With the season kicking off in exactly one month the Wisconsin Badgers will open their fall camp on Wednesday and, as a result, today released their official 2020 roster.
Here is their group heading into the season:
A surprise addition to the roster is senior offensive lineman Boyd Dietzen, a player who retired two years ago because of injuries.
One absence of note, though, is safety Reggie Pearson after he impressed in his first year as a starter.
Head coach Paul Chryst in a press conference today addressed his absence and cited a physical issue as the reason he isn’t on the roster.
#Badgers coach Paul Chryst on Reggie Pearson: He is in school. Has a physical issue discovered in off-season and is not cleared to play.
— Jeff Potrykus (@jaypo1961) September 23, 2020
#Badgers HC Paul Chryst says Reggie Pearson in the offseason "found something that was concern and wasn't cleared to play." He is in school and Chryst said he wants him around the program.
— Dave Heller (@dave_heller) September 23, 2020
Pearson will still stay in school and with the football program.
A final piece worth noting is the significant weight differences several players have entering the season:
#Badgers 2020 big weight gains & losses:
AJ Abbott +7
Peter Bowden +13
Logan Brown -11
Logan Bruss +9
Eric Burrell +8
Julius Davis +7
Boyd Dietzen +8
Quan Easterling -9
Jack Eschenbach +23
Tatum Gross +8
Izayah Green-May +11— Dave Heller (@dave_heller) September 23, 2020
Mike Gregorie +13
Rodas Johnson -15
Kayden Lyles +13
Spencer Lytle +12
Graham Mertz +9
Isaiah Mullens +9
Cooper Nelson +16
Maema Njongmeta +10
Kendric Pryor +9
Cormac Sampson +10
Marty Strey +11
Cole Van Lanen -7— Dave Heller (@dave_heller) September 23, 2020
A few names that stick out from this list: Graham Mertz up nine pounds, Cole Van Lanen down seven pounds, Eric Burrell up eight pouynds and Izayah Green-May up 11 pounds.
There have been countless schedule releases in the last few months that have made the Badgers’ 2020 football season feel real. This roster release, though, takes the cake. We’re one month from Badger and Big Ten football.