Tag: jack eschenbach

Two of Wisconsin’s top tight ends not listed on training camp roster

Some news entering training camp:

Wisconsin football began training camp today at UW-Platteville in advance of the 2023 season.

The fall roster almost never brings the headline news that we see in the spring with notable position and weight changes. But there is a big note today: neither tight end Clay Cundiff or Jack Eschenbach are listed on the roster.

Related: Wisconsin football 2023 depth chart projection: Offense, Defense

The two players figured to play a prominent role in Wisconsin’s offense this season, as tight end is likely the team’s most shallow group. It now leaves Jack Pugh and Hayden Rucci as two primary contributors at the position.

Offensive Coordinator Phil Longo discussed Cundiff’s situation at local media day this week, with the tight end still working his way back from a season-ending injury from last season:

This seems to be an ongoing situation, making it tough to predict. If Cundiff and Eschenbach are both no longer with the program, Wisconsin will badly need some help at the position. If this is just a minor roadblock due to injury, we’ll see if the two veteran players can make it back on the field when the season begins.

 

UPDATE: The Athletic’s Jesse Temple reported both Cundiff and Eschenbach ‘left the program voluntarily.’

Badger Countdown: Number 85 looking to put together healthy campaign

The start of the Badger football season is now 85 days away as Wisconsin gears up to face Buffalo on Sept. 2 at Camp Randall.

The start of the Badger football season is now 85 days away as Wisconsin gears up to face Buffalo on Sept. 2 at Camp Randall. Heading into the first season with Phil Longo and his “Air Raid” offensive scheme, fourth-year tight end Clay Cundiff will look to make a splash.

Cundiff has struggled to stay on the field the last couple seasons, twice suffering season-ending lower-body injuries, but he has been productive in limited action. Over seven games, the tight end has reeled in 12 catches for 228 yards and 12 scores, while he turned nine receptions into 142 yards and two touchdowns over four games in 2022.

He will split touches at tight end with Jack Eschenbach and Hayden Rucci in 2023, though Cundiff may possess the best set of skills as a receiver of the three. With new head coach Luke Fickell in town and transfer quarterback Tanner Mordecai (SMU) under center this season, the Badgers are expected to open the field through the air, so the 6-foot-3 athlete could be in for a big year if healthy.

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5 Wisconsin Badgers named to the Reese’s Senior Bowl Watchlist

Keeanu Benton and Chez Mellusi headline a list of five Badgers selected to the Reese’s Senior Bowl Watchlist:

The 10th Annual Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List for the upcoming season was announced on Wednesday.

Their scouting department’s first publication of said list includes 484 position players, all of which are 2018 high school graduates or true fourth-year seniors at their respective programs.

Last season, seven Badgers were named to the Senior Bowl Watchlist; however, tight end Jake Ferguson, now a member of the Dallas Cowboys, was Wisconsin’s lone representative in the aforementioned Senior Bowl.

This year, the University of Wisconsin had five players named to the Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List for the upcoming season; let’s take a look at who they are:

Wisconsin football releases its Week 5 depth chart

Wisconsin football releases its two-deep depth chart ahead of matchup against Michigan:

The Wisconsin Badgers have released their depth chart for Week 5 ahead of their matchup against the No. 14 Michigan Wolverines at Camp Randall Stadium. Despite the Badgers’ struggles on offense against Notre Dame, the two-deep for this week remains unchanged.

Related: LOOK: Wisconsin’s Michigan week injury report

Although their spots have not changed on the two-deep depth chart, it should be noted that backup fullback Quan Easterling and backup tight end Jack Eschenbach were both listed as questionable on this week’s preliminary injury report.

On the defensive side of the ball, starting cornerback Faion Hicks and backup inside linebacker Mike Maskalunas were also listed as questionable. If Hicks is not able to go against Michigan, sophomore Dean Engram or junior Donte Burton would likely fill in for his role.

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Wisconsin Spring Position Preview: Tight Ends

Examining Wisconsin’s tight end position group as the Badgers begin spring football practice.

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 22 to help his team improve and build on what they accomplished during the 2019 season.

In this Badgers Wire feature, we will break down the tight end position for Wisconsin as it heads into spring practice.

Spring Tight End Roster

Clay Cundiff (redshirt freshman), Jack Eschenbach (redshirt sophomore), Jake Ferguson (redshirt junior), Gabe Lloyd (redshirt senior), Hayden Rucci (redshirt freshman), Coy Wanner (redshirt junior)

What we know going into spring practice

Wisconsin was hit hard by injuries a season ago but the Badgers entering spring practice are healthy, which will give tight ends coach Mickey Turner and Chryst a much better idea of what they have at the tight end position.

Ferguson was able to build off of his successful redshirt freshman season as his 33 receptions and 407 receiving yards ranked second on the team a season ago. Considering how much Wisconsin relied on Ferguson a season ago as a receiver and a blocker and what he still was able to accomplish within Wisconsin’s offense is impressive.

Ferguson was able to improve as a blocker as he was more consistent in this area and spring football will once again serve as an opportunity for him to better his all-around game as he tries to prove why he’s one of the better tight ends in the Big Ten.

After Ferguson, it is a bit of an unknown. The Badgers have some talented options as it is a matter of the rest of the tight ends starting to put it together and spring will be important for the entire tight ends room development.

One of the bigger obstacles for each tight end in Wisconsin’s program they face is learning the blocking responsibilities. If the younger tight ends on Wisconsin’s roster can demonstrate consistency in this area they’ll set themselves up for the right to earn reps when the Badgers do begin fall camp.

What we hope to find out following spring practice

Growth from the position and whether or not Turner and Chryst feel like the tight ends were able to improve over the course of spring football.

The tight ends are a big part of Wisconsin’s offense and the need for them to be consistent in the passing game, in addition to blocking is critical for the success of Wisconsin’s offense.

Although there are unknowns behind Ferguson, Hayden Rucci and Clay Cundiff will get plenty of opportunities over spring football. Rucci brings a toughness to the tight end position as he’s demonstrated his ability to block and catch and Cundiff needs to continue to improve as a blocker.

It is a matter of Rucci and Cundiff shoring up their weakness while continuing to improve on where they have had success. They will have plenty of opportunities to continue to get better as there is time to be earned on the field and the play by those two will be important in the success of Wisconsin’s tight ends.

Another tight end to keep an eye on is redshirt sophomore Jack Eschenbach who will be going through his second spring practice.

Eschenbach received some time a season ago during the nonconference portion of the schedule because of the injuries at the tight end position. As Wisconsin coaches like the potential of Eschenbach. He still may be a year away from being a contributor but because of his size as he’s listed at 6’6″ and 224 pounds could become a threat down the road but he needs to continue to add strength to his frame in order to hold up over conference play.

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.

Wisconsin Football Season Review: Tight Ends

How did Wisconsin’s tight ends do over the course of 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 tight ends from the 2019 season and take a sneak into what the 2020 season may have in store for the position:

Wisconsin’s tight ends were hit hard by injuries in 2019.

Considering the Badgers only had two healthy tight ends at their disposal during the 2019 season. Luckily, Jake Ferguson or Cormac Sampson didn’t add their names to the injury list at the tight end position.

Tight ends coach Mickey Turner lost Luke Benzschawel and Gabe Lloyd both for the season during fall camp. Benzschawel was expected to be the number two tight end behind Ferguson. Lloyd who has appeared in 21 career games was expected to be a contributor as well.

In an attempt to absorb those two losses Zander Neuville was granted a sixth year of eligibility. However, Neuville like Benzschawel and Lloyd was lost for the season in early September before he could officially make his return to the team.

With Ferguson and Sampson being relied on so heavily over the 2019 season the two held up well. Ferguson finished the season second on the team in both receptions (33) and receiving yards (407) and had two touchdowns.

Ferguson for the second consecutive season caught at least one pass in every single game this season as he now has 69 career catches in 27 career games.

Sampson didn’t register a catch nor was he targeted in the passing game as his primary responsibility came in the run game. Sampson did well of helping open up running lanes for Jonathan Taylor and the rest of the backs. Sampson was able to help fill in the void of Benzschawel, Lloyd, and Neuville as the three were all going to be counted on as run blockers before they were lost for the season.

Redshirt freshman Jack Eschenbach appeared in four games at tight end. Eschenbach a walk-on from Downers Grove, Ill still needs to develop but gaining that playing experience this past year will help with his growth and confidence when the Badgers begin spring football.

2020 Wisconsin Tight Ends

Ferguson will continue to develop at tight end and with Wisconsin set to get back both Benzschawel and Lloyd at tight end in 2020 the Badgers depth should be a lot better at the position. In addition, spring football will be important for both Hayden Rucci and Clay Cundiff as both redshirted this past season. Cundiff only appeared in one game last year against Central Michigan but both will need to be consistent in all areas of what Turner asks from his tight ends in order for them to possibly see the field consistently. In addition the Badgers will add a pair of true freshman in Cam Large and Cole Dakovich to the tight end room.