Badgers Position by Position Fall Camp Musings: Offense

Here are some quick thoughts on the Badgers offense.

Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin Badgers football team have returned to Madison after beginning fall camp at UW-Platteville.

Here are some of my musings on each offensive position group:

Quarterback Room

• For me, the Badgers quarterback competition tips in favor of Tyler Van Dyke for a few reasons: arm strength/higher upside, Power 5 experience, and he's a legitimate threat as a runner in this system.

If Wisconsin’s offense is going to generate more explosive plays — and it needs to — Van Dyke offers the best shot. It’s clear that Van Dyke has worked hard to get in great shape since arriving and is more mobile than I would have expected. Decision-making will be critical with Van Dyke, but I think there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about him as QB1.

• Braedyn Locke has improved and is a much more viable option than in 2023. Ultimately, I think Wisconsin will have far more stability at the quarterback position than it did a year ago. 

In a perfect world, Locke continues to develop and ends the multi-year trend of dipping into the portal to find a starter. At some point, the option needs to be in-house. 

• I feel pretty good about Wisconsin's depth at QB, at least relative to a year ago, which should help the offense take a step forward.

"Everybody wants to ask about the quarterback situation and who's number one and who's number two, but where I feel as good as anything is we’ve got two really good, really capable QBs now," Fickell said. "I don't think anybody on this entire team would bat an eye at whoever is the QB, and I think that's a really good thing. I haven't had that since I've been a head coach, so I feel good about that."

Van Dyke and Locke are more than capable of leading this offense, but the gap between what is good by Wisconsin standards and what is good enough for the Badgers to contend for a spot in the College Football Playoffs is still sizable in my eyes.

Running Back Room

• When it comes to the running back room, I think you have to feel pretty confident with Chez Mellusi and Tawee Walker as your 1A and 1B options.

I’ve mentioned before that Walker is someone who is going to play much more than the depth role I envisioned for him prior to spring practice. He's a tough runner, catches the ball well, and has some good burst on runs. I think there's a chance Walker ends up with the most touches at tailback.

• Jackson Acker is going to play a role. The staff had him put on weight, and at 6-foot-1 and 245 pounds, Acker can still run. I think he will earn snaps as both a running back and an H-back and be a versatile option out of the backfield and in short-yardage situations.

• Cade Yacamelli also looks the part of a running back with a nice burst, but I’m not sure how much we’ll see of him early on. There are seven scholarship backs in this room, and if I had to choose an odd man out, it feels like Yacamelli could draw the short straw.

• Darrion Dupree and Dilin Jones are definitely going to see the field in some capacity; they’re too talented to redshirt this season. The best part? Both players bring something different to the table. Dupree's playmaking ability in space and pass-catching chops stand out, while Jones offers a decisive one-cut runner who is better between the tackles.

"I think both the tailbacks are going to have to find an opportunity to play," Fickell said. "That's a position where things can change, and things can happen really quick. Those guys both have the ability to go out there and help us, so I would say there's an opportunity for those two guys."

My best guess is we’ll see a combination of Acker and Cade Yacamelli as the co-RB3s early on since that’s who the staff trusts, but I expect Jones and Dupree to get more work as the year progresses.

Wide Receiver Room

• As for the Badgers wide receivers, I know there’s a lot of buzz around this group, and while I’m not down on them per se, I don’t think I’m quite as high on them as the consensus.