Tag: skyler bell

PHOTOS: Wisconsin dominates Illinois State 38-0 in its season opener

Some of the best photos from Wisconsin football’s 38-0 victory over the Illinois State Redbirds:

Despite a slow start because of extended Illinois State drives, the Wisconsin Badgers dominated the Redbirds 38-0 in their season at Camp Randall Stadium.

Related: Wisconsin vs. Illinois State: Stream, injury report, broadcast info for Saturday

The Badgers showed their team identity with tough defense including a 100-yard pick-six, and by running the ball with Braelon Allen. The sophomore running back had an insane 96-yard touchdown run in the first half and finished with 148 yards rushing and two rushing touchdowns. Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz had a solid debut as well, ending the day 14-16 for 219 passing yards and a passing touchdown.

It was great to see the Badgers dominate in their season opener to build confidence and chemistry ahead of their week 4 matchup against Ohio State on the road.

Below are some of the best photos from Wisconsin football’s 38-0 victory over the Illinois State Redbirds:

WATCH: Badgers WR Skyler Bell makes an impressive one-handed catch

WATCH: Second-year WR Skyler Bell makes an impressive one-handed catch near the sidelines at practice:

Another day, another highlight reel play for Wisconsin Badgers second-year wide receiver Skyler Bell out of Watertown, Connecticut.

Per the 247sports Composite, Bell was the No. 977 overall prospect in the 2021 recruiting class, the No. 140 WR in the country, and the No. 6 player in Connecticut.

UW needs to replace its top three pass-catching options from last season, and if the reports coming out of camp are any indication, Bell could help fill the void as the team’s No. 2 WR this fall.

Nicknamed ‘Juice’ by his teammates, the former three-star WR recorded just one pass for 15 yards last season. Still, it’s worth noting that it came in the Las Vegas Bowl victory against Arizona State, signaling the coaching staff’s belief in his ability to contribute this season.

In the video below, courtesy of the UW Twitter account, Graham Mertz delivers a strike toward the sideline to Bell, who makes a beautiful one-handed grab before going out of bounds.

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

WATCH: Badgers QB Graham Mertz Threads The Needle During Red-Zone Drill

WATCH: Badgers QB Graham Mertz finds Skyler Bell in the end-zone:

Entering his fourth year with the program, red-shirt junior Graham Mertz is entering a make-or-break season for the No. 20 Wisconsin Badgers in his third year as the starting quarterback.

Last season, the Kansas native completed 59.5% of his passes for 1,958 yards with 10 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. In 2022, UW will need him to be efficient within the framework of the offense and take better care of the football for the Badgers to reclaim the Big Ten West.

Needing to replace his top three pass-catchers from last season, Mertz has reportedly established a good rapport with second-year wide receiver Skyler Bell, who has been acting as the WR2 since spring practice.

In the video below, courtesy of the UW Twitter account, Wisconsin’s QB1 threads the needle to Bell, who makes a nice grab over junior cornerback Semar Melvin.

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

Three players from the 2021 recruiting class ready to make an impact

These three Badgers from the 2021 recruiting class are ready to step into significant roles this season:

Wisconsin football fell short of expectations last season, finishing with a 9-4 record, and a Las Vegas Bowl victory over Arizona State.

More importantly, Wisconsin failed to win the Big Ten West for the second consecutive year, forcing UW to make some significant changes this offseason.

Coach Chyrst brought in a new offensive coordinator, running backs coach, and shifted Bob Bostad and Chris Haering into new roles as the offensive line and tight ends coach respectively.

In addition to the changes on the coaching staff, UW will be tasked with replacing six offensive starters, and eight from the nation’s top rated defense.

For the Badgers to reclaim a Big Ten West title, it’ll need several young players to step up and make a meaningful impact this upcoming season.

Here are, in no particular order, three players from the 2021 recruiting class that are ready to make a splash in 2022-23:

Five Badgers that boosted their stock during spring football practice

Five players that boosted their stock during spring football practice:

Spring football has officially come to a close for the Wisconsin Badgers, who wrapped up their spring evaluation period last Friday night.

Head coach Paul Chryst made a significant amount of changes along the coaching staff this offseason, so this initial installation period allowed those coaches their first real look at their respective position groups.

UW essentially has players competing for meaningful snaps at every position heading into fall camp. The offense lost six preferred starters from last season, while the nation’s top defensive unit needs to replace eight starters of their own in 2022.

Spring football is about trying new things, generating competition, and forcing players out of their comfort zones.

So, it’s important that fans understand no starting positions are going to be won in the spring. However, it can lead to additional opportunities once camp opens in the fall.

Today, we’re going to examine five players that boosted their stock during the Badgers 15 spring practices:

Wisconsin’s freshman wide receivers flash their potential in Las Vegas Bowl win

The Badger freshman showed flashes on Thursday

With an additional year of COVID-19 eligibility under their belts, Wisconsin’s senior wide receivers Danny Davis III and Kendric Pryor were able to return for one final campaign in 2021.

While it helped the Badgers in the short-term to have experienced leaders in the room, it was hard not to wonder what was brewing at the future of the position.

Wisconsin brought in a loaded 2021 class, both in general and specifically at the wide receiver position. The highest-rated Badger class in the modern recruiting era showed up in multiple facets of the game on Thursday night, but perhaps the most fun flashes came from the wide receiver position.

It started on just the third Wisconsin play of the evening as Markus Allen hauled in a 31-yard grab to set up the first Badger touchdown of the night. Allen was previously committed to Michigan before choosing Wisconsin, and the 6-foot-2 target showed a glimpse of his future on the biggest Badger pass play of the evening.

Then it was Skyler Bell’s turn to make a play. The true freshman was on the receiving end of one of Graham Mertz’s best plays of the night. The Kansas native rolled left and found Bell across his body for a massive first down.

Bell and Allen will be thrown into bigger roles next season after playing behind Wisconsin’s seniors, and you can expect them to be ready.

Wisconsin 2021 WR target commits to a Pac-12 opponent

The Badgers lose out on a top WR target

The Badgers are looking to solidify their 2021 class at WR after their first  commitment came at the position when Wisconsin landed a top WR target a few weeks back. 

Near the top of the Wisconsin WR big board was Joseph Manjack, a 6-foot-3 prospect out of Tomball, Texas who initially was committed to SMU when the Badgers extended an offer. After his decision to decommit from SMU came a few weeks ago, Manjack chose Washington State as his collegiate destination this afternoon.

Wisconsin had certainly made Manjack one of their priorities at the position over the past couple of months, although the Memorial High School native is headed to the Pac-12.

The Badgers still have only one WR commit in the class of 2021 as Skyler Bell, a Connecticut native, chose Wisconsin on August 16.

Newest Badger commit Skyler Bell already ‘building a relationship’ with Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz

The newest Wisconsin commit is already building a relationship with the next QB in line at Wisconsin

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After yesterdays major news, Wisconsin is one step closer to solidifying their already impressive class of 2021. The Badgers earned their first commitment from a WR in the class as Skyler Bell chose UW over the likes of Iowa, Virginia Tech, and Rutgers. 

The Taft High School product joined the Locked On Badgers podcast just a few hours after his decision was announced on Twitter and Instagram.

During the interview, Bell noted what it meant to him to have a four-star QB like Graham Mertz waiting in the wings. With Mertz expected to lead Wisconsin’s offense for the first three years of Bell’s career, the relationship that the two had already established meant a lot to the young receiver.

“I talked to Graham [Mertz] a bunch before I made my decision,” Bell told BadgersWire. “He is a dog, and you know he has the same goal as us.”

What is that common goal that both Mertz and Bell share? Bell was added to a group chat with his fellow 2021 commits just minutes after he made his decision to join the Badgers. He made his goals extremely clear when they asked him why he chose Wisconsin. “I am trying to win a natty with you all,” said the newest Badger commit to his fellow 2021 recruits.

His fellow 2021 class members were not the only ones to reach out just moments after his commitment announcement. Mertz wasted no time in contacting Bell and continuing conversations they had been having before the decision.

“After I committed, the first thing he [Mertz] did was give me his number and his number is locked in my phone now. We are going to build that relationship and hopefully he can throw me some balls and we can win some championships.”

Hopefully for Wisconsin’s sake, the chemistry between the 2021 speedster and Mertz will be there from day one on campus. Their communication is already constant more than a year before Bell begins his freshman year.

PODCAST: Exclusive interview with Wisconsin’s newest 2021 commit WR Skyler Bell

A new episode of the Locked On Badgers podcast with Wisconsin’s newest 2021 commit

Wisconsin landed another 2021 commitment yesterday, this time at the WR position. 2021 speedster Skyler Bell chose the Badger over Iowa, Virginia Tech, and others. 

After his decision, Bell joined the Locked On Badgers podcast to talk all things Wisconsin, his high school career, and more.

Listen to Locked On Badgers wherever you get your podcasts, and stay tuned for more interviews with Wisconsin’s top recruits.

 

Instant Twitter reaction: 2021 WR Skyler Bell commits to Wisconsin

Badger fans woke up to positive news this morning after a week of the contrary as 2021 three-star wide receiver Skyler Bell announced…

Badger fans woke up to positive news this morning after a week of the contrary as 2021 three-star wide receiver Skyler Bell announced his commitment to play for Paul Chryst and the Wisconsin Badgers.

It did not take long for Badger coaches, players and commits to take to Twitter to congratulate the wide receiver and express their excitement for the coming years.

Here is the instant Twitter reaction from Bell’s commitment:

 

Class of 2021 four-star defensive end T.J. Bollers:

 

2019 four-star quarterback Graham Mertz:

 

2021 four-star safety Hunter Wohler:

 

2021 four-star quarterback Deacon Pe’a Hill:

 

2021 three-star inside linebacker Jake Chaney:

 

2021 three-star defensive end Mike Jarvis:

 

Bell’s high school program:

 

Members of the recruiting staff: