Top Five Surprise Players on the Wisconsin Offense
MADISON, Wis. — With fall camp on the horizon, Badger Blitz takes a close look at five players on the offensive side of the football who could surprise for Wisconsin during the 2025 season. Most of the position battles have been settled, but are there any Badgers ready to turn heads and raise eyebrows this fall?
Joseph Griffin – Wide Receiver
Griffin had a reputation as a ‘go up and get it’ wide receiver. After sitting out last season for Wisconsin due to NCAA transfer rules, Griffin started to emerge a bit in spring and had the play of the day at the Spring Showcase.
In two years at Boston College, Griffin caught 43 passes for 579 yards and six touchdowns, including five scores as a true freshman in 2022. The Badgers are pretty well set with their top three starting wide receivers going into fall camp, but Griffin was starting to look good with the second unit, using his intriguing 6-foot-4 frame to high point and catch the ball away from his body.
Jackson McGohan – Tight End
Every now and again, McGohan will just flash and show you some incredible upside for Wisconsin. The sophomore tight end had one play in particular where he went up in traffic over the middle, came down with a pass one-handed, and proceeded to take the ball into the end zone for a score.
McGohan didn’t get a lot of time last season, appearing in just three games for the Badgers. He caught one pass for two yards. The LSU transfer will be behind Lance Mason and Tucker Ashcraft, but the depth chart at tight end going into fall camp is wide open behind those two in terms of pass catchers.
Cade Yacamelli – Running Back
It would have been very easy for Yacamelli to hit the transfer portal after the 2024 season. In fact, there’s a really good argument to be made that it was in his best interest. Playing really well in a reserve role, Yacamelli ran for 274 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 8.3 yards per carry in Wisconsin’s first seven games of the season. In the last five contests? Zero touches. According to Yacamelli, he never saw it coming and no explanation was really ever given.
After an off-season meeting with head coach Luke Fickell and doing some soul searching, Yacamelli is back for his junior season.
“The relationships I’ve built with those guys, I can’t leave that behind,” Yacamelli told reporters Friday. “I’ve gotta give hats off to my teammates and Wisconsin. It’s really hard for me to leave this place with the memories and relationships I have with the guys in the locker room.
“I know it’s a cliche, but it’s really true. I love the guys. I’ve been here so long, because I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to say goodbye to those relationships I have here.”
Dekel Crowdus – Wide Receiver
A mid-year transfer, Crowdus brings some speed to Wisconsin’s wide receiver room. Likely to back up Trech Kekahuna in the slot, Crowdus comes over from Hawaii, where he had 16 receptions for 302 yards and four touchdowns. Crowdus began his career at Kentucky, where he played in 20 games. The Badgers have a good amount of receivers, including Tyrell Henry and Kyan Berry-Johnson in the slot. The staff likely isn’t wasting their time, bringing in another transfer unless they believe Crowdus adds to the room.
Kerry Kodanko – Offensive Line
The walk-on is fighting for a starting job at right guard, and going into fall camp, Kodanko might be the favorite. Kodanko opened last season as Wisconsin’s No. 2 center, and probably still has a role there if needed. While he primarily worked in at special teams last season, Kodanko was asked to use his extra year of eligibility and return for a sixth season.
