Wisconsin preseason camp: 5 observations from a 75-plus-play scrimmage

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — When Luke Fickell reflected on preparing Wisconsin’s football team for last season, one of his regrets was that he and the coaching staff didn’t do enough scrimmage and live tackling situations during practices. He set out to rectify that this preseason to better understand how players would react and who he could trust in Year 2. So when the Badgers donned full pads for the first time Saturday morning at UW-Platteville, the team spent more than an hour working through what Fickell said was a 75-plus-play scrimmage.

Here are five observations from an entertaining and informative session.

1. Five days into preseason practices, Tyler Van Dyke and Braedyn Locke are still competing for the starting quarterback job. Fickell said after practice that he would go through “at least the next few days” before making further evaluations but that he would like “to get something into play sooner rather than later” for offensive continuity. The goal Saturday was to ensure both players earned equal reps.

During the scrimmage sequence, Van Dyke handled six drives with the first- and second-team offenses and Locke handled five. Mabrey Mettauer earned three drives with the third-team offense. Van Dyke and Locke led two touchdown drives apiece, though all those series began at the defense’s 25-yard line.

Locke began the scrimmage with the first-team offense and went three-and-out, though he put a good ball on receiver Bryson Green that he dropped with cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean in coverage. Van Dyke’s first series with the second-team offense also ended in a three-and-out when redshirt freshman cornerback Jace Arnold delivered a nice tackle on tailback Cade Yacamelli on a swing pass.

Locke’s biggest mistake came after he helped lead the second-team offense down the field and into the red zone. With the offense at the 11-yard line, he targeted receiver Haakon Anderson in the front-right corner of the end zone but didn’t see redshirt freshman cornerback Amare Snowden standing in front of Anderson. Locke’s pass went right to Snowden for an interception.

Once the drives began at the 25-yard line, Locke had more success. He took a sack on first down when defensive lineman James Thompson Jr. tagged him after what appeared to be a poor read in the RPO game. But on third-and-18, Locke stepped up and completed a pass to receiver C.J. Williams for 15 yards, which set up a fourth-and-3 run that running back Tawee Walker converted. Walker finished the drive on the next play with an 8-yard touchdown run.

Locke’s final drive with the first-team offense also resulted in a touchdown. He completed a 22-yard pass to running back Jackson Acker down to the 3. Two plays later, he tossed a 3-yard touchdown to receiver Trech Kekahuna.

Van Dyke, like Locke, had moments he likely wanted back. On third-and-6 from the defense’s 10-yard line, he missed running back Darrion Dupree open in the left flat and instead threw incomplete over the middle to Vinny Anthony with safety Preston Zachman in coverage. Then, on fourth down, defensive lineman Elijah Hills batted down Van Dyke’s pass in the backfield for a turnover on downs.

But Van Dyke responded with a pair of touchdowns on his final two drives. He sold a play fake to Dupree well and completed a 14-yard pass to receiver Tyrell Henry. On third-and-goal from the 6, he found Henry again across the middle for a touchdown.

Wisconsin’s third-team offense also scored a touchdown. Freshman running back Gideon Ituka ran around the left side for a 23-yard gain, and Mettauer completed a 1-yard touchdown pass to freshman tight end Rob Booker II.

Fickell waved off penalties that officials called on the offense three times to help the unit gain momentum. Van Dyke completed a 13-yard pass on third down to Kekahuna at midfield, and Fickell waved off an illegal procedure penalty. That drive ended with kicker Nathanial Vakos making a 38-yard field goal.

2. Could Walker, an Oklahoma transfer, contend for the starting running back spot? Based on how he has performed thus far, it certainly isn’t out of the realm of possibility. With projected starter Chez Mellusi held out of contact drills Saturday, Walker was the first running back up with the top group and looked like a man on a mission.

During one drive with Van Dyke at quarterback, Walker produced consecutive 9-yard runs, first pushing the pile forward up the middle and then rushing around the left side and knocking a couple of would-be tacklers backward. His best sequence came a series later with Locke at the helm of the first-team offense.

On a fourth-and-3 from the defense’s 18-yard line, Walker unloaded on a defender right at the first-down marker and kept going for a 10-yard run. Then, on first-and-goal from the 8, he slipped past diving safety Austin Brown, shed a tackle attempt from inside linebacker Tackett Curtis and dragged safety Hunter Wohler across the goal line for a touchdown.

Walker has consistently stood out since spring practices for his power and burst in a 5-foot-9, 218-pound package. But his talent was even more evident when defenders attempted to wrap him up. Mellusi, who has sustained injuries in each of the past three seasons, figures to form a one-two tandem in some capacity with Walker. But the Badgers landed a big addition in Walker, who has one year of eligibility remaining.

3. The other running back standout Saturday was a player who hasn’t garnered many headlines at the position this offseason: Acker. Without Mellusi, Acker earned first-team reps and took advantage of them. He showed great blocking ability by picking up outside linebacker Leon Lowery on a blitz. He later ran up the middle, gained 9 yards and subsequently lowered his pads to hit the hole for a short first down.

Acker helped lead the first-team offense to a touchdown during a three-play sequence with Van Dyke. Wisconsin began the series at the defense’s 25-yard line. Acker caught a pass over the middle for 9 yards, broke through multiple defenders on the ground for a 15-yard run down to the 1, then scored on a touchdown up the middle. Wisconsin was flagged for holding, but Fickell waved off the penalty. Acker later caught a 22-yard pass over the middle from Locke down to the 3-yard line on a third-and-10 from the defense’s 25.

Fickell said it remains to be seen what Acker’s role could be this season. He has the potential to serve in a de facto fullback role as the lead blocker for another tailback. He also has solid running and pass-catching abilities. But with as much talent as Wisconsin appears to possess at running back, particularly with Dupree and Dilin Jones, the staff has a lot to determine.

4. Running backs coach Devon Spalding has begun to give Dupree and Jones more looks with the second-team offense, ahead of Ituka, who has worked with the third-team offense. Dupree earned three consecutive carries during a sequence with the second-team unit and Locke at quarterback. He turned nothing into something on another series with Locke when he made a spin move at the line of scrimmage for 4 yards. Jones had a couple of good runs as well, including a 12-yarder around the left side.

5. Kicker Nathanial Vakos had an uneven day. During a pre-scrimmage session, he made 2 of 4 attempts, misfiring from 37 and 42 yards before drilling a 48-yarder. Portland State transfer Gianni Smith took the second reps and made 1 of 2 attempts. Vakos made a 38-yarder during the scrimmage, Smith connected from 28 yards and Gavin Lahm made one from 33 yards.

(Photo of Tawee Walker courtesy of Wisconsin Athletics)