Tag: Nakia Watson

How to watch: Illinois vs. Wisconsin

The 14th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers will play their season opener Friday against the Illinois Fighting Illini.

The 14th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers will be playing in their season opener Friday against the Illinois Fighting Illini.

The yearly rivalry will be even more exciting this season, as the Badgers will likely carry their dramatic upset loss to Illinois last season with them in this game. Wisconsin will also have a new quarterback under center as former highly touted recruit Graham Mertz will take over for the injured Jack Coan.

A combination of running backs Garrett Groshek and Nakia Watson will have to replace star running back and Doak Walker Award winner Jonathan Taylor for this season, which could make this game even more interesting to watch.

Illinois will return its star quarterback, Brandon Peters, along with several starters in the receiving group.

Related: BadgersWire Roundtable: Score predictions for week one against Illinois

This game could be a surprisingly close matchup for the Badgers, and will definitely be one for Wisconsin fans to tune in for.

How to watch:

Matchup: Illinois at Wisconsin

Where: Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisc.

When: October 23rd, 2020 at 7 p.m. CDT

Where to watch: Big Ten Network

Announcers:

  • Play-by-Play: Brandon Gaudin
  • Analyst: James Laurinaitis
  • Sideline Reporter: Rick Pizzo

Where to stream: Fox Sports App or on foxsports.com

Notes from Garrett Groshek and Nakia Watson’s press conference

Earlier today Wisconsin running backs Garrett Groshek and Nakia Watson met with the media and discussed the upcoming season. The two are…

Earlier today Wisconsin running backs Garrett Groshek and Nakia Watson met with the media and discussed the upcoming season.

The two are currently set to lead the Badgers’ running back rotation with Isaac Guerendo also in the mix and true freshman Jalen Berger still learning the college game.

Related: Nakia Watson with the quote of the day on hosting Illinois Week 1

Both had a lot to say about the team’s running back rotation, Jonathan Taylor’s impact, Jack Coan, what this unique preseason is like and much more.

Here are quotes that stuck out from the press conference (for more visit the thread below):

 

Groshek on Coan and his leadership:

  • “Jack’s come a long way. Football IQ off the charts…He’s stepped up as a leader, a lot of it came from the respect from the way he was playing…He’s always so consistent and brings the same juice every day.”

Paul Chryst applauded Coan’s leadership in his press conference yesterday. This team and those close to it have a lot of good things to say about the senior quarterback.

 

Groshek on the unique preseason:

  • “Biggest difference is having to do school…Other than that it’s just a condensed version…We don’t really have any days to waste.”

Chryst also spoke about school playing a factor yesterday. Given the team’s experience they are well-equipped to deal with the challenging structure and time frame.

 

Groshek on how the running back rotation can succeed and on playing with Watson:

  • On what it takes to succeed: “First and foremost taking care of the ball…We’re all going to be ready and feed off each other. I think we compliment each other well.”
  • On Watson: “Different people see things different ways and our styles are a little different. Being able to master different things helps us out. I think we compliment each other.”

 

Groshek on Guerendo and his talent:

  • “First thing you see is the speed…He’s come a long way in terms of learning how to play running back…I think he’s starting to be comfortable.”

 

Groshek on the offensive line:

  • “We’ve got more experience than people give us credit for…Then we have some younger centers that got to sit behind Tyler [Biadasz] for the last 3 years and learn from him…We feel really about good about our offensive line and the unit they can be.”

 

Watson on Taylor’s impact:

  • “I watched both JT and Groshek, witnessed greatness from both of them and learned a lot…JT’s always told me to make your decision and go. If you make a mistake make sure it’s at 100 percent.”

Watson also had a lot to say overall about Groshek and his impressive football IQ.

 

Watson on Wisconsin as “RB-U” and the new cast this season:

  • “We know what we have to do. We know we have big shoes to fill…We need to be Nakia, be Groshek, be Isaac. We need to play the football that got us here.”

 

Watson on four-star freshman Jalen Berger:

  • He’s a very quiet guy. He’s very athletic, fast…He can definitely be a great back once he learns the plays and gets in sync with everyone. I think he can be a great asset to the team.”

 

Watson on playing Illinois Week 1 (the quote of the day):

  • “Illinois deserves a butt whooping after last year.”

Nakia Watson with the quote of the day on hosting Illinois Week 1

After padded practices began yesterday Wisconsin running backs Garrett Groshek and Nakia Watson meet with the media today and discussed…

After padded practices began yesterday Wisconsin running backs Garrett Groshek and Nakia Watson meet with the media today and discussed the upcoming season.

I’ll publish notes from the press conference later today, but one quote stuck out that was impossible to pass over.

That quote came when Watson was asked about what it meant to go right into Big Ten play and face Illinois Week 1, a team that beat the Badgers last season.

Watson’s response: “We do like that. Illinois definitely deserves a butt whooping from last year.”

You wanted preseason hype and trash talk? You got it.

That quote now gets to marinate for 23 days until the Fighting Illini come to Madison to open their 2020 season.

 

Check back into BadgersWire later today for full notes from the press conference.

Notes from Coach Chryst’s Wedneday morning press conference

After months of waiting the Wisconsin Badgers had their first padded practice of the 2020 preseason this morning as they prepare for…

After months of waiting the Wisconsin Badgers had their first padded practice of the 2020 preseason this morning as they begin to ramp up activity in order to prepare for upcoming season.

Head Coach Paul Chryst spoke to the media after the practice and discussed position groups including the inside linebackers, running backs and outside linebackers as well as what is different about this preseason compared to others and what quarterback Jack Coan has done to lead the team this offseason.

Here are notes from Chryst’s press conference, with more in-depth quotes available in the thread below:

 

On the inside linebackers:

  • “We have three guys that have been around and played, Leo [Chenal] being the youngest but has played a lot of football. With Jack [Sanborn], Leo [Chenal] and Mike Maskalunas you have three guys that certainly have a good sense of how to play in our defense. Then you have a young group…As the season develops it’s about how those young guys develop.”

Even though Chenal is a sophomore it’s looking like the coaching staff has faith in him to produce in the starting rotation. The starting rotation heading into the season, then, is lining up to be Sanborn, Chenal and Maskalunas.

Chryst noted that there are two clear groups: “One that has a really good understanding and then a younger group that we like and like their talent. I think there are some question marks certainly after the top three.”

 

On the running backs:

  • “Nakia [Watson]’s played a lot of football for us, and yet all these guys’ roles are yet to be defined. I appreciate Isaac Guerendo and how he’s started to feel comfortable at the position. Between those three you hope to be productive.”

Chryst also noted four-star freshman Jalen Berger as a guy who’s new to the college game and emphasized the role Groshek has played as a leader on the team and in the running back room.

 

On Jack Coan and his leadership:

  • “I’ve loved the way that he’s approached [the offseason]. It’s been with a purpose…I think he’s done a ton in the meeting room but when you get a chance to start doing it that’s when the learning takes place. But I’ve loved his approach and how he’s taken care of his business. He’s been around enough, cares a ton about this team and knows how to help lead and help everyone on this team be the best they can be.”

In a unique offseason having a senior return at quarterback is a big plus for any college team. It’s clear through Chryst’s comments that he’s been thrilled with how Coan has handled the offseason and the way he has led the team through a challenging offseason.

 

On the unique preseason:

  • Noted differences including padded practices starting during the middle of school–saying it’s like a game week during a normal season–and said there’s overall been a different rhythm to this year in terms of ramping up activity while also taking into account the unique timeline.

 

On the outside linebackers:

  • On Noah Burks: “Noah was productive last year in a different way than Zack [Baun] was…The first thing is to build off that. He doesn’t have to be someone he’s not…I like the way he’s approached [the season].”

On the rest of the group: Called Izayah Green-May “legitimate,” mentioned C.J. Goetz and Spencer Lytle as guys in the mix that have a chance to emerge and play a role. Also expressed excitement about young guys including Kaden Johnson and Nick Herbig.

Chryst finished by noting several times the job outside linebackers coach Bobby April does coaching the unit.

RB Nakia Watson named to the Doak Walker Award watch list

Watson looks to live up to a Wisconsin tradition of winners

Sophomore RB Nakia Watson was named to the Doak Walker Award watch list yesterday. As Wisconsin football’s Twitter account pointed out, this has become an award that has been dominated by Bucky over the last decade.

Wisconsin has won four of the last eight Doak Walker Awards as Jonathan Taylor took home back to back awards in 2018 and 2019, and Melvin Gordon and Montee Ball each finished with one. In 1999, Ron Dayne became the first Badger to win the award.

Now it is Nakia Watson’s time to shine as the sophomore looks to follow up an up and down freshman campaign where he averaged 4.5 yards per carry and finished with 331 rushing yards to go along with a pair of touchdowns. Wisconsin is RBU, and the fact that the Badgers have such a respected RB program is further proved by Watson’s place on the watch list.

 

The five most important players on the 2020 Wisconsin Badgers

The 2020 college football season is right around the corner and teams around the country have began their in-person preseason programs…

The 2020 college football season is right around the corner and teams around the country have began their in-person preseason programs.

The Wisconsin Badgers, one of those teams holding weight room workouts, head into 2020 without many of their key contributors and most important players from the 2019 unit, those being Jonathan Taylor, Chris Orr, Tyler Biadasz and Zack Baun to name a few.

If you’ve been a college football fan for more than two years, though, you know that the key to a program succeeding year-in and year-out is having new guys come and fill the shoes of departed players.

Here, in order, are my top-5 most important players on the 2020 Wisconsin Badgers.

 

No. 5: Running back [Insert name here]

Syndication: Unknown
Badgers running back Nakia Watson pushes Michigan State safety Xavier Henderson aside on 19-yard run in the first half. NCAA Football Michigan State At Wisconsin. Credit: Mike De Sisti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-Imagn Content Services, LLC

The Badgers enter 2020 with Jonathan Taylor’s 2255 scrimmage yards and 26 total touchdowns gone to the NFL and big shoes to fill.

But that’s what the Badgers do, cycle in running backs like it’s been the same player all along.

On Twitter yesterday I saw the perfect description of what the Wisconsin running back system is:

“Wisconsin running backs don’t graduate – they just burn up like a Phoenix and are reborn with a new name and immediate eligibility.” I could not have chosen better words.

Now the only real question Paul Chryst and his staff have is who will their Phoenix be this year–Nakia Watson or Jalen Berger.

No matter who is the starter or who leads the team in carries, though, the position will be a pivotal one to the team’s success this year (as it is every year) because of the way Wisconsin plays football.

Normally the running back position isn’t one of the most valuable on the team–as in some cases much of their success can be attributed to offensive line play and the quarterback’s ability to not let the defense stack the box.

For the Badgers, though, an offense without a ground game and a great running back always seems to be no offense at all.

Chryst and offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph will need Watson or Berger to carry the load and (make a step towards being able to) recreate Taylor’s insane production.

 

Next…No. 4 who is getting some NFL love before he enters his senior season

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Wisconsin Spring Position Preview: Running Backs

Looking at the running back position group as the Badgers enter spring football.

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 running back position for Wisconsin as it heads into spring practice.

Spring Running Back Roster

Julius Davis (redshirt freshman), Garrett Groshek (redshirt senior), Isaac Guerendo (redshirt sophomore), Brady Schipper (redshirt sophomore), and Nakia Watson (redshirt sophomore)

What we know going into spring practice

It was expected that two-time Doak Walker Award winner Jonathan Taylor would declare early for the NFL draft at the end of this past season and that this coming spring would be an important one for Garrett Groshek and Nakia Watson.

Groshek and Watson were Taylor’s top two backups from a season ago as the two combined to rush for 525 yards on 116 carries and four touchdowns. Between the two Groshek was more serviceable than Watson as Watson didn’t register a carry over Wisconsin’s last two games of the season. But can Groshek be an every-down back in Wisconsin’s offense?

Groshek has shown that he can be an asset in both the run and pass game where Watson needs to show the consistency the coaches are looking out of him. He was able to show flashes of it at times a season ago and with it being his third year in the program he should start to put everything together.

Groshek and Watson will likely get the bulk of the carries at the running back position during spring football making it important that the reps Isaac Guerendo and Julius Davis do receive they take advantage of.

Guerendo started to see more playing time toward the end of the season but can he became consistent at running back and actually receive a carry out of the running back position?

Davis’ true freshman season was slowed down because of a sports hernia injury but he had a number of impressive offers coming out of high school from programs like LSU, Southern California, and Notre Dame. Can Davis show the injuries that plagued him last season are behind him and get on track as he tries to earn reps this coming fall?

What we hope to find out following spring practice

Out of the running back group, Watson will have the most eyes on him. Watson could end up being the starter by the time the season rolls around against Indiana on Friday, September 4th.

In order for that to happen, he’s going to need to become more consistent and show that he’s capable of becoming Wisconsin’s lead ball carrier.

Watson is going to have to improve in all facets of his game but the skillset is there and running back coach John Settle will have 15 spring practices to continue to help him improve upon his vision, patience, blocking, and catching out of the backfield.

Highly touted freshman running back Jalen Berger won’t arrive until the summer but if Watson can have a productive spring and improve with each practice he’ll be able to take momentum with him into fall camp.

Groshek will be the leader of the running back room and with him being a redshirt senior in the fall there should be a comfort for him in the offense. With that familiarity will come the expectation that he also helps out the younger guys on the roster. In addition to him continuing to expand on his game as his role will expand from what it has been the previous seasons.

Wisconsin has talent in the running back room as this will mark an important spring for the running backs as they all will push each other to get better and to make sure there is no drop off at the running back position.

Who are Five Offensive Players for Wisconsin that Need to have Productive Spring Practices?

Who are five offensive players for Wisconsin that need to put together productive spring practices?

Wisconsin is set to begin spring football on March 10th as they start to prepare for the 2020 season. Spring football serves as a great opportunity for players on Wisconsin’s football team to improve upon their performances from the 2019 season as they try to carve out new roles for the upcoming season.

In this Badgers Wire feature, we will look at five players on the offensive side of the football that need to put together a productive spring camp.

1. Nakia Watson RB Redshirt Sophomore

With Jonathan Taylor off to the NFL Nakia Watson can expect a larger role in Wisconsin’s offense as a sophomore. That role will start to be defined over the 15 spring practices. If Watson is consistent and is able to build off of each practice he’ll have a chance of becoming Wisconsin’s lead ball carrier. Watson finished his redshirt freshman season with 74 carries, which was second on the team but he didn’t register a carry over Wisconsin’s last two games. Watson needs to continue to work on his vision and patience in order to identify the right hole. He showed improvement in this area over the course of the season but one part that made Taylor so good was he consistently picked up positive yardage. Watson’s ability to become more consistent in this area over spring will help set him up for success when fall camp opens.   

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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: Running Back

How did Wisconsin’s running backs do over the 2019 season? Jonathan Taylor RB, Nakia Watson RB, Garrett Groshek RB.

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 running back from the 2019 season and take a sneak into what the 2020 season may have in store for the position:

It was the Jonathan Taylor show in 2019. Taylor for the second consecutive year rushed for over 2,000 yards as he finished with 2,003 yards on 320 carries and had 21 rushing touchdowns.

Taylor who entered the 2019 season with very few questions surrounding him did have one main question though and that was if he could be a consistent contributor in the receiving game?

Considering entering the season he only caught a combined 16 passes for 155 yards. Taylor as a junior improved on his pass receiving skills finishing the season with 26 receptions for 252 yards and five touchdowns.

Taylor caught a pass in every game this season with the exception in Wisconsin’s win against Purdue. In addition, Taylor’s five receiving touchdowns were the second most on the team behind wide receiver Quintez Cephus.

Taylor posted 2,255 yards of total offense as he averaged an impressive 6.5 yards per play. The numbers Taylor posted this past season allowed him to not only be a finalist for the Doak Walker Award but also the winner of the award for a second consecutive season.

Taylor became the first Badger to win the Doak Walker Award in consecutive seasons and the third player to win the award in consecutive years as he joins Texas’ Ricky Williams (1998, 1999) and Arkansas’ Darren McFadden (2005, 2006).

Even when teams loaded the box in order to try and slow down Taylor it was no guarantee they would have success. Considering Taylor only lost an average of 2.9 yards per game. Taylor, as he has throughout his career, showed excellent vision and patience allowing him to consistently pick up positive yards.

The next highest rusher after Taylor was redshirt freshman Nakia Watson. Watson finished his season with 74 rushing attempts for 331 yards and two touchdowns. However, Watson over Wisconsin’s last two games against Ohio State and Oregon didn’t register a carry.

Although Wisconsin’s run game was excellent in 2019 the Badgers didn’t receive the same kind of production from their backup running back like they did in 2018 in Taiwan Deal (82-545-6).

Redshirt junior Garrett Groshek split reps as Wisconsin’s primary backup and also served as the Badgers third down running back too. Groshek finished the season with more receiving yards (289) than he did rushing yards (194). Groshek finished with two rushing touchdowns as he averaged 4.6 yards per carry.

Outside of getting the football in the hands of the wide receiver’s on end arounds the Badgers used three primary backs in Taylor, Watson, and Groshek throughout the season as redshirt senior Bradrick shaw received some playing time in mop up duty as well. Shaw finished the season with 116 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown.

2020 Wisconsin Running Backs

With Taylor declaring for the NFL the Badgers will have questions surrounding the position entering the 2020 season. Primarily who is the starter at the position? One could project Watson as the starter but he’ll have to become more consistent in order to become the full-time starter. The Wisconsin coaching staff clearly has trust in Groshek but he would serve better in Wisconsin’s offense as the third down back. One also can’t cut out Julius Davis who redshirted this past season and the Badgers also have consensus 2020 four star running back Jalen Berger coming to Wisconsin. The Badgers certainly have talent at the position but it will come down to if somebody is able to separate themselves from the rest of the running backs on Wisconsin’s roster over spring and fall camp.