Position Group Overview
Quarterback (Grade: B-)
Graham Mertz (4star #3PRO ’19) returns for this the 3rd year as the Badger’s signal caller. He started his career off with a bang in the 2020 opener vs Illinois, throwing 5 TDs and only 1 incompletion. But since then, Mertz has been underwhelming. He has a best pedestrian 4:5 TD to INT ratio and was turnover-prone throughout the beginning of 2021. With plenty of experience and arm strength, Mertz is more than serviceable for the run-heavy Badgers and should have his best season in 2022.
But if Mertz were to go down, Wisconsin would be left even more one-dimensional. Their options are Chase Wolf (3star #39PRO ’18) and Deacon Hill (3star #39QB ’21). Wolf struggled in relief of Mertz vs Michigan, while Hill red-shirted last year but has reportedly impressed coaches in the off-season. Neither of these guys inspire a ton of confidence.
Mertz is capable of managing the Wisconsin offense and making a few big plays a game. But in order for Wisconsin to be a top-10 team or contend for the playoff, the 4th-year QB will have to improve his accuracy and cut down on mistakes (both of which are far from guarantees).
Running Back (Grade: A)
Wisconsin returns each of their top 5 rushers from 2021, highlighted by one of the country’s best duos.
Braelon Allen (4star #25LB ’21) reclassified from the 2022 class to come to Madison early as a running back. He had an incredible true-freshman season, racking up 1,268 yards and 12 TDs on 6.8 ypc. Allen only got stronger as the season went on, rushing for over 100 yards in 8 of the final 9 games.
Chez Mellusi (4star #14RB ’19) had 815 yards and 5 TDs on 4.7 ypc before going down for the season in their 9th game. Wisconsin’s rushing attack didn’t skip a beat when he went down with Allen stepping up in a big way. He averaged 152 ypg and put up 6 TDs in those 4 games.
Wisconsin churns out productive RBs like butter, and 2022 should be no different. Even if one of these two guys go down, there is plenty of experience in this room. The Badgers’ offense will be built around Allen and Mellusi.
Wide Receiver (Grade: D)
With their top 2 receivers and All-Big Ten tight end gone, Wisconsin is going to rely on a lot of guys who have seen very little of the field.
Wide Receiver
Chimere Dike (3star #94WR ’20) is the most experienced returner, hauling in 19 receptions for 272 yards and a TD last year. Although unspectacular, he is shifty and should lead the Badgers in receptions next year.
If Wisconsin wants any semblance of a threatening pass attack, Skyler Bell (3 star #140WR ’21) and/or Markus Allen (3star #61WR ’21) will have to step up in their second season. They also got a key addition in UCLA transfer Keontez Lewis (3star #74WR ’21).
There is little if any game experience or proven talent behind these four guys. The Badgers really only need one of Bell, Allen, or Lewis to step up as a legitimate downfield threat, but even that might be a big ask from such young players. Luckily for Wisconsin, their offense should suffice even without game-breaking talent on the outside.
Tight End
This is the bigger concern for Wisconsin, as Jake Ferguson took most of the snaps in 2021 and acted as Mertz’s security blanket. They’ll likely attempt to fill his loss with a combination of Jack Eschenbach (unranked ’18) and Hayden Rucci (3star #23TE ’19).
Eschenbach looks the part at 6’6″ 240lbs. Rucci appeared in the first 6 games of 2021 before going down for the year – although he did not catch any passes.
It’s Wisconsin, so you figure at least one of these two will step up and be productive. However, the overall lack of talent and experience from the pass-catchers is a concern for any Big Ten title hopes.
Offensive Line (Grade: A+)
The line struggled early in 2021, but they found their form and became the productive group you expect form Wisconsin by the end of the year. They lose a couple starters, the most significant of which is 2nd-team All Big Ten RT Patrick Bruss. But they return plenty of talent and experience to return as one of the nation’s fiercest offensive lines.
The left side of the line is more than solidified. LT Jack Nelson (4star #10OT ’20) and C Joe Tippmann (4star #26OT ’19) were each Big Ten Honorable Mention last year, while LG Tyler Beach (3star #41OT ’17) was 3rd team All-Big Ten. Each of these guys should take another step forward in their development.
Tanor Bortolini (3star #64OG ’20) is expected to fill in the hole at RT. He has appeared in 12 games over the past two seasons and played at various positions. Bortolini has started once at C, once at LG, and three times at RT. He played well at RT in their bowl victory against Arizona State last year.
While Michael Futney (3star #16OT ’18) is expected to step up at RG, the Badgers have 4 other players with significant playing experience. With plenty of experience and depth, this unit should carry their strong finish from 2021 into 2022 and meet their expectation of being one of the nation’s best offensive lines.
Defensive Line (Grade: B+)
Wisconsin runs a 3-4, so their defensive line is expected to eat up blocks and plug up the middle so their linebackers can make plays across the field. Although this doesn’t allow them to put up crazy stats, they are an integral part of Wisconsin’s defensive success. With their only loss being DE Matt Henningsen, this group should have no problem doing what’s asked of them.
Isaiah Mullens (3star #36SDE ’18) figures to step up as the key pass rusher amongst this group after starting 7 games last year and accumulating 24 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2.5 TFLs. Rodas Johnson (3star #32DT ’19) and James Thompson (3star #65SDE ’20) will help to fill in the other side.
At NT, Keeanu Benton (3star #85DT ’19) is the leader of this unit and one of the Big Ten’s best. He was 2nd-team All Big Ten last year with 25 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 2.5 TFLs. With 25 career starts, he has plenty of experience and should rarely step off the field.
Depth behind these 4 guys is certainly a concern. Although Wisconsin tends to churn out quality defensive linemen every year, the lack of experience on the second unit may make them susceptible to being worn out in the 4th quarter of games. While not the strength of the defense, Mullens and Benton will help bring cohesion and consistency to a solid unit.
Linebackers (Grade: A-)
At surface level, this group seems to be in trouble. They lose their top three linebackers from 2021, including a 1st-team All-American and 1st-team All Big Ten. But Wisconsin always reloads rather than rebuilds at this position. With plenty of talent and experience in this room, they should have little trouble replicating last year’s production.
Nick Herbig (4star #9OLB ’20) is the lone returning starter. He was the Badgers’ 3rd-leading tackler at OLB last year and should step up to lead a unit with a lot of new faces. CJ Goetz (3star #31ILB ’18) should step up at the other OLB spot. He has appeared in 33 career games and made his first career start last year vs Army. He played well, putting up 7 tackles and 1.5 TFLs. Goetz shouldn’t miss a beat stepping into a larger role.
The inside linebackers will likely be a rotation between 3 guys: Jake Chaney (3star #97LB ’21), Jordan Turner (3star #31LB ’20), and Tatum Grass (unranked in ’19). The trio has appeared in a total of 35 games over the past two seasons.
Although there is some level of concern regarding the experience of this unit, Wisconsin’s performance at linebacker over the past decade indicates they should have no problem with young players stepping up into bigger roles.
Defensive Backs (Grade: B+)
Wisconsin loses all 4 starters from one of the best secondaries in the country. But fortunately for them, they also add 4 transfers.
Cornerback
Jay Shaw (3star #53CB ’18) transfers from UCLA. Across the past three seasons, Shaw has 81 tackles, 6 INTs, and 8 PBUs. He started 5 games for UCLA in 2021 and was named 2nd-team All Pac-12. The 5th-year vet should step into a starting role and have no problem leading this unit.
Cedrick Dort (3star #157CB ’17) transfers from Kentucky after starting 25 games over the past 4 seasons. He accumulated 51 tackles and 7 PBUs in those games. Although he is on the smaller side, he offers great experience for a new-look group.
Wisconsin also gets Justin Clark (2star #112CB ’18) from Toledo. Although not highly touted as a recruit or a transfer, Clark has 4 INTs and 12 PBUs in his career.
The Badgers also get a couple returnees in Semar Melvin (3star #66CB ’19) and Alexander Smith (3star #112CB ’18).
Despite all the losses, this unit still has incredible experience and depth. It may take them time to build cohesion, but they have 5 reliable cornerbacks to rotate in and give offenses different looks.
Safety
John Torchio (unranked ’18) is a key name to watch here. Although he only started 2 games last year, he put up 35 tackles, 3 TFLs, and 3 INTs. Torchio has playing experience going back to ’19 and should step up as the secondary’s leader.
The other safety spot could be rotated by 3 players: Hunter Wohler (4star #13S ’21), Travian Blaylock (3star #56CB ’18), and Kamo’i Latu (3star #88S ’20). Wohler appeared in every game last year, finishing with 17 tackles and 3 TFLs. Blaylock has playing experience going back to 2018 (although mostly on special teams) and had 15 tackles last year. Latu transfers from Utah after making only 1 start over the past 2 seasons.
With 5 cornerbacks and 4 safeties available to play, Wisconsin’s biggest problem will be figuring out the pecking order. But the depth and experience this group offers should more than make up for the losses from 2021.
Schedule & Game Predictions
Projected 2022 Record: 9-5 (5-5 BIG)
| Opponent | Date | Time (EST) | Prediction |
| BYE | |||
| vs Illinois St | Sept 3rd | 7:00pm | W |
| vs Washington St | Sept 10th | 3:30pm | W |
| vs New Mexico St | Sept 17th | 3:30pm | W |
| at Ohio State | Sept 24th | TBD | L |
| vs Illinois | Oct 1st | TBD | W |
| at Northwestern | Oct 8th | TBD | W |
| at Michigan State | Oct 15th | TBD | L |
| vs Purdue | Oct 22nd | 3:30pm | W |
| BYE | – | – | – |
| vs Maryland | Nov 5th | TBD | L |
| vs Iowa | Nov 12th | TBD | W |
| at Nebraska | Nov 19th | TBD | L |
| vs Minnesota | Nov 26th | TBD | W |
| BIG Championship vs Ohio State | Dec 3rd | 8:00pm | L |
| Outback Bowl vs Arkansas | Jan 1st | 12:00pm | W |
Coaching Changes
Paul Chryst is entering his 7th year with Wisconsin, accumulating a 65-23 thus far. Despite more coaching changes than is typical for the Badgers, their offensive and defensive identities should not change much.
Offense
Joe Rudolph is gone as their OC and OL coach. Bob Bostad steps in to coach the offensive line. He has moves over from coaching the linebackers, where he’s been since 2017. Before that, he coached the offensive line at various other schools since 1990. He was Wisconsin’s offensive line coach from 2006-2011, which included Montee Ball’s sensational 1,923 yard season.
Bobby Engram will take over play-calling duties as the Badgers’ new OC. Engram played WR at Penn State and was in the NFL from 1996-2010. After he retired, he was an assistant with Pitt and the 49ers. In 2014 he joined the Ravens as TE coach. Engram eventually moved to coach the WRs where he stayed until last year.
Although RB coach Gary Brown is still on the staff, he has been facing some medical issues throughout the off-season which may cause him to miss some or all of the 2022 season. If that’s the case, a combination of Chryst and Engram will step up to coach the running backs.
Defense
The lone position to fill is LB coach with Rudolph moving to the offensive line. Wisconsin brought in Bill Sheridan who has an extensive coaching career at various colleges (Michigan, MSU, Notre Dame, and BC) and NFL teams (Giants, Dolphins, Buccaneers, and Lions). Sheridan should have little trouble getting the most out of a talented linebacker room.
Although these are more changes than Wisconsin is used to, they made solid hires which should only improve their football team.
What to Expect in 2022
Offense
Offensively, expect much of what we see every year from Wisconsin: a big, tough offensive line, talented running backs, and an average passing attack that is able to make 2-3 big plays a game.
Expect Braelon Allen to step up as the workhorse running back. Although Mellusi is a fine back, he is coming off of a serious injury and Allen already proved he can handle 20+ touches per game without compromising efficiency. Braelon Allen should be the favorite to lead the Big Ten in rushing.
Expect Graham Mertz to put up the most passing yards Wisconsin has had since Jack Coan’s 2,727 in 2019. While Chimere Dike is the clear-cut #1 receiver, I like Markus Allen to step up as a complement to the shifty speedster.
However, don’t expect Jack Eschenbach or Hayden Rucci to offer a ton of production at tight end. They are both more adept blockers, so Mertz will likely be forced to look elsewhere when throwing.
Defense
Expect a step back from 2021’s production. Wisconsin was 1st in the Big Ten in yards given up, 1st in run defense, 1st in pass defense, and 2nd in opponent ppg. With so much talent gone, it will be nearly impossible for them to live up to those numbers.
However, expect a new linebacker core to step up and lead another good defense. Nick Herbig and CJ Goetz could both be All-Big Ten at OLB.
In the secondary, expect them to take a few games to gel and gain cohesion. With 4 transfers and only 2 starts from their 2021 returnees, they won’t be able to immediately mesh. But thanks to a relatively easy non-conference schedule, they should be hitting their stride by the time they have to travel to Columbus on September 24th.
Post-Season
Despite a strong 5-1 start, a brutal back-half of the schedule will see Wisconsin finish 8-4. With the defense taking a step back and the offense being one-dimensional, it is just hard to envision Wisconsin topping last year’s 9 win total.
Luckily for the Badgers, the entire Big Ten West will be a relatively even playing field. Iowa, Purdue, Nebraska, and Minnesota all have flaws themselves, so Wisconsin’s question marks won’t be detrimental to their Big Ten title hopes.
Given their head-to-head win vs Iowa, Wisconsin will likely be heading into their season finale vs Minnesota knowing a win would propel them to Indianapolis to face the winner of Ohio State vs Michigan. With Minnesota fielding a weaker front-7, Wisconsin shouldn’t struggle to get their run game going and walk out with a win.
In a rematch vs Ohio State for the Big Ten crown, Wisconsin is sure to put up a good fight. However, Mertz will have to make more than 2 or 3 big plays to knock off the undefeated Buckeyes. And with the Ohio State defense likely to be playing its best as the season goes on, it is hard to see the conservative Wisconsin offense outscoring Ohio State.
Finishing 8-5 might seem like a disappointment for Wisconsin fans, but they’ll have an opportunity to finish the year on a high note. With their appearance in the Big Ten Championship, they’ll get the 4th-best Big Ten bowl game behind Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State (who should all appear in playoff / NY6 games).
Wisconsin has historically performed very well in bowl games, and it has been no different under Paul Chryst. He is 6-1 in bowl games for the Badgers. Facing a talented Arkansas team with a lot of Big Ten reputation on the line in the Outback Bowl, Wisconsin should take them down and finish the year at 9-5.