Matt Henningsen – Page 5 – Syndication Server

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.

Grading Wisconsin’s 34-21 Loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game

What grades did Wisconsin earn in their 34-21 loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game?

Grading No. 8 Wisconsin’s 34-21 loss over No. 1 Ohio State.

Offense: C

Wisconsin couldn’t put together two strong halves of football on offense. After registering 294 yards of total offense in the first half against Ohio State’s defense the Buckeyes held the Badgers to 138 yards on 37 offensive plays.

Wisconsin in the first half was able to create a balance as the Badgers rushed for 194 yards and Jack Coan threw for 100 yards. Coan was able to make the plays he needed to in the first half to give the Badgers a chance of pulling the upset leading 21-7 at halftime.

But the same opportunities that were there for Coan in the first half the Buckeyes had an answer for in the second half. Coan was able to consistently connect on quick passes to his wide receivers but with the Buckeyes dropping into zone coverage in the second half the same passing lanes simply weren’t open.

Coan’s go-to target in the passing game was Quintez Cephus who finished the game with seven receptions for 122 yards.

Cephus’ two biggest catches of the game came on the first offensive play, which resulted in a 27-yard gain helping set up Wisconsin’s first touchdown of the game. Cephus also hauled in a 24-yard catch to set up Wisconsin 1st and goal from the 1-yard line. Coan was able to punch the football in on the ensuing offensive play to give Wisconsin a 21-7 lead right before halftime.

Coan finished the game with 232 yards passing on 17-for-33 passing, in addition, he rushed for 27 yards on eight carries and he had two rushing touchdowns. Coan was able to use his mobility to his advantage in the first half as he was able to keep plays alive with his feet and to extend drives.

Jonathan Taylor became the first player this season to rush for over 100 yards as he finished the game with 148 yards on 20 carries and had a 44-yard rushing touchdown. Taylor also registered a 45-yard rush on Wisconsin’s final offensive drive in the first half. If Taylor is stopped for minimal gain the Badgers likely go into halftime up 14-to-7.

But Taylor’s run continued to allow for Wisconsin to play with the same aggression that they played with throughout the first half.

Wisconsin had six different players catch a pass as outside of Cephus having a productive day Danny Davis who hasn’t caught a pass in three straight games was second on the team in both receptions (three) and receiving yards (38).

The Badgers offensive line turned in a better performance in the rematch against Ohio State but in the second half, the Buckeyes started to get the better of Wisconsin’s offensive line. Considering the Buckeyes defense held Wisconsin to 3.7 yards per play.

The Badgers offensive line also allowed eight tackles for loss and two sacks as Chase Young finished the game with six tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups, and two quarterback hurries.

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Two Wisconsin Players Named to All-Big Ten Defensive Team

Wisconsin places two defensive players on the All-Big Ten Defensive Teams. Zack Baun OLB, Chris Orr ILB

On Tuesday the Big Ten Conference released its All-Big Ten Defensive Team and special teams conference selections. With how dominant Wisconsin’s defense was this year it was natural that there would be individuals from Wisconsin’s defense to be recognized.

Outisde linebacker Zack Baun was a consensus first-team selection by the media and coaches while inside linebacker Chris Orr was a consensus second-team selection.

Baun and Orr have been two of Wisconsin’s most consistent and dominating defenders as Baun’s 18.5 tackles for loss leads the team. While Orr’s 71 tackles leads the team not to mention Orr and Baun are tied for the team lead in sacks with 11.5.

Safety Eric Burrell, cornerback Faion Hicks, and defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk were consensus honorable mention’s on defense. Redshirt sophomore defensive end Matt Henningsen was an honorable mention by the coaches and sophomore cornerback Rachad Wildgoose was honorable mention by the media.

Sophomore Aron Cruickshank was named a consensus second-team All-Big Ten return specialist. Cruickshank averaged 26.59 yards per return on 17 attempts as his highlight return came against Nebraska when he returned a kick 89 yards for a touchdown.

The Big Ten Conference will announce the offensive team selections on Wednesday.