badgers007

Phil Longo is one of the best OCs in the country, and comes from the Mike Leach coaching tree, but I'd look at it more as elements of the Air Raid, rather than all-out assault. Immediate eligibility in the portal has made it easier than ever to plug-and-play + lessen the curve of installing a new system, but you are still correct that it's the right time to catch Wisconsin. When Longo was at UNC and had three-straight years of Michael Carter, Javonte Williams and Ty Chandler, UNC ran the ball about 45 percent of the time. If the pedigree of RB is there, Longo has demonstrated the ability to balance his offense. Luckily, he has Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi in the backfield. Last season, Braelon faced 20 more 8-man boxes than the next RB in the country and still finished with ~1,250 yards. He's been vocal about his excitement for the new offense and facing less-stacked boxes. Speaking of which, the weakest links of Wisconsin's offense have quickly become a strength. In the off-season, Luke Fickell and Longo brought in three former four-star QBs (Tanner Mordecai, Braedyn Locke and Nick Evers). Mordecai was the shoe-in starter after a couple big years at SMU. At WR, the staff was able to grab CJ Williams (USC transfer, 2022 No. 73 overall composite), Bryson Green (Oklahoma State, 16 yards/catch and 5 TDs), Will Pauling (Cincinnati transfer; had best spring/fall camp of any player on the roster), and Quincy Burroughs. Pairing those first three names with some holdovers from the previous regime, including Chimere Dike (690 yards, 15 yards/catch), gives Mordecai a wealth of options in the passing game. Some questions linger, though... 1. Remains to be seen the involvement of TEs in this offense. Longo did utilize them at UNC, but Wisconsin is very, very thin after a couple medical retirements. With so much depth at WR, Wisconsin may opt for more four WR looks. 2. Though the two-deep at OL is loaded with four- and five-stars, how will they handle tempo? Remember, they were recruited in the old Wisconsin offense. Don't think I worry so much about the first couple games, but you wonder how the unit will hold up as the season moves along. Also, Jake Renfo was expected to be Wisconsin's starting center. He won't play on Saturday, though, so it'll be Tanor Bortolini, who is Wisconsin's most-versatile, experienced OL. However, it's not easy to snap out of shotgun the entire game. There were some reported bad snaps in the spring, but didn't hear much in fall camp (no news is good news, I guess). Sorry for the long-winded post. Just wanted to add some context to Wisconsin's new system and what it might look like.

Because the RS is commonplace for incoming Wisconsin freshmen, scholarship numbers are limited from year-to-year and the staff is extremely picky with its offers - it's nothing personal against players like David Skogman. Before Tai Strickland announced his transfer last month, if Wisconsin took a second player in 2019, it would eat a 2020 scholarship, which was not going to happen. Once Strickland's scholarship opened, I think the door cracked for a few 2019 kids, Skogman included, but Wisconsin was going to look for immediate help from the grad transfer market and keep another 2020 scholarship open. The Hauser brothers are the only instance of the coaching staff being OK not looking for immediate help. Anyway, Buffalo did well with David Skogman. Kid was one of the fastest-risers in the Midwest. Jim Whitesell is not unfamiliar to Wisconsin - he recruited the area very well when he was at Loyola. Me guesses this won't be the last time you see Wisconsin HS player pop on radar. Was Lamonte Bearden the last kid?

You don't have to worry about Wisconsin. They offered a PWO and David Skogman turned that down because he has full scholarship offers on the table. ETA: Sorry, saw it has been discussed. Any other year, I think Skogman would be in-line for a Wisconsin offer.