Wisconsin football mailbag: Replacing Kevin Heywood, NFL talent gap, & more
Our latest Wisconsin football mailbag dives into the Badgers left tackle injury, 2026 NFL draft outlook, RB rotation, and the changing fan experience.
A handful of Wisconsin football related questions rolled in from our BadgerNotes subscribers this week — and we’re diving into all of them in the mailbag below.
Topics ranged from how the coaching staff should handle the injury at offensive tackle to what to make of the Badgers' running back room now that Spring practice has wrapped up — and whether this team has a Day 2 NFL Draft pick on the roster next season, which naturally leads to some bigger-picture questions about the program’s overall talent level.
So, without further adieu, Let's jump into your mailbag questions...
What should the Badgers coaching staff do at left tackle? Losing Kevin Heywood feels like a loss Wisconsin can't come back from.
I’ll start here: I agree with the sentiment. Losing Kevin Heywood to a season-ending ACL injury is brutal—no way around it.
He was on track to be the Badgers' starting left tackle, and frankly, he was one of the most important and talented players on the entire roster. And yeah — replacing Heywood is going to be a lot easier said than done in 2025.
But what’s the most logical next step?
From where I sit, it’s kicking left guard Joe Brunner out to left tackle and letting your more qualified depth pieces battle it out inside. Brunner started all 12 games at left guard last season. He’s got the physical tools you need, and he’s a lot closer to a Big Ten-level answer at tackle than someone like Leyton Nelson, who’s filled in sparingly during Spring ball.
"Well, the position flexibility is huge," Fickell said of Brunner. "I think whether that's right now for him or even for the next level, he has the ability to do a lot of different things for us. Most importantly, the face of what you want your culture to look like and be like is Joe Brunner.
"That's a great indication to the guys around — hold on, you've been the starting guard—that's your position. And all of a sudden, you bump out — don't say a word, don't complain, play really well.
“It's a great example of what leadership looks like and what "do whatever you have to do for the team" means."
Nelson is probably best suited to stay in the swing tackle role he’s already in — and at this point, you can’t afford to sit back and hope that Barrett Nelson suddenly develops into the answer. Injuries have limited his time on the field during his Wisconsin career, and if we're being honest, you're not handing off that responsibility to one of the freshmen.
As for the interior, that’s where Central Michigan transfer Davis Heinzen comes into the picture. After watching the tape, I’m skeptical he can hold up at tackle at this level, which likely slides Heinzen inside — where he’ll compete for a role of some sort in the two-deep alongside Emerson Mandell, Kerry Kodanko, and JP Benzschawel when fall camp begins.
When it comes to the portal, it’s hard to envision Wisconsin throwing around the kind of money it would take to land a plug-and-play Big Ten tackle at this point. Those types of guys are unicorns on the market — and when they do pop up, the price tag gets steep pretty damn fast.
If you’re Wisconsin, you’re not truly replacing a guy like Heywood. But moving Brunner to tackle — a guy who was solid in pass protection last year, posting a 77.8 PFF pass-blocking grade, the third-highest among Big Ten guards — and leaning on your best internal options to compete at guard feels like the most realistic path forward for position coach AJ Blazek. Especially with Jake Renfro back at center and Riley Mahlman at right tackle.
How do you think the running back room will shake out? Are there enough carries to go around at a position with this much talent?
The Badgers staff said a lot without saying much when they didn’t touch the running back spot in the portal this offseason.
That was a clear bet on their young talent stepping up and assuming those top roles — especially after an up-and-down year that began with veteran Chez Mellusi as the starter and ended with transfer Tawee Walker leading the backfield.
From what we learned during Spring practice, Dilin Jones began to separate himself as the No. 1 back. He flashed impressive vision and physicality as a one-cut style runner between the tackles.
"I think his ability to make really quick decisions that are really good decisions and to do it consistently is something that stands out to me," Devon Spalding said. "The physicality that he plays with—he plays with a chip on his shoulder. I love watching him run the football.
"He's a true professional. He loves the game of football. He's determined to be the best. And I think that’s something that’s unique to him."
Darrion Dupree, who was limited due to injury, is a talented pass-catcher out of the backfield and should be an integral part of Jeff Grimes' offense this fall. The Illinois native showed flashes of his potential as a true freshman in 2024, posting 317 rushing yards (4.0 YPC) and a touchdown on 79 carries, along with 12 catches for 110 yards in the passing game.
Meanwhile, Cade Yacamelli and Gideon Ituka look like they’re on track to give Wisconsin some dependable depth behind Jones and Dupree this season.
Now, let me zoom out for a second — because while I do think this running back room has a chance to be an upgrade over last season, I’m not ready to anoint them the way some folks have. I’m still a little skeptical about whether this group can carry a quality Big Ten offense at this point in their respective careers.
That said, I’m a lot higher on their long-term outlook than I am on where they are right now. I think we’ll see real signs of growth this fall — but it’ll probably take some time to gel rather than look like a finished product right out of the gate.
Jones has a lot of qualities that excite me and should take the bulk of the carries. He’s a physical runner with enough burst to hurt you if he gets into space. Dupree is going to see the field a ton and brings versatility to the table — he’s a natural pass-catcher out of the backfield and can be moved around to create matchup problems. And Yacamelli is a nice depth option — dependable — but personally, I don’t see a whole lot more there than a reliable third back, despite some of the hype that’s out there among the fanbase.
This feels like it’ll largely be a two-back operation, with Yacamelli sprinkled in behind Jones and Dupree. I think it’ll make for a good, functional run game — which should be better than it was. But the injury at left tackle changes the equation a little for me. It’s going to allow defenses to hone in even more on the run, which is a real negative when you’re breaking in young backs and adjusting the offensive line.
While the room is deep, it’s important to remember this is still a new offense — and one without a ton of proven experience — going up against one of the toughest schedules in the country. This group could be a ton of fun to watch this season, but we might not want to go overboard in anointing this room as something it hasn't proven itself to be just yet.
Do the Badgers have a day 2 NFL draft pick next year?
Let me be blunt: I’d be shocked if a single Wisconsin player heard their name called on Day 2 of the NFL Draft next year. But I'd love to be wrong—sincerely.
Coming off the 2025 draft, Wisconsin had just two players selected — Jack Nelson and Hunter Wohler — both in the seventh round. A few others caught on as undrafted free agents or received minicamp invites, but let’s call it what it is: there’s a lack of NFL talent in the program right now. And that’s a glaring reminder of the talent gap between Wisconsin and the College Football Playoff contenders they’re trying to catch right now.
Just look at the numbers. Ohio State just won a national title and had 14 players drafted. Oregon had 10. Michigan had seven. Wisconsin? Didn’t have anyone taken until the seventh round.
That’s the difference.
Now, I do think we’ll hear more names called in the 2026 draft than we did this past year. Upperclassmen like Joe Brunner, Riley Mahlman, Christian Alliegro, Vinny Anthony, Ricardo Hallman, and Nyzier Fourqurean — I wouldn’t be shocked to see any of them playing on Sundays in the near future. And I’m sure there are a few others that will have a case as well.
But Day 2, guys? That’s a different tier. And right now, I don’t think anyone on the roster is close to being in that discussion.
And that’s the bigger point here. The Luke Fickell era at Wisconsin — thus far — has been a massive disappointment. There have been noticeable struggles in the field, and it’s hard to envision changing in any meaningful way until the overall talent level within the program takes a significant step forward. The teams competing for playoff spots are loaded with NFL-caliber players. Wisconsin’s not even close to that right now, respectfully.
And just to be clear — this isn’t about assigning blame for how the Badgers roster got here. Paul Chryst has been gone for more than two years. At this point, even Chryst’s guys are Fickell’s guys.
It’s harder than ever to recruit and develop your own NFL talent because of the portal and NIL considerations. I get that. But at the same time, the lack of high-end talent isn’t just a symptom — it’s one of the main reasons this program has taken a step backward. Whether that’s due to poor player evaluations, not enough time to develop guys internally, or a lack of funds to go out and get true difference-makers in the portal — the result is the same. And no matter the reason or excuse, it’s always going to be more about the Jimmys and Joes than it is the X’s and O’s.
So no, I don’t think there’s a Day 2 guy on this roster. And unless someone turns into a breakout star this fall, that’s not likely to change in 2026. To their credit, this staff has recruited the high school ranks pretty well and brought in some intriguing, high-upside athletes. So if they can keep guys in the program long enough — and actually develop them — maybe they’ll start producing early-round draft picks again in the not-so-distant future. Time will tell.
In an era of non-stop player movement and roster turnover every year, do you think that Wisconsin fans will stop caring? Where are the feel-good development stories about overcoming adversity going to come from? That's what made being a college football fan so special.
Listen, I get it. So much of the pageantry and tradition that made college football feel different from everything else is either gone or unrecognizable now.
And because of a complete lack of foresight from the NCAA, we’re stuck living in an era with almost no structure. There are no real rules, no consistency — and that’s changed the viewing experience in a major way for a lot of fans.
That said, I don’t think people would be this negative about the current era if it were leading to more wins on the field. When you’re not competing at a high level, it becomes a lot easier to resent the system — especially when you’re constantly being asked to relearn a third of your roster every year.
Everyone loves watching a kid get recruited out of high school, pay their dues, develop, and eventually become a program cornerstone. But those stories are getting harder to come by — not just at Wisconsin, but across the sport. Until there are rules in place to stabilize rosters and slow the churn, a lot of this won’t change—at least not anytime soon.
But if you're looking for a feel-good story — one of those easy-to-root-for players — look no further than safety Matt Jung.
Jung is an in-state kid from Neenah who joined the Badgers via the transfer portal — not from a blue blood, but from Division III Bethel University. And all he’s done since arriving is turn heads this Spring.
Over two seasons at Bethel, Jung racked up 181 total tackles, 15.0 TFLs, 16 interceptions — six returned for touchdowns — and 3.5 sacks in just 25 games. His sophomore year alone was ridiculous: 109 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, nine picks (four of them pick-sixes), plus 11 pass breakups, 2.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. Jung was a machine.
"He's a grown man," Fickell told reporters. "No matter where they play, at what division they play, guys that are passionate about the game—that love the game, they get better. I don't know what he was like coming out of high school. I don't know what he was like in the first year or so. But I can tell you this — he’s a grown man.
"He loves the game. He's passionate about the game. And for 15 practices, he did nothing but get better each and every day,” he continued. “He's going to really, really help us. He's got a bright future."
At 6-foot-3, 216 pounds, Jung plays with the kind of physicality and instincts that fit perfectly in this defensive scheme — one that demands a lot from its safeties both in coverage and around the box. He’s exactly the kind of player who makes you pay attention — not because he came in as a hyped recruit, but because he earned everything he’s getting right now.
So yeah, the era of watching a player’s full four- or five-year journey from high school recruit to NFL prospect is mostly gone. But in its place, you’re starting to see stories like Jung’s — in-state kids who weren’t good enough out of high school, coming back home and living out their dream of wearing the motion W. That's pretty cool in its own right.
Things aren’t perfect. And I’m not here to tell you they are. But if you’re looking for reasons to still care — stories like this are a pretty good place to start.
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