No. 4 Notre Dame defeated unranked Wisconsin 41-13 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay on Sunday, drawing large crowds from all over Wisconsin and Indiana. Some Badgers shined while others did not.
The Wide Receivers.
A dominating topic amongst the media leading up to the game was how Wisconsin’s offense will scheme against Notre Dame’s reputable secondary stacked with numerous players with NFL potential, including cornerback Leonard Moore and Safety Brauntae Johnson. Wisconsin’s wide receivers didn’t shy away from this test and managed to get open on numerous occasions, helping quarterback Colton Joseph complete 19 of his 30 pass attempts.
University of Wisconsin-Madison senior Malachi Coleman stood out on Sunday evening, totaling 4 receptions for 76 yards including a 28 yard touchdown in the first-half.
“The offense as a whole is going to improve as I continue to grow. Each individual is continuing to get better and we’re all continuing to make more strides, that’s what I’m looking forward to,” Malachi Coleman told the Daily Cardinal.
Slot receiver Tyrell Henry also showed off his route running ability and speed by catching four passes for a total of 42 yards — 30 of those yards came after the catch.
Sophomore Eugene Hilton Jr. is one of the most promising players on this year’s roster. The 6-foot-2 receiver showcased his safe hands on multiple occasions, proving he will be a valuable weapon for offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes and Joseph. He caught three passes for a total of 31 yards, but saw limited playing time in the second-half due to a minor injury.
Chris Brooks Jr. is known for his blocking skills but the senior managed to get in on the action and had three receptions for 38 total yards.
Overall, the four receivers came close to combining for 200 total yards, an impressive mark against a disciplined Notre Dame defense that is regarded as one of the best in the nation.
Punter, Sean West
Badger fans may recognize the name Sean West. The punter made national headlines last season after finishing as Wisconsin's leading passer in their win over No. 23 Washington after completing one pass for 24 yards.
The Mequon, Wisconsin native has gone viral in the last 24 hours after delivering an incredibly accurate 70 yard punt that landed on the one-yard-line before trickling past the end-zone pylon. To top it off, the punter wooed the crowd with his golf swing celebration.
Wisconsin knows they have a valuable weapon at the punter position.
Outside Linebacker, Sebastian Cheeks.
Expectations were high for Sebastian Cheeks after Wisconsin lost its two sack leaders from last season, Mason Reiger and Darryl Peterson. That production needs to be filled and Wisconsin needs Cheeks to play a big role if they hope to have a strong pass rush.
Cheeks answered the call against a strong Notre Dame offensive line. The senior made his presence known on the Fighting Irish’s first drive, sacking Notre Dame’s quarterback CJ Carr and forcing a fumble recovered by another Notre Dame player. The senior ended the night with 2 tackles for loss.
“I’m hungry every week, the goal is the ball. That’s the only thing on my mind,” Cheeks told the Cardinal.
Center, Austin Kawecki.
One of Wisconsin’s glaring holes going into the off-season was the center position. They targeted Austin Kawecki in the transfer portal, a senior from Oklahoma State who provides experience and size at the position standing at 6-foot-4, 310 lbs.
Unfortunately Kawecki struggled against Notre Dame, bobbling a few snaps with dual-threat quarterback Joseph on important drives.
Wisconsin also only rushed for 67 total yards. The Badgers’ interior-offensive linemen failed to create gaps, leading to running back Abu Sama III and Joseph failing to establish the run-game.
Running Back, Darrion Dupree
Darrion Dupree is in his third season with the Badgers, appearing as the second string running back on Wisconsin’s roster, splitting carries with Sama. Sama ended the night with 15 carries, while Dupree only handled the ball four times. Dupree ended the night with 15 yards, a number that could increase or remain stagnant as he figures out his role for the Badgers in the coming weeks.
Tight Ends
Wisconsin’s leading receiver last season was tight-end Lance Mason with 398 total yards. Mason’s statistics leave big shoes for future tight ends to fill in Jeff Grimes’ schemes.
The tight end is often seen as a safe outlet for the quarterback, especially in small yardage situations. You would expect Joseph to look at his tight-ends, especially in the first game of the season when he’s trying to get the offense rolling.
To my surprise, the tight ends were rather absent Sunday night in the receiving game. Junior Grant Stec caught a few passes late in the game when Wisconsin’s fate was already sealed, ending with three receptions for 20 total yards. Bowling Green transfer Jacob Harris who is praised for his athleticism, route-running and red zone abilities only caught one pass for three total yards.
Jeff Grimes uses two tight-end sets often, he will need his guys to get open and pose a bigger threat in the future.
