Tag: Stephan Bracey

Wisconsin WR/KR Stephan Bracey enters the transfer portal

A Wisconsin Badgers reserve WR/KR has entered his name into the Transfer Portal:

Madison, Wis.– On Monday afternoon, Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver/kick returner Stephan Bracey, whose been with the program for the past three seasons, announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal. 

Bracey took to Twitter to announce his decision:

“First off, I would like to thank God and everyone in the Wisconsin football program for providing me the opportunity to play and create countless friendships and memories. With that being said, my family and I have decided to officially enter my name in the transfer portal and continue my academic and athletic career elsewhere.”

Per the 247Sports composite, Bracey was the No. 1,166 overall prospect in the 2019 recruiting class, the No. 130 WR in the country, and the No. 31 player in Michigan.

Allen, a former three-star prospect out of Grand Rapids, Michigan, appeared in five games for the Badgers, registering one catch for 11 yards and one carry for three yards. 

His most significant impact, however, was made as a kick returner, where he averaged 32.2-yards per return on six attempts in 2021. His most notable return came against Nebraska last season when he returned the opening kickoff for a 91-yard touchdown. 

An injury-plagued career and a crowded wide receiver room made a clean break make the most sense for both sides moving forward. 

Bracey is now the fourth player to enter the transfer portal since Paul Chryst was fired, joining Deacon Hill, Logan Brown, and Markus Allen.

The speedy return man, who has two years of eligibility remaining, is sure to have plenty of suitors interested in taking a chance on his athleticism. 

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Wisconsin’s Minnesota-week depth chart sees new No. 1 punt and kick returners

Wisconsin’s Minnesota-week depth chart sees new No. 1 punt and kick returners

The fireworks came early during Wisconsin’s 35-28 victory over Nebraska Saturday, as kick returner Stephan Bracey returned after tearing his quad a year ago and took the opening kickoff home for a touchdown.

Wisconsin had rotated kick returners after wide receiver Devin Chandler entered the transfer portal a few weeks ago. Bracey’s emergence gives the team a clear answer at the position—and a special teams threat the team hasn’t had since Aron Cruickshank returned kicks in 2019.

Related: Big Ten Power Rankings after Week 12 — Wisconsin gets one step closer

Well, Bracey is unsurprisingly now listed as the No. 1 kick returner on Wisconsin’s depth chart. Along with that change, cornerback Dean Engram is now the team’s No. 1 punt returner.

Here is Wisconsin’s full Minnesota-week depth chart:

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Wisconsin Spring Position Preview: Wide Receivers

Taking a closer look at the wide receiver position group as Wisconsin enters 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 wide receiver position for Wisconsin as it heads into spring practice.

Spring Wide Receiver Roster

A.J. Abbott (redshirt sophomore), Stephan Bracey (redshirt freshman), Danny Davis (senior), Jordan DiBenedetto (redshirt freshman), Chimere Dike (freshman), Jack Dunn (redshirt senior), Cade Green (redshirt junior), Mike Gregoire (redshirt sophomore), Adam Krumholz (redshirt senior), Taj Mustapha (redshirt sophomore), Cooper Nelson (redshirt freshman), Cam Phillips (redshirt freshman), Emmet Perry (redshirt junior), Kendric Pryor (redshirt senior)

What we know going into spring practice

It will be an important spring for both Danny Davis and Kendric Pryor as their roles will change as they head into their final seasons. Considering Pryor who has mostly played on the outside at the wide receiver position will likely now be relied on to play in the slot, which was played by A.J. Taylor a season ago.

Outside of those two consistently working on their games it will be an important spring for the Badgers to build quality depth behind Davis and Pryor. That responsibility will fall on first-year wide receiver coach Alvis Whitted who served as the Green Bay Packers wide receivers coach a season ago.

The likely top two wide receivers behind Davis and Pryor are a pair of redshirt seniors in Jack Dunn and Adam Krumholz. Dunn is slated to miss all of spring football due to a left leg injury. Krumholz has demonstrated to be a solid blocker for Wisconsin but he only has caught three passes in 31 career games.

Whitted will also need to continue with the development of A.J. Abbott and Taj Mustapha. Mustapha played in four games as a true freshman while maintaining his freshman eligibility but only appeared in one game a season ago. Abbott appeared in eight games a season ago as his action mostly came on special teams.

Chimere Dike who signed with Wisconsin as a part of the 2020 recruiting class elected to enroll early. Dike will get a head start in getting acclimated to college life and being able to create a new routine for himself. The biggest challenge for Dike is getting used to the speed of the college game and being able to learn from the mistakes he does make over the course of spring football.

What we hope to find out following spring practice

The progress of Abbott and Mustapha will be examined closely as the development of those two players could be the key to the success on whether or not the Badgers are able to consistently utilize four wide receivers this year.

Two other players who could have productive springs are a pair of redshirt freshmen in Stephan Bracey and Cam Phillips.

Bracey didn’t appear in a game a season ago but he did travel with the team for road games toward the end of the season. With the departure of Aron Cruickshank who transferred to Rutgers could Bracey take on a similar role that Cruickshank had in Wisconsin’s offense if he earns the trust of the coaches?

Phillips a walk-on held multiple scholarship offers including one from Wisconsin but he suffered a knee injury his senior year, which caused him to miss his entire season. The injury suffered by Phillips changed the course of his recruitment as the Badgers were able to land him as a walk-on.

Phillips was an early enrollee last year but because of his injury, he couldn’t compete during spring football. Phillips now healthy will look to show that his injury is behind him as he tries to earn playing time.

Wisconsin was able to utilize and rely on four wide receivers a season ago and if that’s the case again this coming season the Badgers will need Krumholz, Abbott, Mustapha or someone else to take the next step in their development. As the wide receivers will get plenty of reps during spring football as it will be up to them to take advantage and get better with each practice.

 

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 2020 Spring Special Teams Depth Chart

What will Wisconsin’s 2020 spring depth chart for specialists look like when the Badgers start spring practice?

Wisconsin’s special teams in 2020 will see a complete overhaul mostly because of graduation as the Badgers lose their top two punters in Anthony Lotti and Connor Allen, in addition to kickoff specialist Zach Hintze as all three graduated. Wisconsin also lost kickoff returner Aron Cruickshank as he transferred to Rutgers. In total Wisconsin only returns three starters from last year’s special teams unit in Collin Larsh who handled PAT’s and field goals, long snapper Adam Bay, and punt returner, Jack Dunn.

In this Badgers Wire feature, we project what the spring depth chart on special teams will look like when the Badgers open up spring practice.

Projected Spring Depth Chart Punter: 1. Conor Schlichting

Conor Schlichting who will be a redshirt junior next season has yet to register a punt in a game for Wisconsin. The Madison native will be the only punter on Wisconsin’s roster when spring practice opens up. The Badgers did sign Jack Van Dyke who could possibly challenge Schlichting at punter but Van Dyke won’t be on campus until the summer.

Projected Spring Depth Chart Place Kicker: 1. Collin Larsh 2. Joe Stoll

Larsh handled PAT’s and field goals for the majority of last season and with him going 12-for-18 on his field goal attempts he once again will be favored to handle both duties in 2020. Stoll from Wooster High School in Ohio will be a freshman as consistency will be key in whether or not Stoll can challenge Larsh for the placekicking duties.

Projected Spring Depth Chart Kickoffs: 1. Collin Larsh 2. Blake Wilcox

Since Paul Chryst has arrived at Wisconsin the Badgers have used one kicker responsible for PAT’s and field goals and another kicker for kickoffs. The Badgers may not elect to use Larsh on kickoffs as special teams coach Chris Haering may want to find a role for Blake Wilcox if he shows over spring that he’s deserving of a role. Wilcox will be a redshirt freshman next season as he was an Under Armour All-American in 2018.

Projected Spring Depth Chart Long Snapper: 1. Adam Bay 2. Peter Bowden

Adam Bay was consistent in his snaps all season and once again will be the Badgers starting long snapper for a fourth straight season. Peter Bowden was one of three true freshmen to appear in the two-deep on the depth chart last season.

Projected Spring Depth Chart Holder: 1. Conor Schlichting 2. Joe Stoll

Connor Allen handled the holder’s duties over the last four seasons. This responsibility won’t be decided in spring as it will be figured out over fall camp. But it will come down to whoever can handle Bay’s snaps and get the ball down quickly in order for Larsh to be able to get off clean and accurate kicks. Spring will be the first important step in creating consistency and chemistry in this area.

Projected Spring Depth Chart Punt Returner: 1. Jack Dunn 2. Danny Davis

Dunn statistically was able to improve as a punt returner from his sophomore season to his junior year. Dunn last year averaged 8.3 yards per return, which was up from the 5.5 yards he averaged as a redshirt sophomore. Dunn has proven to be consistent in this area and has earned the trust of the coaches. Danny Davis only returned six punts a season ago for an average of 7.5 yards per return.

Projected Spring Depth Chart Kickoff Returner: 1. Faion Hicks 2. Stephan Bracey

Wisconsin fans saw what a dynamic return man can do to help an offense as Aron Cruickshank excelled in this area a season ago. With Cruickshank transferring to Rutgers the Badgers will be tasked to find his replacement. Faion Hicks was listed as his backup a season ago but he never returned a kickoff. Haering will try a combination of players over spring and fall camp to try and find the best replacement for Cruickshank.

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: Wide Receivers

How did the Badgers wide receivers 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 wide receivers from the 2019 season and take a sneak into what the 2020 season may have in store for the position:

The wide receiver unit was bolstered by the return of Quintez Cephus this past season. Cephus’ return to the team was big as he was Wisconsin’s most consistent wide receiver despite missing all of the 2018 season as he finished the season with 59 catches for 901 yards and seven touchdowns as all three led the team. In addition, Cephus caught a pass in every single game this season.

Not to mention as the competition took a rise in the month of November and over the Badgers last two games of the season Cephus was able to elevate his level of play.

In Wisconsin’s last six games he was dominant at times in particular over Wisconsin’s last three games in that stretch he caught a combined 14 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns.

Cephus’ ability to stretch the field over the last part of the season helped make sure opposing defenses couldn’t consistently load the box against Wisconsin’s run game.

The trio of Danny Davis (30-250-1), Kendric Pryor (23-278-0), and A.J. Taylor (23-267-2) caught a combined 76 passes for 795 yards and a combined three touchdowns.

With Cephus having such a productive season meant that Davis’ and Taylor’s numbers took a dip compared to what they posted in 2018. Davis led the team in both receptions (40) and receiving touchdowns (five) while Taylor led Wisconsin in receiving yards with 521 in 2018.

Davis was able to form a good connection with Jack Coan over the course of the 2018 season. In addition, with Coan being named the starter it was fair to expect that the chemistry Coan and Davis developed would carry over to this past season.

But Davis did disappear at times as there were four games where he went without a catch including a three game stretch in November. Compare that to his first two years at Wisconsin when he only had a combined three games where he didn’t register a reception.

Pryor was able to finish the season with 460 yards of total offense as he had 278 receiving yards and had 182 yards rushing to go along with two rushing touchdowns. Pryor was Wisconsin’s most effective wide receiver when it came to the Badgers jet sweep as he averaged 12.8 yards per carry. His longest rush of the season came against Michigan State when he registered a 66-yard rushing touchdown.

After Wisconsin’s big four in Cephus, Davis, Taylor, and Pryor Wisconsin also received contributions from Jack Dunn and Adam Krumholz as both played in all 14 games.

Dunn finished the year with five receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown he also had two rushing attempts for seven yards and a rushing touchdown. Krumholz caught two passes for 20 yards.

2020 Wisconsin Wide Receivers

Wisconsin was already set to lose Taylor to graduation but following Wisconsin’s appearance in the Rose Bowl Cephus announced he was entering the NFL Draft and sophomore Aron Cruickshank announced he was entering the transfer portal. With Cephus and Cruickshank departing Wisconsin the wide receiver room will look different than previously expected. The Badgers will still have Davis, Pryor, Dunn, and Krumholz as the four will all be seniors. Wisconsin knows what they have in those four as the Badgers will need either A.J. Abbott, Taj Mustapha, Stephan Bracey, or one of the three incoming wide receivers in the 2020 class to step up.