Tag: jack nelson

Five ruled out, five listed as questionable for Wisconsin’s contest vs. Northwestern

Five ruled out, five listed as questionable for Wisconsin’s contest vs. Northwestern

Wisconsin released its status report for this weekend’s contest against Northwestern, revealing the current status of the numerous players who went down with injury during Saturday’s win over Rutgers.

The biggest storyline is the health of running back Chez Mellusi, who went down with a non-contact injury. The update given on today’s status report: he’s currently questionable (not already ruled out) for Saturday’s game.

Paul Chryst said during his Monday press conference the team is still waiting to find out exactly what Mellusi’s injury is.

Related: Big Ten Power Rankings after Week 10 — Lookout for Wisconsin

Here is Wisconsin’s full Monday status report for the Northwestern game:

  • Players listed as OUT: WR A.J. Abbott, TE Cam Large, ILB Mike Maskalunas, TE Hayden Rucci, OLB Marty Strey
  • Players listed as questionable: OLB Spencer Lytle, OL Michael Furtney, RB Chez Mellusi, OL Jack Nelson, DE James Thompson Jr.

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One Badger is a ‘redshirt freshman we shouldn’t forget about’ this season

247Sports’ Chris Hummer put together a list of redshirt freshmen to keep an eye on this season and included in his group is Wisconsin

247Sports’ Chris Hummer put together a list of redshirt freshmen to keep an eye on in 2021 this morning and included in his list is Wisconsin offensive lineman Jack Nelson.

Nelson is lining up to start at right guard for the Badgers this year after seeing himself included on the team’s two-deep depth chart all of last season.

Here’s what Hummer had to say about the former four-star recruit:

Nelson has put on nearly 25 pounds since arriving in Madison, checking in this spring at 6-foot-7, 297 pounds. He’s got a new position, too. Nelson slid inside to guard this spring as Wisconsin attempted to get its five best linemen on the field. Now, Nelson is a redshirt freshman in what projects as otherwise an all-senior starting offensive line. Nelson won’t likely be a guard long term. There’s a reason why 247Sports rated the Stoughton, Wisconsin native a five-star recruit. But for now, he projects as a rare underclassman lineman to crack the Badgers’ starting five.

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

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Wisconsin Spring Position Preview: Offensive Line

Taking a closer look at Wisconsin’s offensive line as they prepare to begin spring 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 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 offensive line position for Wisconsin as it heads into spring practice.

Spring Offensive Line Roster

Dylan Barrett (freshman), Tyler Beach (redshirt junior), Logan Brown (redshirt freshman), Logan Bruss (redshirt junior), Michael Furtney (redshirt sophomore), Kayden Lyles (redshirt junior), Andrew Lyons (redshirt sophomore), Jack Nelson (freshman), Logan O’Brien (redshirt freshman), Cormac Sampson (redshirt sophomore), Josh Seltzner (redshirt junior), Blake Smithback (redshirt junior), Joe Tippmann (redshirt freshman), Cole Van Lanen (redshirt senior), and Aaron Vopal (redshirt junior)

What we know going into spring practice

This will be an important spring for Wisconsin’s offensive line as they will need to replace three starters as Jason Erdmann and David Moorman both have exhausted their eligibility and Rimington Award winner, Tyler Biadasz declared early for the NFL draft.

Wisconsin has options to replace Erdmann and Moorman at guard as the big one will be who replaces Biadasz at center?

One player who is expected to compete for the starting center position is Kayden Lyles but he will miss all of spring football because of an injury to his left and right leg.

No one was going to win the starting center position coming out of spring football but it does put Lyles behind. Lyles started four games at left guard a season ago and although the Badgers do a good job of cross-training their offensive lineman Lyles hasn’t played center in a game for Wisconsin.

With Lyles out for spring football it will allow for someone else to demonstrate their capabilities. That player could be Cormac Sampson who played tight end a season ago out of necessity or Michael Furtney.

Sampson came to Wisconsin as an athlete as he was projected to play either on the offensive line or defensive line for the Badgers. Sampson entering last season was listed as an offensive lineman but when injuries struck the tight end position they moved him over there as he played it in high school and he became an integral part of the Badgers offense as a blocking tight end.

Furtney appeared in all 14 games a season ago but his action mostly came on special teams. Furtney is also capable of play guard and he could ultimately win one of the guard positions but he could also receive a look at center to see what he’s capable of doing there.

What we hope to find out following spring practice

Spring practice will serve as offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Joe Rudolph’s first chance of trying different combinations along the offensive line to see who his best starting five are.

Wisconsin returns Cole Van Lanen and Logan Bruss who started at left and right tackle respectively a season ago and both will be starters again. Bruss has the flexibility to play guard as well too, which could open the door for a player like Tyler Beach or Logan Brown.

Brown a highly touted offensive lineman dealt with injuries a season ago but the former All-American is healthy now and it will be interesting to see how quickly he can shake off the rust. If he shows he’s capable and with Bruss’s flexibility those two could man the right side of the offensive line.

Josh Seltzner could ultimately win one of the guard positions as he started four games at right guard a season ago as the coaches are high on the former walk-on.

Wisconsin also had two of their offensive lineman from the 2020 recruiting class enroll early in Dylan Barrett and Jack Nelson. Barrett will compete for one of the guard positions and Nelson who participated in the All-American Bowl in San Antonio will compete with the tackles.

Although Rudolph will be missing Lyles over spring practice he’ll still get a good start to see who his best five offensive linemen are. He has two good starting pieces in Van Lanen and Bruss and thanks to Bruss’s versatility gives him options, which will allow him to narrow down the possible combinations once Wisconsin enters fall camp.

Breaking Down Wisconsin’s 2020 Signing Class

Taking a closer look at how Wisconsin’s 2020 recruiting class breaks down by position and by state.

MADISON, Wis. – After signing 19 scholarship players and two walk-ons during the early signing period in December the Badgers saw their scholarship class officially grow to 20 players while adding four more preferred walk-ons to the program during national signing day on Wednesday. The Badgers class ranks 25th by 247 Sports, 26th by ESPN, and 27th nationally by Rivals.

Here’s an overview of the class. Click the player’s name for a more in-depth breakdowns on that specific player.

Scholarship Commits by State

Arizona (1): Malik Reed

Colorado (1): Max Lofy

Hawaii (1): Nick Herbig

Illinois (1): Dylan Barrett

Massachusetts (1): Cam Large

Michigan (1): Jordan Turner

Minnesota (2): Kaden Johnson, Aaron Witt

New Jersey (1): Jalen Berger

North Carolina (1): Devin Chandler

Ohio (1): James Thompson

Pennsylvania (1): Preston Zachman

Tennessee (1): Isaac Smith

Wisconsin (7): Ben Barten, Tanor Bortolini, Cole Dakovich, Chimere Dike, Cade McDonald, Jack Nelson, Trey Wedig

Commits By Projected Position

QB: None

RB: Jalen Berger

WR: Devin Chandler, Chimere Dike, Isaac Smith

TE: Cole Dakovich, Cam Large

OL: Dylan Barrett, Ben Barten, Tanor Bortolini, Jack Nelson, Trey Wedig

DL: Cade McDonald, James Thompson Jr.

ILB: Malik Reed, Jordan Turner, Preston Zachman

OLB: Nick Herbig, Kaden Johnson, Aaron Witt

DB: Max Lofy

Specialists: None

UW walk-ons: Inside Linebacker Ross Gengler, Offensive Lineman Kerry Kodanko, Long Snapper Duncan McKinley, Outside Linebacker Riley Nowakowski, Offensive Lineman Sean Timmis, Kicker Jack Van Dyke

Breaking Down Wisconsin’s 2020 Signing Class

Taking a closer look at how the 2020 recruiting class came together and where each player projects to play.

MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin football officially announced 19 scholarship players and two preferred walk-ons in its 2020 signing class during the early signing period on Wednesday. The Badgers class ranks 26th nationally by both ESPN and 247 Sports and 32nd by Rivals.

Here’s an overview of the class. Click the player’s name for a more in-depth breakdowns on that specific player.

Scholarship Commits by State

Arizona (1): Malik Reed

Colorado (1): Max Lofy

Hawaii (1): Nick Herbig

Illinois (1): Dylan Barrett

Massachusetts (1): Cam Large

Michigan (1): Jordan Turner

Minnesota (2): Kaden Johnson, Aaron Witt

North Carolina (1): Devin Chandler

Ohio (1): James Thompson Jr.

Pennsylvania (1): Preston Zachman

Tennessee (1): Isaac Smith

Wisconsin (7): Ben Barten, Tanor Bortolini, Cole Dakovich, Chimere Dike, Cade McDonald, Jack Nelson, Trey Wedig

Commits By Projected Position

QB: None

RB: None

WR: Devin Chandler, Chimere Dike, Isaac Smith

TE: Cole Dakovich, Cam Large

OL: Dylan Barrett, Ben Barten, Tanor Bortolini, Jack Nelson, Trey Wedig

DL: Cade McDonald, James Thompson Jr.

ILB: Malik Reed, Jordan Turner, Preston Zachman

OLB: Nick Herbig, Kaden Johnson, Aaron Witt

DB: Max Lofy

Specialists: None

UW walk-ons: Long Snapper Duncan McKinley, Offensive Lineman Sean Timmis

Wisconsin Signing Class Preview – Jack Nelson

Wisconsin received Jack Nelson’s national letter of intent as part of the early signing period.

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 Stoughton (WI) High School offensive lineman Jack Nelson.

Note: All notes or stats provided by uwbadgers.com

Nelson chose Wisconsin over other Offers from: Michigan

Nelson’s High School Accolades: Four–star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals…No. 2–ranked prospect in Wisconsin…Joe Thomas Award winner as state’s top senior offensive lineman…First–team all–state by Wisconsin Football Coaches Association as a senior in 2019…Earned invitation to 2020 All–American Bowl

Nelson’s Impact as a Badger: It didn’t take Nelson long to select Wisconsin as he received his offer from the Badgers in October of 2017 and he made his commitment to Wisconsin later that month on Halloween.

Nelson’s dad, Todd played for Wisconsin from 1984-to-1988 as Nelson grew up a Badger fan. With Nelson shutting his recruitment down so early it didn’t allow for him to have his recruitment play out as Nelson received his only other offer from Michigan in February of 2018. If Nelson hadn’t shut his recruitment down so early he would have received double-digit offers as he’ll be one of two Badgers to represent Wisconsin at the prestigious All-American Bowl in San Antonio.

Nelson who’s listed as a 6’7″ 260 pounds offensive tackle plans to enroll early at Wisconsin. Nelson projects to be your prototypical Wisconsin offensive tackle as he has the right frame to consistently win his battle in the trenches. Before he’s able to do that at the college level he’ll need to continue to gain strength and work on his technique.

Nelson thanks to his size was able to dominate his opponents at the high school level but he won’t be able to get away with that at the college level. With the strength, Nelson will gain once he gets on campus and him being coached up by offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Joe Rudolph will allow for him to be able to hold his own at the point of attack and be able to consistently win in the trenches.

Although Nelson has a bright future at Wisconsin he likely won’t see the field as a true freshman. Starting left tackle Cole Van Lanen could leave early for the NFL and even if he does Nelson would still have to beat out redshirt junior Tyler Beach or redshirt freshman Logan Brown to possibly earn a spot in the rotation. Nelson will have his chance of earning a spot on Wisconsin’s offensive line following next season as he’s capable of being a multi-year starter.