The 2023 Wisconsin Badgers are a talented football team on both sides of the ball. Despite a 7-6 2022 campaign and complete program overhaul, Wisconsin’s roster reflects what was expected when Paul Chryst went on a hot recruiting run from 2019-2021.
New head coach Luke Fickell’s most impressive offseason move, in an offseason full of them, was the influx of talent from the transfer portal. The program added transfer wide receivers C.J. Williams, Will Pauling and Bryson Green, offensive linemen Jake Renfro and Joe Huber, quarterback Tanner Mordecai and defensive back Jason Maitre among others. With all of the significant contributors from 2022 retained, there’s a real argument this is the most talented Wisconsin team in quite some time.
Related: Where Phil Steele ranks each of Wisconsin’s position groups entering the 2023 season
With the season fast approaching ProFootballFocus released its preseason All-Big Ten Teams. Three Badgers earned first-team honors: running back Braelon Allen, tackle Jack Nelson and linebacker Maema Njongmeta.
Surprisingly, only two more players made the second or third team: wide receiver Chimere Dike (second) and kicker Nathaniel Vakos (third).
QB1: J.J. McCarthy
QB2: ??PFF’s Preseason All Big Ten Teams⬇️https://t.co/lgyLPOvQOh
— PFF College (@PFF_College) July 18, 2023
The total of five players on the three teams is surprising. Phil Steele, for example, had Wisconsin with the third-best quarterback in the conference. But there could be some sense to this thought: while the 2023 Badgers have impressive depth across the field and lack many huge weaknesses, there isn’t as much top-end, elite talent as other teams have.
Preseason lists get to be relitigated at season’s end. So we’ll check back in January to see if Wisconsin truly only has five players on the conference award teams.