defense to continue being stingy and I don’t see Wisconsin scoring more than 24 points.
Go Bruins!!!
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Great analysis Joe. Honest and fair. Go Bruins!