Projecting Wisconsin's offensive depth chart using what we learned at spring practice (2024)

MADISON, Wis. — It goes without saying at this point that Wisconsin’s offense is going to look different in 2023. A lot different.

An up-tempo spread attack has replaced the Badgers’ traditionally methodical pro-style approach. Wisconsin now operates at such a high speed that if you reach for a handful of popcorn between plays, you might miss the next snap.

Fifteen spring practices provided an idea of not just how Wisconsin will play but who will be on the field. Here’s a look at how Wisconsin’s offensive two-deep projects for this season following a highly entertaining and illuminating five weeks of football.

Quarterback

Starter: Tanner Mordecai (sixth-year senior)
Backup: Braedyn Locke (redshirt freshman)
Other candidates: Myles Burkett (redshirt freshman), Nick Evers (redshirt freshman), Cole LaCrue (freshman)

The only opportunity Badgers fans had to watch Mordecai this spring came during a scrimmage on a day in which he threw four interceptions. That performance was not indicative of the high level of play Mordecai brought to the first-team offense. His experience in an otherwise young quarterbacks room is invaluable. As a two-year starter at SMU, he passed for 7,152 yards and 72 touchdowns. It’s tough to predict exactly how Wisconsin’s offense will come together in Year 1 under offensive coordinator Phil Longo, but Mordecai has the credentials to give the passing game a significant boost.

Locke, meanwhile, emerged as the clear-cut backup quarterback. His knowledge of the offense and background running the Air Raid atMississippi Statelast season gave him an advantage, but he made a variety of great throws throughout the spring with the second-team offense. Marshall Howe, a walk-on who exited the spring as the No. 3 quarterback, entered the transfer portal after spring practice ended. Evers is still grasping the concepts in Longo’s offense, but the Oklahomatransfer has tremendous upside with his athleticism and arm strength.

Running back

Starter: Braelon Allen (junior)
Backup: Chez Mellusi (fifth-year senior)
Other candidates: Jackson Acker (redshirt sophom*ore), Grover Bortolotti (redshirt sophom*ore), Cade Yacamelli (redshirt freshman), Zach Gloudeman (redshirt freshman), Nate White (freshman)

Wisconsin’s top two running backs were set in stone before the first spring practice even took place. Allen and Mellusi give the Badgers a dynamic one-two punch and, when healthy, should be among the best running back duos in the country. There understandably weren’t a ton of live tackling reps for those players during spring practice, but they did showcase their speed, power, athleticism and vision during the open scrimmage in Camp Randall Stadium. Allen and Mellusi likely will be much more involved in the passing game and could be utilized on the field at the same time. With more space to work in and fewer defenders in the box, both players believe they are in position for the best season of their careers.

The third running back option is a work in progress. Acker missed much of spring practice with an injury, but his versatility and background as a starting fullback last season should warrant a serious look in fall camp. Bortolotti, a walk-on, handled a lot of the carries with the reserves in the spring. Yacamelli’s strength and speed as a ball carrier, as well as his ability to catch passes out of the backfield, make him an intriguing option. White, an incoming freshman, rushed for 1,345 yards and 26 touchdowns as a high school senior and could have a chance to climb the depth chart.

Wide receiver

Starters: Chimere Dike (senior), CJ Williams (sophom*ore) and Will Pauling (redshirt sophom*ore)
Backups: Bryson Green (redshirt junior), Keontez Lewis (junior) and Skyler Bell (redshirt sophom*ore)
Other candidates: Vinny Anthony II (sophom*ore), Quincy Burroughs (redshirt freshman), Tommy McIntosh (redshirt freshman), Chris Brooks Jr. (redshirt freshman), Markus Allen (redshirt sophom*ore), Haakon Anderson (redshirt junior), Cam Fane (redshirt freshman), Alex Moeller (redshirt sophom*ore), Grady O’Neill (redshirt freshman), Cole Toennies (redshirt freshman), Trech Kekahuna (freshman)

Has Wisconsin ever had this much wide receiver depth? It’s hard to remember when. One could legitimately make the case that eight or nine players are capable of contributing to the position next season. Wide receivers coach Mike Brown has said he’d like to rotate at least six players, and spring practice demonstrated why that will be necessary.

USC transfer Williams and Cincinnati transfer Pauling made big moves this spring to leap into the first-team group. Williams had more “wow” plays than perhaps any other wide receiver and brings a downfield playmaking dynamic. Pauling emerged as the No. 1 slot option and was a favorite target for Mordecai. Dike, who led Wisconsin with 47 catches for 689 yards and six touchdowns last season, remains in the top group.

Fellow returning wide receivers Lewis and Bell will be major contributors to the offense as well. The wild card here is what happens when Oklahoma State transfer Bryson Green is fully recovered from offseason shoulder surgery. Given his on-field production for the Cowboys last season, when he ranked second on the team in receptions (36) and receiving yards (584) and first in touchdown catches (five), he figures to be a good bet to crack the rotation. But Anthony, Burroughs and McIntosh all had their moments during the spring, which should make the competition for reps during fall camp fascinating to watch.

Tight end

Starter: Clay Cundiff (redshirt senior)
Backup:Jack Pugh (redshirt sophom*ore)
Other candidates: Jack Eschenbach (sixth-year senior), Hayden Rucci (redshirt senior), Riley Nowakowski (redshirt junior), Cam Large (redshirt junior), Cole Dakovich (redshirt junior), JT Seagreaves (redshirt freshman), Angel Toombs (freshman), Tucker Ashcraft (freshman)

Tight end is a difficult position group to project because, during various portions of spring practice, four players earned first-team reps: Nowakowski, Pugh, Eschenbach and Rucci. Of those four, Pugh’s skill set is perhaps the most intriguing because of his length and athleticism, which originated from his high school basketball background. But all of them made plays, with Nowakowski emerging as a reliable option after moving from fullback last season.

Having a specific starter feels less important in Longo’s offense than having tight end depth. Last season, when Longo was at North Carolina, he had three good tight ends and used each of them for 361 snaps, 397 snaps and 488 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. But for this exercise, I’m going with someone we didn’t even see participate in team drills this spring: Cundiff. He suffered a season-ending left leg fracture against Ohio State but started three games last season. If healthy, Cundiff possesses the kind of blocking and route-running ability that could thrive under Longo.

"I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re using three or four tight ends during the year, which will give us all opportunities to showcase what we have."

Why Wisconsin’s versatile, crowded tight end depth chart remains a key offensive question. https://t.co/kUH5z9lT9H

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Left tackle

Starter: Jack Nelson (redshirt junior)
Backup: Nolan Rucci (redshirt sophom*ore)
Other candidates: Max Rader (redshirt freshman)

Offensive line coach Jack Bicknell Jr. praised Nelson’s intensity, attitude, physicality and leadership. Although Wisconsin’s linemen are being asked to change some technical aspects of their game in a new-look blocking scheme, Nelson remains an anchor to the group. He has played 1,519 snaps in the past two seasons while starting 25 games. Last season, he recorded a PFF pass-blocking grade of 83.1, the highest for a Badgers offensive lineman since Tyler Biadasz in 2019 (85).

Rucci worked at the second-team left tackle spot all spring and appears to be in a position to take over for Nelson should he leave for the NFL Draft following his redshirt junior season. Rucci is a former five-star high school prospect who played in three games last season as a reserve offensive lineman.

Left guard

Starter: Tanor Bortolini (redshirt junior)
Backup: Joe Huber (redshirt junior)
Other candidates: Joe Brunner (redshirt freshman), Trey Wedig (redshirt junior), Kerry Kodanko (redshirt junior), James Durand (freshman)

Bortolini is one of Wisconsin’s most versatile offensive linemen and worked most of the spring at center after Jake Renfro sustained an injury. But if Renfro is healthy, Bortolini should occupy one of the guard spots, as he did early in the spring. Bortolini has started games in his career at left guard, center, right guard, right tackle and as a blocking tight end. He allowed just one sack last season, per PFF, while playing in 11 games with 10 starts.

Huber is another lineman with tremendous versatility who took snaps at center and guard during the spring. Huber filled in at left guard with the first-team offense and took the place of Wedig midway through the spring after Renfro was hurt. Wisconsin’s top seven linemen appear to be Nelson, Bortolini, Renfro, Huber, Michael Furtney, Riley Mahlman and Trey Wedig. But Brunner is an absolute mauler who spent the spring as the second-team left guard and could work his way into the rotation.

Center

Starter: Jake Renfro (redshirt junior)
Backup: Tanor Bortolini (redshirt junior)
Other candidates: Joe Huber (redshirt junior), Dylan Barrett (redshirt junior)

Although much of the offseason transfer attention was directed at Wisconsin’s quarterback and wide receiver additions, Renfro is expected to be one of the most significant pickups in the bunch. He earned first-team All-American Athletic Conference honors in 2021 when he started 13 games for a Cincinnati team that reached the College Football Playoff. Renfro missed last season with a knee injury and suffered a right leg injury that forced him into a boot for most of this spring, but he worked as the first-team center before the injury.

Bortolini is Wisconsin’s next option at center if Renfro is hurt. He played 116 snaps at center as a true freshman in 2020, which included a start against Iowa. He started at center in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl last season and played 74 snaps there. Huber and Barrett took center snaps this spring with the reserves.

Right guard

Starter: Michael Furtney (sixth-year senior)
Backup: JP Benzschawel (redshirt sophom*ore)
Other candidates: Trey Wedig (redshirt junior), John Clifford (redshirt freshman), James Durand (freshman)

Furtney briefly entered the transfer portal in December but opted to return for a sixth season after meeting Wisconsin’s new coaching staff. That decision appears to have paid dividends because Furtney held on to the No. 1 right guard role all spring. Furtney played in all 13 games for the Badgers last season with nine starts at right guard. He allowed only four pressures over 191 passing snaps, according to PFF. Furtney has played in 44 career games and adds to an experienced first-team unit.

Benzschawel was a former four-star prospect who was the No. 1 player in Wisconsin for the 2021 class. He appeared in one game last season for a total of 21 snaps in a blowout victory against New Mexico State. Wedig, who worked in the spring at left guard and right tackle, started two games at right guard last season.

Right tackle

Starter: Riley Mahlman (redshirt sophom*ore)
Backup: Trey Wedig (redshirt junior)
Other candidates: Barrett Nelson (redshirt freshman)

Mahlman earned the starting right tackle role out of fall camp last season but suffered a left leg injury in the opener. He ended up playing in seven games with six starts and allowed only one sack. Mahlman, who spent all of spring with the first-team group, has the agility in a 6-foot-8 and 318-pound frame to excel in Wisconsin’s new pass-blocking scheme, which emphasizes cutting down the angle in space rather than setting straight back.

Wedig spent time with the first-team offense at left guard but closed the spring as the second-team right tackle. He played in 10 games last season with eight starts, including five starts at right tackle while Mahlman was hurt. Wisconsin emerged from the spring with quality depth up front that should allow Bicknell to achieve his goal of rotating seven or eight players.

(Top photo of Braelon Allen: Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today)

Jesse Temple is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Wisconsin Badgers. He has covered the Badgers beat since 2011 and previously worked for FOX Sports Wisconsin, ESPN.com and Land of 10. Follow Jesse on Twitter @jessetemple