Tag: Chase Wolf

Watch: Badger quarterback explains reason for staying

Although the Badgers brought in many new options in the transfer portal, redshirt freshman QB Myles Burkett said that he’s never leaving.

Although the Badgers brought in many new options in the transfer portal, redshirt freshman quarterback Myles Burkett said that he never considered leaving Wisconsin following the 2022 campaign.

Burkett is expected to be a depth option again in 2023 behind the likes of transfer quarterbacks Tanner Mordecai (SMU) and Braedyn Locke (Mississippi State), but he seems to be more focused on the team as a whole.

The Franklin, Wisconsin native appeared in two games last season, completing 4 out of 5 pass attempts for 84 yards in relief of Graham Mertz. With Mertz (Florida), Deacon Hill (Iowa) and Chase Wolf (Unspecified) leaving the quarterback room following last year, Burkett seems dedicated to see Luke Fickell and his staff through in 2023.

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Report: A Wisconsin quarterback will not return next season

Report: A Wisconsin quarterback will not return next season

According to The Athletic’s Jesse Temple, a Wisconsin quarterback will not be returning next year.

Chase Wolf, who spent the past four seasons in Madison, was the starter in Wisconsin’s Guaranteed Rate Bowl win over Oklahoma State.

Wolf threw three touchdowns during his career as a Badger, and spent the majority of his time backing up Jack Coan and Graham Mertz.

The news doesn’t come as too much of a shock with the Badgers loading up the quarterback room through the transfer portal this offseason. In his lone start, Wolf threw for 116 yards and a touchdown as he led Wisconsin to a win over the Cowboys.

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Report: Wisconsin QB Chase Wolf suffers potential season ending injury

Report: Wisconsin may be without its QB2 for the remainder of the year.

According to a report from Dario Melendez, the sports director for Wisconsin 12 News, Badgers quarterback Chase Wolf has a torn meniscus and is likely to miss the entire 2022 college football season.

Wolf was the unquestioned backup QB to third-year starter Graham Mertz and was the only signal caller on the roster with actual in-game experience.

During his Wisconsin career, the Cincinnati, Ohio native has thrown for 155 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions.

With Wolf potentially out for the season, an already thin depth chart at QB becomes even murkier. The Wisconsin coaching staff will now turn to redshirt freshman Deacon Hill, who has yet to appear in a collegiate game to assume the role as the No. 2 quarterback.

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Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion, and analysis. You can also follow Dillon Graff on Twitter @DillonGraff.

How to watch: Wisconsin vs. Illinois

How to watch, listen and stream the Wisconsin Badgers against the Illinois Fighting Illini:

The Wisconsin Badgers will go up against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill. on Saturday afternoon. This is a must-win game for the Badgers, who have started the season off 1-3 after falling to Penn State, Notre Dame and Michigan.

Related: Let’s remember what happened the last time Graham Mertz played Illinois

Wisconsin will need starting quarterback Graham Mertz back healthy following his chest injury against the Wolverines that ended his promising performance early in the third quarter. The Badgers’ offense stumbled under backup QB Chase Wolf, who threw an interception and lost a fumble in his second-half performance off the bench.

Hopefully, a healthy Mertz and improved offensive line play will help to solve the Badgers’ woes and lead them to their first Big Ten victory of the season against Illinois.

How to watch:

Matchup: Wisconsin Badgers at Illinois Fighting Illini

Where: Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill.

When: Oct. 9, 2021, at 2:30 p.m. CST

Where to watch: Big Ten Network(BTN)

  • Announcers:
    • Play-by-Play: Mark Followill
    • Analyst: Matt Millen
    • Sideline Reporter: Elise Menaker

Where to stream: Fox Sports App or Foxsports.com/Live

Where to listen: Badger Sports Network on the Varsity Network App or Sirius Satellite Radio 99, XM 210

  • Announcers:
    • Play-by-Play: Matt Lepay
    • Analyst: Mike Lucas, Mark Tauscher
    • Sideline Reporter: Patrick Herb

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

WATCH: CB Dean Engram lays out for spectacular interception in Wisconsin spring practice

On Saturday, Wisconsin football held one of its last spring practices of the season. There was no shortage of big plays in today’s practi…

On Saturday, Wisconsin football held one of its last spring practices of the season. There was no shortage of big plays in today’s practice including a phenomenal interception of backup quarterback Chase Wolf by sophomore cornerback Dean Engram.

Related: 2021 NFL Draft Profile: Wisconsin CB Rachad Wildgoose

Although Engram did not start last season, he played in several 2020 games for the Badgers. The sophomore cornerback will likely battle for the nickel cornerback spot in fall camp.

In the clip courtesy of George Balekji and NBC 15 Madison, Engram plays behind wide receiver Jordan DiBenedetto then dives in front of him just as the ball arrived from Wolf to complete the interception. It is exciting to see Engram stepping up for Wisconsin in spring camp, especially after the early exit of former Wisconsin CB Rachad Wildgoose to the NFL.

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

How many players and staff members need to test positive for COVID-19 for Saturday’s game to be canceled?

Since the Wisconsin Badgers’ 45-7 victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini on Friday thanks to a 248-yard, 5-touchdown performance…

Since the Wisconsin Badgers’ 45-7 victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini on Friday thanks to a 248-yard, 5-touchdown performance from redshirt freshman quarterback Graham Mertz the talk hasn’t been about the team and their impressive performance. It’s been about Mertz and third-string quarterback Chase Wolf testing positive for COVID-19, and what it means for the team moving forward.

As outlined a few days ago, Mertz and Wolf will now miss at least 21 days of football activity, that including the team’s contests against Nebraska, Purdue and Michigan.

Related: Who is Danny Vanden Boom, the Badgers’ likely Week 2 starter?

For news on Mertz’s recent confirmed positive test, Chase Wolf’s status and the rest of the program’s test results stay tuned to BadgersWire throughout the week.

What needs to be discussed now, though, is how many more confirmed positive tests are needed for Saturday’s game at Nebraska to be cancelled.

From the Big Ten COVID-19 protocol, the program will need either >5% of tests to be positive or >7.5% of the population to test positive in order for the game to be cancelled.

There are 113 players on the roster and another 33 coaches and staff, so the math boils down to 11 positives in the 146-person population needed for the 7.5% threshold to be met.

The test postivity clause in the protocol is a bit harder to break down, as we don’t know the exact testing regimen. So it’s possible that players and coaches are tested more than once each day, possible that once a player or staff member is confirmed to be positive they don’t receive another test for a few days, or possible that it’s a direct 1:1 ratio of players and tests-per-day.

Because it’s evaluated based on a rolling 7-day period and because we don’t know how many tests are adminstered each day, it’s challenging to directly predict how many positive tests are needed to reach the 5% test positivity threshold.

Again, Mertz and Wolf are the two reported positives at this point in the week. 11 coaches and staff isn’t that great of a number when you consider the constant exposure a football program sees, so it will be an interesting few days to say the least as the team continues to be tested while they prepare for their game on Saturday against Nebraska.

Report: Wisconsin QB Chase Wolf tests positive for COVID-19

The Badgers are possibly down another QB

A wild few days of news in the Wisconsin football family continued last night with reports of another Badger testing positive for COVID-19. According to Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a second Badger QB, sophomore Chase Wolf, has tested positive for COVID-19. It was unclear in initial reports whether or not this was Wolf’s first daily test, or second PCR test. If Wolf tests positive twice, he would be forced to miss at least 21 days and Wisconsin’s next three games.

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Wisconsin will now look to their fourth-string quarterback in Danny Vanden Boom, a junior from Kimberly, Wisconsin. Vanden Boom has only thrown one career pass, and he threw it for a three-yard touchdown to WR Taj Mustapha in a 2018 win over New Mexico.

BadgersWire will have the latest on this developing story throughout the week.

A look at the Big Ten testing protocol that will determine Graham Mertz’s situation

A look at Big Ten protocol that will decide if Mertz can safely play this Saturday

As initially reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz tested positive for COVID-19 in a daily test on Saturday.

So, what are the next steps for Wisconsin and for Mertz? Per Big Ten protocol, Mertz will now take the more reliable PCR test, a nasal swab test that takes longer than the daily tests to come back:

“The Big Ten will require student-athletes, coaches, trainers and other individuals that are on the field for all practices and games to undergo daily antigen testing. Test results must be completed and recorded prior to each practice or game. Student-athletes who test positive for the coronavirus through point of contact (POC) daily testing would require a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to confirm the result of the POC test.”

If Mertz has a positive PCR test that confirms his initial POC positive, he will miss at least 21 days and games against Nebraska, Purdue, and Michigan. In addition to missing time, Mertz would undergo cardiac testing to ensure he is safe to return to the field per Big Ten protocol:

“All COVID-19 positive student-athletes will have to undergo comprehensive cardiac testing to include labs and biomarkers, ECG, Echocardiogram and a Cardiac MRI. Following cardiac evaluation, student-athletes must receive clearance from a cardiologist designated by the university for the primary purpose of cardiac clearance for COVID-19 positive student-athletes. The earliest a student-athlete can return to game competition is 21 days following a COVID-19 positive diagnosis.”

For now, it is a waiting game to see whether or not Mertz’s PCR test comes back positive, and if other Badger football players test positive for COVID-19 or if this appears to be an isolated case.

Wisconsin Spring Position Preview: Quarterbacks

Examing the spring quarterback roster. Jack Coan QB, Graham Mertz QB, Chase Wolf QB, Danny Vanden Boom QB

Spring football allows for head coach Paul Chryst to not have to worry about preparing for a game. Instead, it allows him to teach the game of football and continue to develop the players on Wisconsin’s roster as they prepare for the 2020 season. Chryst will have 15 practices beginning March 10th to help make sure his team is improving and building off of what they accomplished during the 2019 season.

In this Badgers Wire feature, we will break down the quarterback position for Wisconsin as they head into spring practice.

Spring Quarterback Roster

Jack Coan, Graham Mertz, Chase Wolf, Danny Vanden Boom

What we know going into spring practice

At this time a season ago, there was the question of who would be the starter for Wisconsin when they opened the season against South Florida. As spring practice would serve as the first opportunity of the four quarterbacks on the roster to try and compete for reps with the first-team offense.

Ultimately Jack Coan won the starting position as Chase Wolf and Graham Mertz served as co-backups throughout last season as they appeared in three and two games respectively a season ago.

Coan’s play over the course of the 2019 season should solidify himself as the starter again as he goes into his senior season. Coan will receive the bulk of the first-team reps as it will be important for him to grow from what he accomplished as a junior.

In particular, for Coan, one of the main focuses will be working on the deep ball. Although Coan brought stability to the quarterback position a season ago the Badgers struggled to consistently stretch the field.

Spring football will be the perfect time for Coan to try and improve in this area as he’ll be able to test out his arm strength and be able to experiment with his deep throws.

What we hope to find out following spring practice

Wisconsin’s quarterback room was the strongest it has been in some time as it will be interesting to see how much improvement has been made from all four quarterbacks since the end of last spring.

Coan will get a good deal of reps over spring practice but Wolf and Mertz will also receive reps with the first team too.

Wolf and Mertz both have strong arms as it will be a chance for them to continue to work on their mechanics and continue to progress at the quarterback position.

Mertz came in with a lot of hype last season and not surprising he was up and down at the quarterback position over his first spring practice. With him being on campus for a year now the inconsistency he may have demonstrated should be improved as nothing should be new to him anymore. He should be more comfortable with the playbook and with his dropbacks as he goes through his reads.

Wolf like Mertz needs to become more consistent but with him also going through his second spring practice he should be able to take the next step in his development.

One area where Wolf has been held back is his decision making. At times he hasn’t placed the football where only his intended target can get it. In order for Wolf to push to be Coan’s top backup, he needs to improve his decision making so he doesn’t hurt Wisconsin’s offense.

Spring football will allow him to test out certain throws from different angles, which he has shown he’s capable of doing but he also needs to learn quickly which throws work for him and which ones he shouldn’t attempt.

Each quarterback on Wisconsin’s spring roster will continue to push one another in order to get better each day. Although all four are fighting for playing time they know spring practice is a time for all of them to improve as quarterbacks. Making it important they make each rep they receive count.

 

Projecting Wisconsin’s Spring Offensive Depth Chart

Who is projected to start on offense when the Badgers open spring camp.

Wisconsin’s offense in 2020 will certainly have a different feel to it considering the Badgers lost three key players on the offensive side of the football in running back Jonathan Taylor, wide receiver Quintez Cephus, and center Tyler Biadasz as all three declared early for the NFL Draft. Despite the departures from those three players, the Badgers do return six offensive starters from 2019.

In this Badgers Wire feature, we project what the spring depth chart on offense will look like when the Badgers open up spring practice.

Projected Spring Depth Chart Quarterback: 1. Jack Coan, 2. Graham Mertz, 3. Chase Wolf, 4. Danny Vanden Boom

Jack Coan will open spring football as the projected starter for Wisconsin and until he gives Paul Chryst a reason why he shouldn’t be starting for Wisconsin he’ll remain atop the depth chart throughout spring and when fall camp opens. Graham Mertz is certainly talented enough to challenge Coan for the starting position but the key for Mertz is building off of his first year at Wisconsin and consistently stringing together successful practices. This will be Mertz’s second spring football. Chase Wolf will be competing to be the top backup. Mertz and Wolf were listed as co-backups to Coan last season but if Coan would have had to leave the game due to an injury it would have been Mertz to fill in the place of Coan. Making it an important spring for Wolf to continue to improve upon his quarterback mechanics. Danny Vanden Boom played in three games as a redshirt freshman in 2018 but didn’t appear in a game last season.

Projected Spring Depth Chart Running Back: 1. Garrett Groshek, 2. Nakia Watson, 3. Isaac Guerendo, 4. Brady Schipper, 5. Julius Davis

Highly touted and consensus four-star running back Jalen Berger won’t arrive until this summer. In the meantime, it will be up to Garrett Groshek and Nakia Watson to show they’re capable of filling the giant shoes that are being left behind in two-time Doak Walker Award winner Jonathan Taylor. Watson (74-331-2) finished the season with more carries and more rushing yards than Groshek (42-194-2). But Watson over Wisconsin’s last two games didn’t register a carry as he’ll need to show he can take on a larger role in the offense during spring practice. Groshek is trusted by the coaches as he’s the most experienced running back returning as he has shown his capability as a receiver but also holding up in pass blocking too. How Guerendo, Schipper, and Davis figure into the running back picture in 2020 will still be determined but how they play over spring football will go a long way in terms of how many reps they receive once fall camp begins.

Projected Spring Depth Chart Fullback: 1. Mason Stokke, 2. John Chenal, 3. Quan Easterling

Mason Stokke and John Chenal split reps at fullback in 2019 and that should continue unless Stokke or Chenal take complete command over the role as starting fullback. Both had their moments in 2019 where they succeeded but Stokke’s best statistical game came against Minnesota when he registered 14 yards rushing on two carries and had three catches for 30 yards. Quan Easterling redshirted in 2019 but did appear in one game against Illinois due to Stokke missing the game because of an injury.

Projected Spring Depth Chart Wide Receiver: 1. Kendric Pryor, 2. Danny Davis, 3. Jack Dunn, 4. Adam Krumholz, 5. A.J. Abbott, 6. Stephan Bracey

Wisconsin’s depth chart at the wide receiver position figured it would have Cephus and Aron Cruickshank but with Cephus entering the draft and Cruickshank transferring to Rutgers the depth at wide receiver took a hit. But the Badgers still have enough depth to absorb those losses. It helps that Wisconsin returns Kendric Pryor and Danny Davis. Between the two Davis finished with more receptions than Pryor (30-to-23) but Pryor finished with 278 receiving yards to Davis’ 250. Both of their roles should expand entering the 2020 season and with more opportunities, the duo should be able to respond. Behind Davis and Pryor will be Jack Dunn and Adam Krumholz. Two of Wisconsin’s better run blockers at the wide receiver position. Abbott appeared in seven games a year ago mostly on special teams or in mop-up duty while Bracey redshirted but he did travel with the team for road games at times.

Projected Spring Depth Chart Tight End: 1. Jake Ferguson, 2. Cormac Sampson, 3. Jack Eschenbach 

Ferguson will return as the Badgers top tight end as he has improved over the past two years and that should continue for Ferguson as his 33 receptions for 407 yards ranked second in both categories. Sampson took on a larger role than previously expected for Wisconsin in 2019 as he served as Wisconsin’s blocking tight end and had success as he’ll be projected to fill that role again in 2020. Eschenbach a walk-on is a player the coaches are high on but he’ll need to continue to put it all together. A pair of redshirt freshman Hayden Rucci and Clay Cundiff will compete for a spot on the depth chart as the duo have important springs ahead of them as they continue to grow into the tight end position.

Projected Spring Depth Chart Offensive Line: LT Cole Van Lanen, LG Josh Seltzner, C Kayden Lyles, RG Logan Bruss, RT Tyler Beach

Wisconsin lost three starters from its 2019 offensive line all coming on the interior in guards David Moorman and Jason Erdman and center Tyler Biadasz. Who ultimately starts along the offensive line when the Badgers open up the season against Indiana won’t be determined until fall camp. As spring will serve as an opportunity for offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Joe Rudolph to use a variety of different combinations along the offensive line. But what is listed above seems to make the most sense with what Rudolph will roll out to start with and go from there when he tries out different line combinations. Lyles and Seltzner both started four games a season ago at left and right guard respectively. Lyles is capable of sliding over to center and with Bruss being capable of sliding over to guard will allow for Tyler Beach to start at right tackle.