Ranking Wisconsin football’s offensive position groups ahead of spring practice
Wisconsin Badgers offensive position group rankings ahead of 2026 spring practice, ranked from lowest confidence to strongest units.
There’s no way to spin a 4-8 season. Not as the head coach of the Wisconsin football program. Not when bowl games felt automatic and postseason bowl appearances were just part of the Badgers’ identity.
After missing a bowl game for a second straight season, the response wasn’t subtle. The administration backed Luke Fickell, who carries a 17–21 overall record and a 10–17 mark in Big Ten play, and promised increased investment in the program. The staff secured a handful of key retentions. And the roster was overhauled with the largest transfer portal class in program history. It was a clear signal that standing pat wasn’t an option.
“Very different group, very different look,” Fickell told reporters. “And there are a lot of things to be done, not just learning and getting football going, but building relationships and making sure, most importantly, that we all have a better idea of who we are and what we’re all about. Now it’s going to come down to us coaching and tying all these things together.”
That urgency makes sense when you consider where Jeff Grimes’ offense finished in 2025. Wisconsin ranked No. 135 nationally in total offense at just 253.1 yards per game, ahead of only UMass, and last among all Power Four teams. The Badgers sat near the bottom of the FBS in most major efficiency metrics. This offseason is about building around its new pieces.
With that in mind, here’s how the Badgers’ offensive position groups stack up heading into spring practice, starting with the biggest question marks.
5. Tight End
I want to be clear here. I do see a path for this room to be pretty solid. But replacing a second-team All-Big Ten tight end in Lance Mason isn’t a small task, and it’s likely something position coach Nate Letton will have to do collectively rather than with a simple one-for-one replacement.
When you consider how much Wisconsin figures to lean into the run game to maximize their starting quarterback’s mobility, and operate behind an offensive line that brings more size, the tight end may not need to be a high-volume production group in the passing game to be effective. It may just need to be functional in the right moments and play specific roles.
And that appears to be the stance they’ve taken.
Southern Illinois transfer Ryan Schwendeman offers more of an inline presence. He’s the type of tight end who can help anchor the edge, aid in the wide zone game, and make the running game more structurally sound. There’s also a belief internally that there may be more to unlock as a pass-catcher than what Schwendeman was asked to show previously.
That role matters if this offense is going to rediscover its physical identity.
Jacob Harris from Bowling Green gives you something different. He’s a red-zone pass-catching threat and has a level of athleticism that makes him unique. Harris may not be a volume guy as a pass-catcher, but in certain situations, having a body you trust to win matchups is valuable.
“Vying for touches at tight end — brought in two new guys, Ryan Schwendeman and Jacob Harris,” Grimes said. “Both are really, really talented receivers who will need to show that they can block and become all-purpose players as well, but both guys can really run and catch.”
Grant Stec is the wild card. The staff is high on his upside, and had he not been hampered with an injury last season, we might already be talking about him differently. At 6-foot-6, 258 pounds, he’s big enough to hold up as a blocker and athletic enough to contribute in the passing game. Stec caught five passes for 56 yards in 200 offensive snaps a year ago and showed some promising flashes. There’s a world where Stec forces his way into being one of the primary options at the position this offseason.
Beyond that, there are younger players (Emmett Bork, Nizyi Davis, and Jack Sievers) with traits you can project onto roles if everything comes together. But this feels like a room built around specialization. Defined responsibilities. Putting players in positions that accentuate what they do best rather than asking them to be complete, do-everything tight ends.
Will that be enough? It might be.
If the run game takes the step you’re hoping for, and the staff calls it correctly, this group could look far more efficient than flashy.
But like a few spots on this offense, it’s a projection until we see it.
