Garrett Rand – Syndication Server

Wisconsin DE Garrett Rand is stepping away from football

A Badger DL is stepping away from football

After a solid senior season at Wisconsin, DE Garrett Rand announced he is stepping from the game. He broke the news in a Twitter post, detailing his injuries and their “potential long-term impact” as the main reason for leaving the game he loves.

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— Garrett Rand (@rand3218) January 9, 2021

The former 4-star prospect suffered a season-ending achilles injury in 2018 before the year began. Rand ultimately worked his way back to health, and started on Wisconsin’s defensive line over the past two seasons. He was a key piece for Jim Leonhard’s defense throughout the last couple of years.

Wisconsin seniors discuss the feeling of playing at Camp Randall for the last time

During the Wisconsin Badgers’ 14-6 loss to the Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday the team had 11 seniors in the starting lineup–four on…

During the Wisconsin Badgers’ 14-6 loss to the Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday the team had 11 seniors in the starting lineup–four on offense, five on defense and two on special teams.

Back in August the NCAA granted all fall athletes an extra year of eligibility, meaning that the seniors could return in 2021 if they wanted to and the year acts as a redshirt season for everybody on the roster.

That decision of whether to leave or stay is still up in the air for some seniors on the Wisconsin football team, one of those players being defensive end Garrett Rand

“I’m still thinking about what my choices are,” Rand noted in a press conference today.

Other players including left tackle Cole Van Lanen, however, have already made the decision that this will be their final season in Madison.

“It was a bittersweet day today knowing that was my last game playing in Camp Randall,” Van Lanen said after Saturday’s loss. “I love it here and I love being a Badger… yeah that was my last game at Camp Randall but it’s not it’s not my last game as a Badger.”

Offensive lineman Jon Dietzen shares Van Lanen’s sentiment from Saturday, telling reporters today that “It feels like I got here yesterday and it’s passed in the blink of an eye.”

Rand, who still is weighing his options about next year, felt for his classmen that had just run out of the tunnel at Camp Randall for the last time.

“You never want to lose a home game,” Rand said “But I definitely felt for [Van Lanen] because I know he’s definitely going to leave and enter the draft.”

The Badger seniors now turn around and prepare for the final regular-season game of their careers against No. 19 Iowa.

We will then learn in due time how many players in the class return and play for Paul Chryst next season.

Indiana Recap:

Projecting Wisconsin’s 2020 Spring Defensive Depth Chart

Who will open up on Wisconsin’s spring depth chart on the defensive side of the football?

Wisconsin’s defense in 2020 will be missing not only two key players but also two key leaders to not only the defense but the entire team. Those two players being 2019 team captains outside linebacker Zack Baun and inside linebacker Chris Orr. Despite Wisconsin losing Baun and Orr to graduation the Badgers still return an impressive nine starters from last year’s defense.

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

Projected Spring Depth Chart Defensive Line: DE 1. Isaiahh Loudermilk and Garrett Rand, 2. Matt Henningsen and Isaiah Mullens NT 1. Keeanu Benton 2. Gio Paez

Loudermilk and Rand were able to stay healthy over the course of their redshirt junior seasons and as long as they stay healthy they have established themselves as starters at the defensive end positions. Henningsen used last year’s spring practice to put him in a position to have a terrific redshirt sophomore season. If Henningsen can put together a productive spring like he did in 2019 should allow him to take another step in his development. Mullens appeared in 13 games mostly on special teams as he registered one tackle. With backup defensive end David Pfaff graduating he’ll have a chance in spring football to show why he deserves to be apart of the defensive line rotation. At nose tackle, Keeanu Benton will be going through his first spring practice and will receive plenty of valuable practice reps as Bryson Williams could miss all of spring football as he continues to recover from his left leg injury that he suffered this past season. If Williams can’t go that will mean more reps for redshirt freshman Gio Paez as it will be critical that he takes advantage of his reps.

Projected Spring Depth Chart Linebackers: OLB 1. Noah Burks and Izayah Green-May, 2. Spencer Lytle and Jaylan Franklin ILB 1. Jack Sanborn and Leo Chenal 2. Mike Maskalunas and Maema Njongmeta

Christian Bell would’ve had a chance at competing for one of the starting outside linebacker positions opposite of Noah Burks but instead elected to transfer. That leave’s Green-May as the likely starter opposite of Burks when Wisconsin opens spring football. Green-May initially started the 2019 season as a starter but suffered a right arm injury early in the season, which caused him to miss time. Green-May was able to put together a productive fall camp and the practice habits he developed last year will need to continue if he wants to establish himself as the starter once again. Outside linebackers coach Bobby April will also give Franklin and Lytle a look as a starter opposite of Burks. Making it an important spring for both of them as the Badgers look for a starter who can complement Burks. Wisconsin may lose Chris Orr at middle linebacker but the transition between Orr and Leo Chenal should be a smooth one. Chenal gained valuable experience last year as he played as a true freshman. Chenal will receive plenty of reps over spring football and he should be able to take a nice step in his development. Maskalunas will be Chenal’s top competitor for the other starting inside linebacker position as he’s been serviceable during his time at Wisconsin. Njongmeta redshirted last season and will be going through his first spring practice.

Projected Spring Depth Chart Cornerbacks: 1. Faion Hicks and Rachad Wildgoose 2. Caesar Williams and Semar Melvin

Hicks has been a regular starter at cornerback for Wisconsin the past two seasons and that shouldn’t change heading into spring practices. Wildgoose and Williams started eight and seven games respectively a season ago. The trio has been Wisconsin’s most consistent group of cornerbacks. Semar Melvin is coming off a redshirt season but he was able to take advantage of the redshirt rule by playing in four games without burning a year of eligibility. Melvin was up and down, which is understandable but the reps he does receive during spring practice will be invaluable as he looks to build off of his freshman season. Jim Leonhard will also likely rotate in Donte Burton and Deron Harrell too as the starters at cornerback or with the second string cornerbacks too.

Projected Spring Depth Chart Safety: FS 1. Eric Burrell, 2. John Torchio SS 1. Reggie Pearson, 2. Collin Wilder

Wisconsin Football Season Review: Defensive Line

How did Wisconsin’s defensive line play over the 2019 season?

Wisconsin finished its fifth season under head coach Paul Chryst as Chryst improved his overall record to 52-16 and has a posted a 34-10 record in conference games. After not winning the Big Ten West Division title in 2018 the Badgers were back in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship game as the West representative for the fourth time in the last six years since the Big Ten went to its current format.

In this Badgers Wire feature we will examine the play of Wisconsin’s defensive line from the 2019 season and take a sneak into what the 2020 season may have in store for the position:

If the tight end position was hit hard by injuries in 2019 that award goes to the defensive line in 2018.

Wisconsin’s projected starting defensive line was Isaiahh Loudermilk and Garrett Rand at defensive ends and Olive Sagapolu at nose tackle in 2018. But Rand missed the entire season with an injury, Loudermilk missed four games due to an injury, and Sagapolu missed Wisconsin’s last five games after sustaining an injury against Northwestern.

One player who was forced to step up because of the injuries a season ago was Matt Henningsen. Although the coaching staff wasn’t expecting much from him in 2018 prior to the injuries the experience he did gain as a redshirt freshman was invaluable.

Henningsen was able to make a noticeable leap in his play as he started to become more of a playmaker along the Badgers defensive line in 2019. Henningsen finished the season with 24 tackles and his five tackles for loss tied for the team lead among defensive lineman with Loudermilk and his four sacks were the most amongst defensive lineman. Henningsen also registered two defensive touchdowns too.

Loudermilk and Rand were the starters at defensive end as Loudermilk played in all 14 games but Rand did miss one game. Between Rand and Loudermilk they combined for 51 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and four sacks.

They helped set the edge for Wisconsin’s defense and their ability to take on opposing offensive lineman allowed for Wisconsin’s linebackers to consistently make plays an area that was missing at times in 2018.

It also helped that the Badgers received improved play at the nose tackle position. Bryson Williams like Henningsen improved from his freshman season but his season was cut short as he only appeared in six games.

Williams loss would have hurt Wisconsin’s defensive line a lot but due to the play of true freshman Keeanu Benton, the play by Wisconsin’s defensive line didn’t miss a beat.

Benton consistently improved throughout his freshman season as he was able to utilize his wrestling background to help him gain better leverage in the trenches. Benton finished the season with 12 tackles and had four tackles for loss and two sacks.

2020 Wisconsin Defensive Line

With everybody returning along Wisconsin’s defensive line with the exception of David Pfaff the Badgers should once again be strong in the trenches. The starters at defensive end should continue to be Loudermilk and Rand and the Badgers will have two capable nose tackles in Williams and Benton. Benton certainly had an impact as a true freshman and with him going through spring football for the first time should allow for him to only grow as he heads into his sophomore season. It will also be an important spring for redshirt freshman Gio Paez and Rodas Johnson in their development, in addition to Isaiah Mullens too. Wisconsin’s ability to continue to build solid and reliable depth along the defensive line will be critical for not only 2020 but in the future too and that will begin in the spring.

Wisconsin Signing Class Preview – Malik Reed

Wisconsin received Malik Reed’s national letter of intent as part of the early signing period on Wednesday.

With the early signing period for high school football players beginning on December 18, Badgers Insider takes a closer look at the recruits that signed with the Wisconsin football program.

In this edition, we examine Chandler (AZ) High School linebacker, Malik Reed.

Note: All notes and stats provided by uwbadgers.com

Reed chose Wisconsin over other offers from: Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Nebraska, Oregon State, Purdue, UCLA, and Washington State

Reed’s High School Accolades: Three–star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals…First–team all–state as a senior in 2019

Reed’s Impact as a Badger: This will mark the sixth recruiting class Paul Chryst has overlooked as Reed will represent the fourth player he has signed from the state of Arizona in that time span.

Although Wisconsin doesn’t receive many commitments from Arizona the Badgers success rate has been good so far. Considering the other three players to sign with Wisconsin are quarterback Kare Lyles, defensive end Garrett Rand, and long snapper Adam Bay. Lyles transferred out of Wisconsin after two seasons as he’s now with Southern Illinois but both Rand and Bay are starters at their respective positions and have played key roles since their arrival in Madison.

Reed who is projected to play inside linebacker in Wisconsin’s 3-4 defense is a physical linebacker. Reed’s physicality from the inside linebacker position comes from him playing with a high motor allowing him to make his way into the opponents backfield.

Reed has also lined up at the outside linebacker position too allowing him to make plays from sideline to sideline, utilizing his speed to make a play from the linebacker spot.

Reed like fellow inside linebacker commit Jordan Turner has the physical tools to have success in Wisconsin’s 3-4 defense it’s just a matter of him putting it all together under position coach Bob Bostad. Reed like most high school athletes entering college will need to continue to gain strength to allow him to hold up in Wisconsin’s defense but of the incoming recruits he is put together well.

The speed and athleticism Reed possesses should allow him to have success in pass coverage. He’ll need to continue to gain a comfort with dropping back to cover passes but with repetition and learning from his past mistakes in this area he’ll have a chance to succeed in pass coverage.

It may take Reed a year or two before he is able to see the field but that will also allow him to gain the comfort he needs in Wisconsin’s defense. As soon as he can play and rely on his instinct and not overthink things on defense will allow him to make plays for the Badger defense.

What are the Five Keys to a Wisconsin Victory Against Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game?

Here are five things Wisconsin needs to do in order to beat Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game.

Wisconsin (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) will face Ohio State (12-0, 9-0) for the second time this year. It isn’t the first time the Badgers have had a rematch in the Big Ten Championship Game as the Badgers also played Michigan State twice in 2011 and Nebraska two times in 2012. In both instances, the Badgers lost the regular season matchup to the Spartans and Cornhuskers before beating them in the Big Ten Championship Game. Can Wisconsin do the same against Ohio State on Saturday?

Here are the five keys for a Wisconsin victory over the Buckeyes:

1. Wisconsin’s ability to contain Chase Young

Like he has all season against other Big Ten opponents Young terrorized the Badgers from his defensive end position when the two teams met in October. Young finished the game with six tackles, five tackles for loss, four sacks, and two forced fumbles. Simply put if Young puts up similar numbers again on Saturday the Badgers can once again expect a similar result as the first meeting. The Badgers have received better offensive line play since the first meeting but due to how talented Young is it will be a team effort just to try and slow him down. Wisconsin’s offensive line is going to need to be consistent throughout the game with their blocking just to allow for the Badgers offense to have a chance of generating a rhythm. If they can the Badgers will be able to sustain drives and work their way down the field against a talented defense.

2. The Badgers ability to throw the football

Ohio State will consistently load the box against Wisconsin making Jack Coan beat the Buckeyes with the passing game. Coan didn’t have his best game against Ohio State but if he can build off of his game against Minnesota the Badgers will have a chance of pulling the upset. Specifically, Coan is going to need to be able to connect on his deep throws in order to try and open up the field. In addition, Coan will need to go through his reads quickly in order to get rid of the football. In the first meeting, he didn’t have a lot of time when he dropped back to pass as he was sacked five times, which disrupted Wisconsin’s offense. In order for Wisconsin’s offense to have success that will need to change as the Badgers have to be able to capitalize on each offensive possession.

3. Keeping J.K. Dobbins in check

Dobbins has hurt Wisconsin’s defense similarly to how Jonathan Taylor has hurt opposing Big Ten teams. In two career games against the Badgers Dobbins is averaging 168.5 yards on 18.5 carries. With Dobbins averaging 9.1 yards per carry the Badgers are going to need to rely on their defensive line to help slow him down. Garrett Rand and Isaiahh Loudermilk both are coming off strong games against Minnesota as the two combined for 11 tackles and helped hold Minnesota to 76 rushing yards on 30 carries. Rand and Loudermilk are going to need to put together a similar performance in order to slow Dobbins down. If they can it should also allow for Wisconsin’s linebackers to make plays in the run game.

4. Wisconsin’s ability to create turnovers against Ohio State

Ohio State over conference play only turned the football over 10 times the second fewest turnovers behind Minnesota’s eight. Despite Wisconsin forcing 15 turnovers over Big Ten play it will be difficult considering how well the Buckeyes protect the football. However, if Wisconsin does create a turnover it will likely come thanks to the Badgers forcing a fumble as they have recovered seven over Big Ten play compared to the Buckeyes losing nine fumbles. If Wisconsin is able to force a fumble or register an interception off of Justin Fields it will be critical that they capitalize on the Buckeyes mistake.

5. Finding ways of creating success for Jonathan Taylor

After rushing for 52 yards on 20 carries against Ohio State Taylor reeled off three straight games of 200 yards rushing before being held to 76 yards on 18 carries against Minnesota. The Buckeyes are more than capable of containing Taylor again making it important that the Badgers try and get Taylor involved in other ways on offense. Specifically, through the passing game as Taylor has caught a pass in every game except for the game against Purdue. Making it important that Wisconsin finds a way of getting Taylor out into space in the passing game so he’s able to get up the field and help Wisconsin sustain drives.

Notes: Wisconsin Beats Minnesota on the Road, 38-17

Team notes and individual notes from Wisconsin’s 38-17 road victory over Minnesota.

MINNEAPOLIS – News and notes from UW Athletics after No. 12 Wisconsin’s 38-17 victory over No. 8 Minnesota at TCF Bank Stadium on Saturday.

TEAM NOTES

Today’s captains: senior OLB Zack Baun, junior C Tyler Biadasz, senior ILB Chris Orr, junior RB Jonathan Taylor.
Wisconsin secured its 4th Big Ten West Division championship in the 6-year history of the league’s current divisional setup.
The Badgers have earned their 6th berth to the Big Ten Football Championship Game in the event’s 9-year history — the most of any league school.
Wisconsin moved to 10-2 on the season, reaching the 10-win threshold for the 8th time in the last 11 seasons. Alabama (11), Ohio State (10), Clemson (9) and Oklahoma (9) are the only other Power Five programs with at least 8 seasons of double-digit wins in the last 11 years.
Paul Chryst improved to 52-14 (.788) in his fifth season as Wisconsin’s head coach, matching Milt Bruhn (1956-66) for 4th on UW’s all-time wins list.
Under Chryst, Wisconsin is:
1. 34-10 (.773) in Big Ten Conference play
2. 25-5 (.833) vs. the Big Ten West Division
3. 10-9 (.526) vs. AP Top 25 opponents
4. 16-3 (.842) in November games
5. 19-6 (.760) in road games
6. 4-1 (.800) vs. Minnesota
Wisconsin now owns a 61-60-8 lead in the all time series with Minnesota, just the 2nd time that UW has held a lead in the history of the FBS’ most played rivalry (the Badgers took their first-ever lead, at 60-59-8, following their 2017 win over Minnesota).
The Badgers have won 22 of their last 24 meetings with the Gophers, dating to 1995.
Wisconsin has won its last 8 games vs. the Gophers in Minneapolis and owns a 6-0 record in TCF Bank Stadium.
Since the introduction of Paul Bunyan’s Axe in 1948, UW leads the series, 44-25-3 (.632).
Wisconsin improved to 7-0 vs. Minnesota in games in which both teams are ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 (also won in 1942, 1954, 1962, 1999, 2005, 2014).
The Badgers have won 5 of their last 7 meetings with Minnesota teams ranked in the top 10 of the AP poll, dating to 1942.
The Badgers have won 22 of their last 24 games with a rivalry trophy on the line (vs. Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska), dating to 2010.
Wisconsin is 52-14 (.788) since the start of the 2015 season. Only Clemson (66-4, .943), Alabama (65-5, .929), Ohio State (60-6, .909), Oklahoma (56-9, .862) and Georgia (52-14, .788) own higher winning percentages during that 5-year span.
UW is 41-11 (.788) in conference play since 2014, when the Big Ten went to its current divisional alignment. Only Ohio State (48-4, .923) has a better league record over that span.
The Badgers have won 27 of their last 33 Big Ten games, dating to the 2016 season.
UW is 30-6 (.833) vs. the Big Ten West since the league moved to its current divisions in 2014.
The Badgers racked up 453 yards of offense, the second-highest total allowed by Minnesota this season. UW topped the 450-yard mark for the fourth straight game.
UW threw for 280 yards, its most in a Big Ten game since throwing for 281 against Illinois on October 24, 2015.
The Wisconsin defense tallied 5.0 sacks on the day, marking the 4th time posted at least 5.0 sacks in a game this season.
The Badgers held Minnesota to 372 total yards and 76 yards rushing. Both marks qualify as the Gophers’ second-lowest totals of the season.

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Grading Wisconsin’s 38-17 Victory over Minnesota

Handing out grades from Wisconsin’s 38-17 victory over Minnesota in Wisconsin’s regular season finale.

Grading No. 12 Wisconsin’s 38-17 win over No. 8 Minnesota.

Offense: A

Jonathan Taylor was responsible for three of Wisconsin’s five touchdowns but he was not the offensive MVP. That award goes to quarterback Jack Coan.

Coan was simply fantastic against Minnesota as he picked the Gophers secondary apart for a Big Ten season high 280 yards passing on 15-for-22 passing and two touchdowns.

Coan had a clean pocket to work with the entire game as he wasn’t sacked as his two biggest throws of the game came on Wisconsin’s opening possession in the third quarter.

Coan’s first throw resulted in a 31-yard completion to wide receiver Quintez Cephus on first and 10 from Wisconsin’s 9-yard line. Three plays later Coan once again connected with Cephus this time for 47 yards resulting in a touchdown to give Wisconsin a 17-7 lead.

Coan was certainly great for Wisconsin but Cephus certainly had a heck of a game too. Cephus was one of seven players to catch a pass but his five receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown were all team highs. It was Cephus’ second game this season where he went over 100 yards receiving.

Wisconsin certainly needed to have a strong passing attack against Minnesota considering Taylor was held to 76 yards on 18 carries and two rushing touchdowns. Taylor was also responsible for Wisconsin’s first passing touchdown of the game, which went for 28-yards. Wisconsin finished the game with 173 yards on 35 rushing attempts.

One of the unsung heroes from Wisconsin’s offensive performance was fullback Mason Stokke. Stokke finished the game with 44 yards of total offense as his three receptions were the second most on the team resulting in 30 yards. He also carried the football twice for 14 yards.

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