Badgers snap counts vs. South Dakota in Week 2: Offense

Head coach Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin Badgers advanced to 2-0 on the season after grinding out a 27-13 win over Bob Nielson and the South Dakota Coyotes at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday.

“Games aren’t ever going to be perfect,” Fickell told reporters. g “But the way that this team has responded when things aren’t going our way, that gives me a lot of confidence going forward.”

Here are the offensive snap counts from Pro Football Focus from the Week 2 win over South Dakota.

Quarterbacks

Tyler Van Dyke – Snap Count: [66]

Braedyn Locke – Snap Count: [4]

Running Backs

Chez Mellusi – Snap Count: [32]

Cade Yacamelli – Snap Count: [21]

Jackson Acker – Snap Count: [13]

Dilin Jones – Snap Count: [5]

Darrion Dupree – Snap Count: [8]

Wide Receivers

Bryson Green – Snap Count: [47]

Will Pauling – Snap Count: [38]

Vinny Anthony – Snap Count: [35]

C.J. Williams – Snap Count: [31]

Trech Kekahuna – Snap Count: [18]

Tyrell Henry – Snap Count: [13]

Chris Brooks Jr. – Snap Count: [4]

Tight Ends

Tucker Ashcraft – Snap Count: [47]

J.T. Seagreaves – Snap Count: [21]

Riley Nowakowski – Snap Count: [10]

Jackson McGohan – Snap Count: [7]

Offensive Line

Jack Nelson – Snap Count: [65]

Joe Brunner – Snap Count: [70]

Jake Renfro – Snap Count: [70]

Joe Huber – Snap Count: [65]

Riley Mahlman – Snap Count: [57]

Kevin Heywood – Snap Count: [13]

JP Benzschawel – Snap Count: [5]

Kerry Kodanko – Snap Count: [4]

Barrett Nelson – Snap Count: [1]

What changed for the Badgers since Week 1?

In a game where Tawee Walker was unable to play, Cade Yacamelli again stepped up and offered an excellent complimentary option to Chez Mellusi for the Badgers at running back, carrying the ball eight times for 73 yards while also catching two passes for 13 yards. It’s clear that Yacamelli is the staff’s preferred change-of-pace tailback right now.

Additionally, the freshman duo of Darrion Dupree and Dilin Jones earned their first live reps, which this staff wanted to do last week but never had the option. It was great to see sophomore tight end Jackson McGohan see the field for Wisconsin, as well as the twos on the offensive line, after not playing any offensive snaps in Week 1.

Seagreaves saw a lot more work at tight end against the Coyotes, jumping to 21 snaps after playing just three against Western Michigan. Wisconsin knows what they have in Tucker Ashcraft and views him as their best all-around option, but they’re still searching for another guy they can trust.

Trech Kekahuna saw more action this week, but it still feels like he’s not getting enough snaps. Will Pauling also plays the slot, which complicates things, but when it comes down to it, you’ve got to find a way to get your top playmakers on the field, and this offense needs the juice he brings.