Tag: jaylan franklin

Michigan State football: 2023 transfer tracker

Tracking Michigan State’s transfer portal activity in 2023:

The transfer portal is seeing a record number of players entering to look for new homes around college football.

Michigan State is no exception, and it will see its fair share of attrition within the roster. On the flip side, the Spartans are looking to bring in a large number of transfers to enhance the roster and fill holes left through graduation, transfers and other departures.

Take a look at Michigan State’s 2023 transfer tracker of outgoing and incoming transfers:

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on Twitter @Cory_Linsner.

Michigan State football lands Wisconsin transfer

MSU has landed Wisconsin tight end transfer Jaylan Franklin

Michigan State TE coach Ted Gilmore has made another addition to his tight ends room in the form of Wisconsin transfer Jaylan Franklin. Franklin is a Michigan native from Rockwood, playing his high school football at Carlson.

Franklin has spent the past 4 seasons with the Wisconsin Badgers playing both offense as a tight end and defense as a defensive end. As a tight end he caught 2 passes for 40 yards and on defense he recorded 3 tackles, 1 tackle for loss and 1 sack.

It is rumored that he will be coming to East Lansing as a preferred walk on, but will be able to provide quality depth for Michigan State.

Stay up date with all of Michigan State football’s transfer news with Spartans Wire’s transfer tracker

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on Twitter @Cory_Linsner.

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Badgers PFF grades: Top 5 offensive players from the win over Purdue

Here’s a look at the top 5 highest graded offensive players from Wisconsin’s victory over Purdue, according to Pro Football Focus:

Madison, Wis. – In his first home game as interim head coach, Jim Leonhard and the Wisconsin Badgers (4-4, 2-3 Big Ten), who were one-and-a-half point favorites, took care of business, winning 35-24 at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

After riding the struggle bus against Michigan State, Wisconsin’s offense bounced back, registering 381 total yards (203 passing, 178 rushing) on an impressive 7.6 yards per play.

Bobby Engram and company displayed a disciplined, yet balanced, offensive attack – which was highly encouraging. 

Led by standout offensive performances from Graham Mertz, Braelon Allen, Isaac Guerendo, and Skyler Bell, the Badgers made a point to get the ball to its playmakers – and beat down a good Purdue football team as a result. 

Here’s a look at the five highest-graded offensive players from Wisconsin’s victory over Purdue, according to Pro Football Focus.

Badgers PFF grades: Top 5 offensive players from loss to Michigan State

Here’s a look at the top 5 highest graded offensive players from Wisconsin’s loss to MSU, according to Pro Football Focus:

Interim head coach Jim Leonhard and the Wisconsin Badgers (3-4, 1-3 Big Ten), who were seven-and-a-half point favorites, failed to win back-to-back games for the first time this season, losing a 34-28 heartbreaker in double-overtime at Spartan Field on Saturday afternoon.

Just one week removed from Wisconsin’s best offensive performance of the season, the Badgers reverted to who we thought they were, mustering 283 total yards (131 passing, 152 rushing) on a mere 4.5 yards per play.

Sophomore running back Braelon Allen, who was without his partner in crime, Chez Mellusi, was asked to carry a significant load on Saturday to the tune of a career-high 29 carries for 123 yards and two touchdowns.

The offensive line, however, was a disaster against MSU, allowing five pressures while also picking up five penalties – three of which belonged to left guard Tanor Bortolini.

Coach Leonhard has his work cut out for him moving forward because the program needs an offensive identity – and fast.

Here’s a look at the five highest-graded offensive players from Wisconsin’s loss to Michigan State, according to Pro Football Focus.

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: Outside Linebackers

How well did Wisconsin’s outside linebackers play during 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 outside linebacker from the 2019 season and take a sneak into what the 2020 season may have in store for the position:

Zack Baun was simply terrific for Wisconsin’s defense in 2019. If the Badgers were going to be improved as a defense the Badgers were going to need Baun to deliver.

Baun certainly did and then some as he finished his season leading the team in both tackles for loss (19.5), sacks (12.5), and quarterback hurries (10) as his 76 tackles ranked third on the team.

With Baun having such a strong season he was able to earn First team All-Big Ten and earned All-American honors as well.

Most importantly with Baun being dominant at times the Badgers were going to need someone opposite of him at the other outside linebacker position to take some pressure off of him.

Initially, that responsibility appeared that it was going to go to redshirt sophomore Izayah Green-May as he won the other starting outside linebacker position out of fall camp. However, Green-May suffered an injury early on in the season causing him to miss the game against Central Michigan.

With Green-May out with a right arm, injury opened the door for Noah Burks. Burks took his starting opportunity and ran with it as he finished out the season as the starter along with Baun.

Burks finished the year with 36 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks, three pass breakups, and one interception, which he returned for a touchdown.

Green-May only ended up playing in 10 games finishing the season with five tackles and a sack. Wisconsin also relied on at times at the outside linebacker position in Christian Bell and Tyler Johnson the two combined for 11 tackles and each had a sack.

With Baun consistently getting in opponents, backfields was one of the reasons why the Badgers were able to average 3.3 sacks over conference play, which ranked second. Creating that pressure on the outside also led to forcing quarterbacks to hurry up their decision making process in the pocket. As Big Ten quarterbacks completed an average of 50.3 percent (145-for-288 of their passes as that percentage was the second-lowest over Big Ten play.

2020 Wisconsin Outside Linebackers
Losing Baun to graduation hurts but Burks was able to make some nice strides between his redshirt sophomore season and redshirt junior season. Burks will need to continue to develop and take that next step in order to continue to find ways of getting in opponents backfields. Although it wasn’t the season Green-May was anticipating after he won the starting outside linebacker job out of fall camp he’ll need to continue to add weight and strength in order to hold up over Big Ten play. The Badgers will also need to see the continued development out of redshirt sophomore Jaylan Franklin and redshirt freshman Spencer Lytle as both will be counted on to take on a bigger role in Wisconsin’s defense. True freshman Nick Herbig enrolled early at Wisconsin, which will allow for outside linebackers coach Bobby April the chance to start working with one of Wisconsin’s prized recruits on the defensive side of the football.

Christian Bell Announces he’s Transferring from Wisconsin

Christian Bell on Friday announced he was transferring from Wisconsin.

Christian Bell on Friday announced his decision that he was transferring from Wisconsin through his Twitter account.

Bell, who still had one year of eligibility remaining was expected to compete for one of the starting outside linebacker spots opposite of Noah Burks.

Bell’s 2019 stats may not stand out as he only appeared in seven games recording four tackles (three solo) and one sack.

But Bell’s lone sack of the year was against Purdue, which came on a key fourth down stop in the third quarter, which helped prevent the Boilermakers from potentially cutting Wisconsin’s lead to a touchdown.

He also had a critical tackle in the game against Minnesota when he was able to tackle Mohamed Ibrahim after a 36-yard gain to Wisconsin’s 22-yard line. It appeared Ibrahim was going to score a touchdown and tie the game at 17 but thanks to Bell’s hustle the Badger defense was able to hold Minnesota to a field goal instead.

Wisconsin has the depth and talent to absorb the transfer of Bell but the remaining outside linebackers on the roster to this point are still unproven.

Without Bell on the roster will leave redshirt junior Izayah Green-May, redshirt sophomore Jaylan Franklin, redshirt freshman Spencer Lytle, and a trio of true freshman in Nick Herbig, Kaden Johnson, and Aaron Witt to compete for the other starting outside linebacker position.

Franklin and Green-May were the only two to see the field this past season as they appeared in 14 and 10 games respectively combining to make seven tackles and each recorded one sack.

Bell who transferred to Wisconsin from Alabama in 2016 finishes his career as a Badger appearing in 24 career games with eight tackles (six solo), two sacks, one forced fumble, and one pass breakup.