A Vikings Fan’s Viewing Guide to CFB: Can Wisconsin Reach Top 10 Status?
Josh Frey
|
Just like the NFL season is fast approaching, we are nearing the day where college football teams will arrive on campus and begin their own preseason work. As a self-proclaimed NFL Draft nerd, I get almost as excited for the college football season as I do for the NFL season. Because of that, I am putting together guides for many of the notable college football programs ahead of the 2022 season. Whether you’re a seasoned college football viewer, or just getting into it for the first time, there is something here for everyone.
We’ve already gone through many of the major contenders in the AAC, and we are now finished up in the ACC. Now, we are spending a couple days going through the Big 10. Today, we talk about a program that many Vikings fans know very well: the Wisconsin Badgers.
Overview
After a Rose Bowl appearance in 2019 and double-digit win seasons in five of the six years from 2014-19, the past two years have been extremely disappointing for the Wisconsin Badgers. QB Graham Mertz had hopes at an all-time high when he torched Illinois for 245 yards passing and five touchdowns while completing 20 of his 21 passes to open the 2020 season.
Since then, though, he has been unable to recapture the heights of that game, throwing for a total of 14 touchdowns in his last 19 games. 2021 was the first season since 2015 where the Badgers never cracked the top 10 in the AP Polls because their offense never truly found a rhythm outside of their latest star running back, Braelon Allen.
Meanwhile, the Badger defense continues to prove to be one of the best in the nation. They ranked fourth in points allowed during 2021 at 16.2 points per game. They will have to replace eight starters this year, but defensive coordinator Jim Leonard is among the best in the business.
2022 NFL Draft Prospects
- LB Leo Chenal, Round 3, No. 103, Kansas City Chiefs
- G Logan Bruss, Round 3, No. 104, Los Angeles Rams
- TE Jake Ferguson, Round 4, No. 129, Dallas Cowboys
- DT Matt Henningsen Round 6, No. 206, Denver Broncos
- CB Faion Hicks, Round 7, No. 232, Denver Broncos
Notable Transfers In
- CB Jay Shaw (UCLA)
- CB Cedrick Dort (Kentucky)
- S Kamo’i Latu (Utah)
Notable Transfers Out
- RB Jalen Berger (Michigan State)
2022 Schedule
- 9/3 vs. Illinois State
- 9/10 vs. Washington State
- 9/17 vs. New Mexico State
- 9/24 @ Ohio State
- 10/1 vs. Illinois
- 10/8 @ Northwestern
- 10/15 @ Michigan State
- 10/22 vs. Purdue
- 11/5 vs. Maryland
- 11/12 @ Iowa
- 11/19 @ Nebraska
- 11/26 vs. Minnesota
Keys to 2022
Graham Mertz Must Step Up
Having Braelon Allen in the backfield is awesome, but a star running back can only take an offense so far. Especially with dominant passing offenses like Ohio State’s on the schedule early in the season, Graham Mertz is going to have to hold his own.
Linebacker Depth
Among the replacements that must be made on the defense are their linebackers. Both of second-team All-American Leo Chenal and unanimous first-team Big 10 Jack Sanborn are in the NFL now, and they have very limited experience waiting in the wings.
Both Chenal and Sanborn were terrific pass-rushers from the interior LB spots, and it looks like junior Maema Njongmeta will do much of the work alongside redshirt sophomore Jordan Turner. They will also rely on OLB Nick Herbig who broke out with nine sacks last year. The Wisconsin Badgers may need Graham Mertz to do a little more from the QB spot, but that will be all for naught if their defense isn’t as dominant as it has been.
My “Purple Player to Watch”
The Wisconsin Badgers have sent players to the NFL in every draft since 1979, and 2023 doesn’t look to be any different. One of their top prospects this year is nose tackle Keeanu Benton. Benton is a powerful force out of the interior that will cause problems for any offensive line at 6-4 and 316 pounds.
The Vikings have Harrison Phillips and a potential breakout star in Jaylen Twyman, but if the Vikings do play a hybrid defense that can flip-flop between 3-4 and 4-3, another strong presence at defensive tackle would help a lot. Since 2020, Benton has progressed extremely well in his development, and he should be one of the first defensive tackles off the board in 2023.
