Contemporary off their bye week, the Wisconsin Badgers are taking over the No. 12 UCLA Bruins in Week 7, in search of their fourth win in six video games towards ranked opponents.
Earlier this season, the Badgers knocked off the then-No. 13 Penn State Nittany Lions on the street. Now, they’re trying to journey cross-country once more and do the identical, solely this time on the West Coast.
The Bruins are undefeated at 5-0, coming off a street win over the Oregon Geese in an upset. The win got here with some unlucky information, nonetheless, as quarterback Nico Iamaleava is out indefinitely with a knee harm.
Wisconsin ought to hopefully be more healthy right here in Week 7 after getting the bye week to relaxation and reset following their 31-3 beatdown of the Michigan State Spartans in Week 5.
Right here’s the Badgers depth chart for Week 5, courtesy of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Mark Stewart.
Again in Week 5, we received to see Ryan Hopkins take snaps for the second time this season. He stays because the co-backup on the depth chart with Deuce Adams.
At operating again, with out Abu Sama, Darrion Dupree received a workhorse load, taking part in 43 of 62 snaps, whereas having 20 touches for 63 yards. Bryan Jackson performed 16 snaps, recording seven carries for 22 yards, whereas Nate Palmer performed three snaps.
Sama must be more healthy from his shoulder harm post-bye. He hasn’t performed since Week 4 at Penn State, when he received 5 carries for 34 yards earlier than sitting the remainder of the sport. Sama ought to issue again into the combination right here, however we’ll see if he’s the workhorse or if Wisconsin rides Dupree once more vs. UCLA.
At receiver, the Badgers might get Jaylon Domingeaux for the primary time this season. The senior switch had a hand harm in fall camp and hasn’t suited up but this yr, however he practiced final week and may very well be within the combine in Week 7. The Badgers would then have a rotation of Chris Brooks, Eugene Hilton, Tyrell Henry, Malachi Coleman, Shamar Rigby, and Domingeaux.
Again in Week 5, with Coleman again wholesome, he received an equal quantity of snaps to Tyrell Henry (28), whereas Brooks and Hilton led the room with 41 and 37 snaps, respectively.
The tight finish room was a bit completely different in Week 5, as Ryan Schwendeman led the room is snaps with 27 because the Badgers went to the bottom recreation extra. Grant Stec additionally had 25 snaps, whereas Jacob Harris had 23 and Emmett Bork had 18. We’ll see how a lot the Badgers go heavy personnel on this one.
The offensive line is the place issues get attention-grabbing. Wisconsin moved Kevin Heywood to left sort out, beginning Stylz Blackmon at proper guard and Emerson Mandell at proper sort out whereas PJ Wilkins went to the bench. Nonetheless, Wilkins rotated in with Mandell at proper sort out, taking part in 26 snaps to the latter’s 33.
Wilkins is the backup proper sort out on the depth chart. With Mandell now two weeks more healthy, we’ll see if that continues in Week 7. One other word: Austin Kawecki left Week 5 with an harm, prompting Ryan Cory to step in and play fairly effectively. We’ll see if Kawecki can return right here. He’s listed because the starter.
Defensively, the defensive position group has appeared the identical for a lot of the yr, with Wisconsin rotating in Hammond Russell, Charles Perkins, Junior Poyser, Nolan Vils, DeNigel Cooper, Dillan Johnson, and Jacob Anderson. We’ll see if the Badgers go one much less on Saturday, however that group of six or seven ought to all play towards UCLA, maintaining the unit recent.
The identical goes at exterior linebacker, the place we’ve seen Tyreese Fearbry’s snaps proceed to rise reverse Sebastian Cheeks. Behind them, the highest choices have been Nicolas Clayton, who has continued to enhance as a pass-rusher, and Justus Boone. Micheal Garner has performed often, however appears behind the clear high 4 in snaps.
At linebacker, it’s the identical: Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano dominating the snaps, whereas Jon Jon Kamara and Thomas Heiberger slot in sure packages.
At cornerback, the rotation between Jai’mier Scott and Eric Fletcher stays on the sphere facet, however Javan Robinson has been a full-time participant and Bryce West has performed lots within the nickel.
At security, we additionally proceed to see a rotation between Marvin Burks and Cairo Skanes, whereas Matt Jung is actually a full-time participant.
Wisconsin and UCLA will kick off at 4:30 p.m. native time on Saturday on NBC, marking yet one more primetime recreation for the Badgers.
