Burning questions Wisconsin football must answer during 2025 fall camp

Fall camp is here for Wisconsin football. Can Luke Fickell and the Badgers turn the page after a 5–7 season and find answers before the 2025 opener?

Pictured: A Wisconsin Badgers football helmet resting on the turf at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium. Photo credit: UW-Platteville Athletics.

Luke Fickell and the University of Wisconsin football program haven’t played a game since Black Friday at Camp Randall, when a lifeless loss to Minnesota capped off a 5-7 season and sent the Badgers into their longest offseason in more than two decades. No bowl game. No momentum. Just a cold, hard reminder that the rebuild under Fickell might require more time, and maybe more patience, than most people expected.

But now? It’s time to find out whether all the offseason chatter actually translates into meaningful progress on the field.

Fall camp kicks off for the Badgers on July 29 at UW-Platteville, and with it comes an extended look at how much has changed since that gut-punch that ended a streak of 22 consecutive bowl appearances from this football program. Reporters got a glimpse during spring practice. Now everything starts to intensify. There’s a new offensive coordinator. A retooled defensive identity. Countless fresh faces. And plenty of pressure.

For the first time since arriving in Madison, Fickell and his staff believe they have a team built on experience and maturity. Whether it will play like one on gameday remains to be seen, but there’s no denying the value of having battle-tested veterans up and down the depth chart.

"Going into Year 3, you feel like you've got a base of young guys," Fickell said at Big Ten Media Days. “We've been playing with 70% of our guys within the first one or two years of experience. Now we're finally a team where we've got 34 guys in the final year of their college eligibility. That makes us a more mature team, and I think that's what we really needed."

And it’s coming at a time when pressure and expectations are pulling in opposite directions. Year 3 under Fickell has to show signs of progress, especially with a new-look offense under Jeff Grimes, but the outside world isn’t holding its breath. Wisconsin was picked to finish 12th in the Big Ten by media members this summer. The schedule? It borders on punishing.

The Badgers are set to face six teams that could open the year in the top 25 and must go through five of the projected top six in the conference, including road trips to Oregon, Michigan, and Iowa. Add in Washington, Illinois, and Minnesota, and there’s very little margin for error.

So, as the Badgers hit the field and the 2025 season creeps closer, here are the burning questions Wisconsin football has to answer in camp.

What kind of leap can Wisconsin’s offense make under Jeff Grimes?

There’s been a revolving door of ideas and play-callers at Wisconsin ever since this program began to lose its offensive identity. And we can point to the 2020 season, albeit an unconventional one, as the start of that unraveling. Since then, no system, regardless of how modern or "dated", has consistently produced winning football on this side of the ball.

And the data backs it up.

According to Game on Paper, Wisconsin finished 99th in EPA per play in 2020. That fell to 103rd in 2021. A brief uptick to 67th in 2022 didn’t last. In 2023, the Badgers slid back to 76th. And last fall? They bottomed out at 108th in the country. That's five straight seasons of inefficient, underwhelming production, no matter the scheme or quarterback.

Enter Jeff Grimes.

Grimes brings a wide zone system that not only aligns more naturally with Wisconsin’s historical DNA but also brings a level of physicality and structure that this team desperately needs. There is also plenty of pre-snap motion, shifts, and a clear commitment to the run game. It all looked more purposeful. More functional. Which is a step in the right direction.

But having a system that makes sense and having the players to execute it against a top-heavy Big Ten schedule? That’s the real question mark.

Maryland transfer quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. won over the staff this offseason with his leadership and commitment to the culture. And this scheme will ask less of him as a pure thrower. Still, he’ll need to be more than just steady. He’ll have to protect the ball, hit the occasional deep shot, extend plays with his legs, and find ways to finish drives.

"The best thing about Billy is he came in and he embraced all things Wisconsin," Fickell said. "He came in and he wanted to be a part of the culture, he wanted to be a part of the weight room. He wanted to be a part of what makes Wisconsin football what it is. He has done a phenomenal job. He’s earned the respect of the team. He’s done everything we’ve asked of him. He’ll be a big part of what we do this fall."

Edwards showed flashes at Maryland, particularly early in the year, but consistency is what this offense can’t afford to go without. He should be better protected this fall, which matters, even if there are some questions up front.

The receiver room has potential with Vinny Anthony II, Jayden Ballard, and Trech Kekahuna all offering speed and different skill sets. The tight end room hasn’t been a consistent source of production in recent years, but players like Tucker Ashcraft and Lance Mason figure to have a real opportunity in Grimes’ two-tight end sets. If this offense is going to work the way it’s designed, they’ll be counted on, especially in the run game.

And that’s really where it all starts.

The growth of the young backfield will likely determine the ceiling of the Badgers' offense in 2025. Coaches are high on Dilin Jones and Darrion Dupree, and they should be. They’re talented, fast, physical, and built for this scheme. Veteran Cade Yacamelli also adds an experienced option behind them. But can this group rise to the standard Wisconsin fans are used to seeing in the backfield? Because historically, the best Wisconsin teams dominate by running the damn ball down their opponents' throats.

Can the offensive line come together in time for Week 1?

The single most brutal blow of Wisconsin’s offseason didn't come from a portal departure; it was losing left tackle Kevin Heywood to a torn ACL.

That injury didn’t just take a key starter off the field. It removed a core piece out of AJ Blazek's offensive line room when the team was trying to build cohesion in a new system. And it leaves the Badgers with an unanswered question at one of the most important positions on the field.

Davis Heinzen, a spring portal pickup from Central Michigan, is expected to get the first crack at the job. He’s durable, setting a program record with 36 consecutive starts, and experienced at both left tackle and left guard. But let’s be honest: this isn’t the MAC anymore. Based on the film, it’s fair to question whether Heinzen can hold up as a Big Ten left tackle against the caliber of edge defenders Wisconsin is going to face in 2025.

If he can’t? Then we’ve opened up a whole other conversation.

Left guard Joe Brunner could be an option to kick outside, and redshirt freshman Emerson Mandell, who was a blue-chip recruit coming out of high school, might factor into the equation at tackle as well. The goal here isn’t just to find someone serviceable at left tackle. It’s to avoid that position becoming a liability in a season with almost no margin for error.

Fortunately for Wisconsin, they return three starters with Big Ten experience, Brunner, Jake Renfro, and Riley Mahlman, giving the staff a solid foundation to build from as they piece together the best five.

"I think Jake Renfro, Riley Mahlman, and Joe Brunner give us a great foundation," Fickell said. "Jake is the anchor at center, he’s been through it, and he's one of the most respected guys on our team. Riley's now entering his fourth year, and he's starting to take on a leadership role that we’ve wanted from him. And Joe Brunner has really taken a big jump. He’s physical, he's smart, and he’s starting to understand the details of playing guard at a high level. That group will determine how far we go."

The right guard spot remains up for grabs, but it’s not due to a lack of options; it’s due to how close the competition has been. Coach Blazek rotated Kerry Kodanko, JP Benzschawel, and Mandell during the spring.

And if Heinzen doesn’t ultimately claim the left tackle job? That could force a reshuffling up front and potentially open the door for him to slide inside, which might actually be a better fit. It would also put both guard spots back up for grabs that would need to be claimed during fall camp.

There are also veterans like Leyton Nelson and a mix of younger developmental players in the two-deep, but the mission is simple: put the best five on the field. Not just the five with the most career starts. Not just the five who’ve been in the system the longest. The five who give Wisconsin a shot to win up front when the opposing edge rusher isn’t “just some guy” — but a future pro, lined up with the game on the line.

Will the front seven finally deliver a consistent pass rush?

There’s a long list of things Wisconsin has to improve in 2025. But if you’re asking me which one matters the most defensively? It’s this.

The Badgers simply have to get home more often, plain and simple. Because for all the offseason talk about identity and toughness and growth, none of it is going to matter if this front seven can’t create disruption on its own.

Wisconsin’s pass rush has been largely toothless for two years now, and last season it finally caught up to them. This group finished dead last in the FBS in tackles for loss per game, and the tape backs it up, too many clean pockets, too easy throws, and too little resistance at the point of attack. It wasn’t just a defensive line problem or an edge rusher problem.

It was a structural issue. One that bled into every level of the defense.

“Physicality. That’s number one,” Fickell said when asked what will be different defensively this fall. “We didn’t feel like we played to our identity last year. I don’t care what scheme you’re in, if you’re not physical, you’re not going to stop the run, and you’re not going to win the Big Ten. So that’s been an emphasis from day one this offseason. We got bigger up front, we added guys that can win one-on-ones, and we simplified a few things so our guys can play faster. It’s about identity, and that starts with how we practice and how we compete on a daily basis.”

And he’s right to frame it that way, because the numbers don’t lie.

Just 17 total sacks. Dead last in tackles for loss and tackles for loss per game. A 128th-place finish in Havoc Rate, per Game on Paper. However you want to slice it, you’re talking about a Wisconsin defense that flat-out could not affect the quarterback or get teams behind the sticks.

Fickell pointed to the defensive line’s inability to control the line of scrimmage as a significant factor in last year’s five-game losing streak. And that’s where this offseason makeover begins. Wisconsin made an effort to add size in the transfer portal, aiming to reverse that trend.

Charles Perkins, Jay’viar Suggs, and Parker Petersen all bring the kind of size and strength that Wisconsin just didn’t have a year ago. Petersen looks like a clear rotational piece against the run, but Perkins and Suggs give this team some much-needed juice as disruptors on the interior.

Even returning players like Ben Barten and Brandon Lane showed up to camp looking like different players, both of whom are now north of 320 pounds. That’s the physical presence Wisconsin has been missing. Dillan Johnson, a former state champion wrestler, is now listed at 312 pounds, which is up from 293 as a true freshman. He's also expected to factor in.

Out on the edge, there’s a wide range of body types and potential impact players. Transfers like Corey Walker (297 lbs) and Micheal Garner (300 lbs) fit the mold of Big Ten linemen, bringing the kind of length and power Wisconsin has lacked. Then there's Darryl Peterson, who has played a lot of football for the Badgers. Peterson has added weight this offseason and could be utilized more with a hand in the dirt to maximize his strengths.

The question now becomes whether all that size and versatility actually translates into generating real pressure off the edge. Because that’s the one thing this defense still hasn’t proven it can consistently generate.

The inside linebacker pairing of Christian Alliegro and Tackett Curtis has a ton of promise. Fickell raved about Curtis’s development this offseason, and Alliegro has flashed the kind of instincts that show up when the guys in front of you are doing their job and playing fast. If the rebuilt defensive line can start winning more battles up front, that duo could thrive. Aaron Witt should also factor in as a hybrid guy who can be used out in space.

But to fix the pass rush, Wisconsin still needs legitimate production from its outside linebackers. Mason Reiger has battled injuries but has shown flashes of being a productive edge presence at Louisville when healthy. Sebastian Cheeks and Tyreese Fearbry both have tools worth developing, but they still need to turn potential into results. And while it would be a leap, true freshman Nicolas Clayton is the most physically gifted player in the group. It wouldn’t be shocking to see him carve out a role as a third-down specialist.

But none of them have proven they can consistently get to the quarterback. And that’s what this whole thing hinges on.

You can build depth. You can get bigger. You can simplify the scheme. But if Wisconsin still can’t generate consistent pressure from the front seven in Year 3? Then all the changes the Badgers staff made won’t fix the one thing that keeps holding this defense back, and it’ll likely lead to defensive coordinator Mike Tressel looking for a new job next offseason.

How does Wisconsin move forward without Nyzier Fourqurean?

In many ways, Nyzier Fourqurean was Wisconsin’s best cornerback last season. He had the physical tools you want, good length, a willingness to come up and tackle, and just enough twitch to hold his own on the outside. If he had a bit more top-end speed, you might even be talking about a fringe NFL guy. Regardless, he was a steady presence and one of the few proven commodities in a room that was already fairly top-heavy.

Now, Wisconsin is preparing for life without Fourqurean after the preliminary injunction that initially allowed him to play was overturned.

That puts the Badgers in a real bind at cornerback.

Ricardo Hallman returns as the clear-cut No. 1, and he’s earned that. But behind him? It’s wide open. D’Yoni Hill, who has made starts at Marshall and Miami, is probably the most experienced option and someone who’s at least been through the fire. Jacksonville State transfer Geimere Latimer could also get a look on the boundary, though the staff really likes what he brings as a nickel and seemed to have him penciled in there to start.

“I love him. He’s a dawg,” cornerbacks coach Paul Haynes said of Latimer during spring practice. “When I say dawg, he is a Rottweiler with teeth. There’s a difference. There are some guys who are Rottweilers without the teeth, and that’s just a big dog. “That dude can go.”

Omillio Agard is one of the more intriguing wild cards. He’s undersized, no doubt, but his high school tape showed flashes of a guy who could develop into a legitimate piece down the road. Whether that time is now or later remains to be seen, but his name is firmly in the mix.

Beyond that, you’re looking at a lot of young, unproven players such as Jahmare Washington, Jai'mier Scott, and Cairo Skanes. Because like it or not, they’re one snap away from being thrown into the fire. It’s just the latest blow to a cornerback room that’s taken its lumps this offseason. And it leaves the Badgers holding their breath, hoping the depth holds up.

Will special teams be a strength or a concern in 2025?

It feels like every time you find a reason to be optimistic about Wisconsin’s special teams, a new question surfaces to keep you grounded.

Let’s start with the good: Atticus Bertrams might already be one of the best punters in the Big Ten, and he’s only getting better. After adding significant size and strength this offseason, Bertrams returns following a breakout year where he averaged 45.3 yards per punt, ranking third in the conference and 15th nationally. He finished second in the Big Ten in net average (42.4), dropped 21 punts inside the 20, and allowed just 99 total return yards across the entire season. That’s high-level production.

“I see myself as a really important part of the team. Field position can mean a great deal in the later stages when it gets harder to move the ball explosively,” Bertrams told Badgernotes. “There’s obviously plenty that goes into a win, and my role may not create or set up points directly, but this staff knows how crucial field position is when trying to wear a team down over four quarters.”

There’s no doubt about it: Bertrams is a real weapon. But once you get past that, it’s a mixed bag.

The kicking game remains wildly inconsistent. Nathanial Vakos made just 12 of his 19 field goal attempts last season. He went 0-for-3 from 40-49 yards and was only 6-for-10 from 30-39, a mid-range window that proved to be far from automatic. And yet, oddly enough, Vakos was perfect from deep, going 3-for-3 on kicks of 50+ yards and becoming the program’s all-time leader in that category with four. He also converted all 31 of his extra point attempts, so it’s not like he can’t be trusted. But the inconsistency in that key middle ground was enough to shake confidence and force the Badgers to bring Gavin Lahm back into the mix to compete.

Lahm was a bright spot on kickoffs last season, totaling 56 kickoffs with a 64.2-yard average and 38 touchbacks. He briefly entered the portal, but the staff valued his leg strength and convinced him to withdraw and return to the program. If he and Vakos can push each other, Wisconsin might be able to field a competent, maybe even above-average, kicking game, which they're desperately going to need. But it’s far from settled.

And then there’s the long snapping situation, which is, for lack of a better word, unsettled. After years of reliable play from Adam Bay and a solid 2024 from Cincinnati transfer Cayson Pfeiffer, the Badgers enter another fall camp with more questions than answers. Arkansas transfer Eli Stein, a Cambridge native, was brought in to assume the role but didn’t prove to be a viable option in the spring, and they went back to the portal. So now Wisconsin’s evaluating a rotation of options, including Nick Levy, Andrew Goodman, and Deed Capper, to see who can lock it down.

There are pieces to like here. There are reasons to believe this group could become a net positive. But until the kicking game finds its footing and the long snapper gets sorted out, it’s hard to know which way the arrow is pointing. Wisconsin will need to play complementary football in all phases to have a chance to stay afloat in 2025.

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