Notebook: The Juice From Wisconsin Media Day

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin held its annual local media day on Monday. The Badgers brought numerous players to the table, as well as defensive coordinator Mike Tressel, and offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes.

No Update on Fourqurean

A Wisconsin official said there was no update on senior cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean. Last Tuesday, the Badgers appealed the decision by the NCAA to deny Fourqurean a fifth season of eligibility, but no hearing has been scheduled. Tressel mentioned redshirt freshman cornerback Omillio Agard as a player who has to step up this fall.

“He’s made progress,” Tressel stated. “We are really excited about his progress, but when situations like this occur, you’re hoping for even more. We’re going to have to kick it into overdrive in terms of his development and what we ask him to do, but we’ve felt really good about him.”

True freshmen Cairo Skanes and Jamier Scott, who enrolled early, will likely get a look in fall camp as well.

“I feel good about our depth, but not as good about Big Ten experience,” said Tressel. “Talent level? Feel good. Depth? Feel pretty good. Experience? Not as excited about that. That’s just being honest.”

Peterson Bulking Up

Senior outside linebacker Darryl Peterson said he’s up 15 pounds to 260 going into fall camp. Adjusting to play in Wisconsin’s bigger, more physical front seven, Peterson estimated he’ll be playing with this hand in the dirt around 90 percent of his snaps this season.

“I think we’re just bigger. Everything is just bigger guys up front,” Peterson said. “I think it will be noticeable up front.”

“I think having my hand down a little bit, I’m a little closer to the fire. Everything just happens so much faster and I’m able to use what I’m good at, my hands, the powerful, physical aspect of the game.”

Biggest Improvement in the Defense?

Tressel said the biggest improvement his defense will see this season is in the run defense. Last season, Wisconsin ranked No. 90 in rushing yards per game (168.8) and No. 88 in opponent rushing yards per attempt (4.8). In trophy game losses to Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska, the Badgers surrendered a combined 629 yards on the ground.

“I think that we have gotten bigger stronger, both mentally and physically up front,” said Tressel. “We’ve also placed an emphasis on that, because lord knows as the season goes on, especially some of those teams on the back end who are built that way, we demonstrated that area needed to be improved upon and I think it will be a huge improvement.”

Grimes Eager to Coach Kekahuna

When he accepted the job as Wisconsin’s offensive coordinator, Grimes said Trech Kekahuna was really his first recruiting job. Kekahuna had been in the portal a few days already and had been planning to leave the Badgers. After watching UW’s 2024 season, Grimes made it a point of emphasis to get Kekahuna back. Kekhahuna missed the majority of spring with a leg injury and Grimes can’t wait to get the sophomore speedster in his offense.

“When I was talking to coach ‘Fick’ about the job, before I had officially even taken it, I had saw his name and he was getting in the portal,” Grimes explained. “Didn’t really know who he was at the time. I get here and he’s in the portal. I talked with KG (Kenny Guiton) about him, I watched some film, and I’m like, ‘Am I missing something here, because I think we really want this guy on our team.’ We brought him in, sat him down, and talked with him for a little while about his skillset and things I’ve been able to do with players like him in the past. I think him just recognizing that I understood who he was, saw him as a player and a person, said, ‘Yeah, I want to be a part of that.

“Certainly not being able to actually have him on the field as much as I’d like has been a frustration. But, man, he’s really worked hard to get himself back where he’s ready to go. And I think he is ready to go. I think he brings multi-dimensional playmaking ability. He’s a guy that you feel like could probably always get open, and has the ability to really do some cool things when he has the ball in his hand. So not just as a receiver, but getting him the ball on jet sweeps, reverses, and some cool stuff like that.

“I think it will be a lot of fun.”

True Freshman Receiver Making Noise

Although Wisconsin has about 5-6 experienced wide receivers they feel comfortable with, true freshman Eugene Hilton Jr. could shake things up.

“I do think he could get some playing time this year,” said Grimes. “Just looking at his improvement from the time he first got here to where he is now, really made a lot of strides. I think he’s got a complete skillset as a receiver, but his real gift right now is, he kinda does some receiver things naturally. Things that some other guys two, three, four years into their careers, and you’re still trying to teach them how to run this route, how to make that cut, or how to adjust to this ball. He just does them naturally.”

Curtis Continues to Draw Buzz

During Big Ten media days, Fickell mentioned Tackett Curtis as arguably the most improved player on the roster. Many of his teammates had similar thoughts on the junior linebacker.

“I think the biggest thing I’ve seen out of him, he’s gotten really comfortable in our system,” said junior linebacker Christian Alliegro. “You see him on the field, he’s communicating a lot more with the guys.”

Most Underrated Transfer?

Jayden Ballard has 11 career catches to his name, but the Ohio State transfer is expected to be a big part of Wisconsin’s offense this fall. A former All-American and four-star recruit, Ballard, who played behind one of the top receiving cores in football the last four seasons, is getting his shot with the Badgers.

“The guy runs 23.5 miles per hour or something like that,” said senior quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. “We’re not just asking you to be a vertical threat, run all the routes, and do all the cool stuff. We’re asking to go dig out and block safeties, be physical, just as physical in the run game, and have a role in everything we do. Just kind of the leadership he’s taken on of himself, taking accountability to all that, embracing it, getting better at literally every aspect of his game.

“We’ve asked him to kind of come out of his shell a little bit when it comes to all that stuff and he’s done nothing but embraced it.”

Edwards to Face Former Team

When Wisconsin takes on Maryland in the Big Ten opener, Edwards will get a crack at his former team, where he spent three seasons.

“It’ll be bittersweet to some extent,” he said. “A lot of my developmental years were there. Got the opportunity to stay close to home and play. I’m extremely grateful for my time there. I still have a lot of good relationships within that building, within that program. There’s not hate, no distaste or anything, but they’re an opponent on the schedule, so we’re going to handle that like any other week.

“Not circling it or anything. When it comes, it comes.”

Leftovers

– Junior Joe Bruner said he’ll open camp at left guard. Fickell said during Big Ten media days that he could shift out to tackle.

– Senior safety Austin Brown said the staff has not approached him about moving back to nickel in light of Fourqurean’s absence.

– Grimes said the right guard position is still wide open entering fall camp. Senior JP Benzschawel, redshirt freshman Emerson Mandell, and senior Kerry Kodanko were battling in the spring.

– Tressel mentioned true freshmen Grant Dean and Cooper Catalano as two in line to see key snaps this season, but Tressel didn’t want to give a full list so as to not neglect someone.