Wisconsin
How Wisconsin quarterbacks Billy Edwards, Danny O’Neil fared, plus 4 other observations from Spring Showcase
An aerial view of Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.
An aerial view of Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., home of the Wisconsin Badgers.
MADISON – The Wisconsin football team held its Spring Showcase on April 19 at Camp Randall Stadium, fans’ first chance to see the 2025 team.
If the 7,840 fans in attendance were looking for offensive fireworks from the intrasquad scrimmage they went home disappointed.
Billy Edwards and Danny O’Neil, the Badgers’ top two quarterbacks, each engineered one scoring drive. Neither threw a touchdown pass during the almost two-hour scrimmage, but also didn’t turnover the ball.
That was a positive. So was the team’s play at running back and in pass defense.
Here are five observations from the afternoon.
Jeff Grimes’ Wisconsin offense showcases each QB’s strengths
You’re not going to get deep into the playbook in a scrimmage, but the event offered some insight into how offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes can suit the offense to different types of quarterbacks.
O’Neil, the more mobile of the Badgers top QBs, was given the opportunity to do more with option pitches and seemed to be put into space more.
Here are each players’ unofficial passing stats: Edwards – 9 of 16 for 58 yards; O’Neil 4 of 9 for 62 yards.
Forty-two of O’Neil’s yards came on a deep ball down the sideline to Joseph Griffin on the first possession. Griffin’s ability to adjust to the ball was key as he was able to slow down and keep the defensive back behind him in order to give himself space to make the catch.
Wisconsin running back Dilin Jones gets the sure yards
If the season started today, Jones, a redshirt freshman, would be the Badgers’ starting running back. His unofficial stats were 13 touches for 68 yards, an average of 5.2 yards per play. That included 10 rushes for 49 yards with a long of 13 yards and no negative yardage runs.
Jones has big-play potential, but he didn’t get greedy and pass on sure yards in order to attempt to make a bigger play.
Junior Joe Brunner gets snaps at left tackle
Since left tackle Kevin Heywood went down with an ACL injury that is expected to end his season, the Badgers have gone with the No. 1 line of left tackle Leyton Nelson, left guard Joe Brunner, center Jake Renfro, right guard Kerry Kodanko and right tackle Riley Mahlman.
In the second half Saturday Brunner played a couple of series at left tackle. For one of the series the line combination from left to right was Brunner, Kodanko, Renfro, redshirt freshman Emerson Mandell and Mahlman. For the other, the combination was Brunner, Colin Cubberly, Renfro, Kodanko and Mahlman.
Wisconsin RB Cade Yacamelli continues to produce; Gideon Ituka moves chains
Yacamelli, a redshirt junior and Jones ran with the No. 1 offense. Sophomore Darrion Dupree (leg) did not play. Redshirt freshman Gideon Ituka’s work came with the second offense.
Yacamelli was unofficially the game’s leading rusher with 94 yards in eight carries. Fifty-five of those yards came on a burst of the middle created by blocks by Kodanko and Renfro that resulted in the No. 1 offense’s only touchdown of the day. About 10 yards into the run Yacamelli ran through the arm tackle of junior safety Matt Jung.
Even without the long run, Yacamelli averaged 5.6 yards per carry
Ituka was productive as well. He ran for 51 yards and averaged 5.7 yards per carry.
The secondary makes plays
Based on the scoring system set up by the coaches, the defense won the game and the team’s pass coverage played a key role.
Freshman safety Luke Emmerich had the only interception of the day on a deep ball from freshman Carter Smith. There were two other big plays in pass defense: Miami transfer D’Yoni Hill won a one-on-one battle with Chris Brooks to break up a deep throw, and in the next series redshirt freshman Jay Harper made a similar play on a long ball throw by Milos Spasojevic to Griffin.
The defense often had the quarterback on the run, pressure that was often the result of good pass coverage.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin man arrested in Colorado in connection with deadly hit-and-run in north suburbs
A Wisconsin man has been arrested in Colorado in connection with a fatal north suburban hit-and-run earlier this year that left a 50-year-old woman killed.
According to the Winthrop Harbor Police Department, Travis Kern, 35, of Pleasant Prairie, turned himself into police in Lakewood Colorado on an arrest warrant. Kern was charged with two felonies, police said, and remains in custody in Colorado pending extradition proceedings.
About 11:10 p.m. on February 26, a pedestrian was struck in the 1400 block of Sheridan Road in Winthrop Harbor by a driver of a vehicle heading northbound. The vehicle then fled the scene, police said.
The pedestrian, later identified as Shanna White, 50, of Waukegan, was transported to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead.
According to court documents, Kern’s next scheduled court date is set for July 22.
Wisconsin
TOUR KICKS OFF: Kids from Wisconsin begins 56th annual tour Thursday in Whitewater
WHITEWATER, Wis. (WMTV) – The Kids from Wisconsin troupe is kicking off its 56th annual tour this week.
Kids from Wisconsin is a traveling show with 22 singer-dancers and 14 band members. The troupe performs across Wisconsin, hosting workshops for kids and helping fundraise for youth arts programs.
This year’s theme is “America’s Soundtrack: The Pulse of a Nation.” The theme honors the 250th anniversary of America and features music by all-American composers, bands and performers.
Kids from Wisconsin bassist and student leader Alex Coller said that range is what makes this year’s tour stand out.
“The theme is really just celebrating American music. And I think it’s definitely one of the most cohesive and like diverse shows I have played with this organization,” Coller said. “Even though its just American music it’s really cool to see. Anyone no matter who you are, or what your musical background is, or whether you like music or not, there is something here for everyone to enjoy.”
Kids from Wisconsin’s artistic and choral director, Taras Nahirniak, said audiences won’t want to miss it.
“Find a show near you, you are not going to want to miss this show. It’s just spectacular, the kids are so talented,” Nahirniak said. “We are just finishing up our camp right now, and they are just working their tails off. To really go around the state and show the state what they have.”
The tour premieres Thursday night at Young Auditorium in Whitewater. For tickets, tour dates or to find a show, visit kidsfromwi.org.
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Wisconsin
Democrat Missy Hughes drops out of Wisconsin governor race
Marquette poll shows Wisconsin voters unfocused on governor race
A Marquette University Law School poll reveals Wisconsin voters lack focus on the governor’s race, with most undecided 5 months before the primary.
MADISON – Former Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. CEO Missy Hughes is dropping out of the Democratic primary race for governor and endorsing Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez.
Hughes, who was the most moderate candidate in the Democratic field for governor, suspended her campaign days after placing last in a straw poll of party delegates at the Democratic Party of Wisconsin state convention in Madison.
Her endorsement of Rodriguez comes as some Democrats are eyeing an alternative to state Rep. Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, and former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who leans further left than current Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. Hong and Barnes are considered frontrunners in the primary race.
In a statement, Hughes flicked at the approach of Hong and other candidates to her left who have proposed significant changes to state government.
“I believe there is great hope in these small efforts to find common ground. I wanted to make sure that Wisconsinites understand we have created something valuable and that investing in ourselves and our communities is well-deserved,” Hughes said. “We do not need to tear it all down, and there is real and important work to do to improve what we already have.”
Hughes suggested Rodriguez would make more reasonable decisions as governor than her primary opponents.
“This job is about running the state, and getting things done. As you consider what is important to you, I urge you to look beyond the talking points, social media posts, and gilded promises and consider what you think is essential to do the job,” she said. “Stop asking, ‘Who will win?’ and start asking who you trust to make big decisions that impact our families and the wellbeing of our loved ones, neighbors and communities.”
This developing story will be updated.
Molly Beck can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com.
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