Harris had a fantastic day Monday, reeling in two touchdowns between first- and second-team reps during apparent red zone skeleton periods.

Expect more fall camp interviews with Badgers to drop on Badger Observer throughout August. We’ve already published videos of the following since Aug. 5:

• Coach Luke Fickell after Aug. 6 and Aug. 14 practices

• Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes

• Quarterbacks coach Kenny Guiton

• Running backs coach Jayden Everett

• Tight ends coach Nate Letton

• Offensive line coach Eric Mateos

• Defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow

• Outside linebackers coach Matt Mitchell

• Linebackers coach Tuf Borland

• Cornerbacks coach Robert Steeples

• Quarterbacks Colton Joseph and Ryan Hopkins

• Running back Abu Sama III

• Defensive lineman Hammond Russell IV and Junior Poyser

• Outside linebackers Nick Clayton and Micheal Garner

• Linebackers Cooper Catalano and Mason Posa

• Cornerback Javan Robinson

Among the topics Harris discussed with reporters include:

• How he’s progressed blocking

• “I think it’s going to be a really good group”

• The development of redshirt freshman Nizyi Davis

• “Everybody’s committed to the team”

• Outside linebacker Justus Boone being “just an absolute monster of a human being,” and another edge rusher that’s difficult to block

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Expect more fall camp interviews with Badgers to drop on Badger Observer throughout August. We’ve already published videos of the following since Aug. 5:

• Coach Luke Fickell after Aug. 6 and Aug. 14 practices

• Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes

• Quarterbacks coach Kenny Guiton

• Running backs coach Jayden Everett

• Tight ends coach Nate Letton

• Offensive line coach Eric Mateos

• Defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow

• Outside linebackers coach Matt Mitchell

• Linebackers coach Tuf Borland

• Cornerbacks coach Robert Steeples

• Quarterbacks Colton Joseph and Ryan Hopkins

• Running back Abu Sama III

• Defensive lineman Hammond Russell IV and Junior Poyser

• Outside linebackers Nick Clayton and Micheal Garner

• Linebackers Cooper Catalano and Mason Posa

Among the topics Robinson spoke about with reporters included:

• Cornerbacks unit: “We’re in a good position. I love our group.”

• Playing above the group’s experience level

• What led him to Wisconsin

• How his father being a coach influenced him

• Redshirt freshman Jai’mier Scott being a competitor

• Already scouting Notre Dame’s offense

Expect more fall camp interviews with Badgers to drop on Badger Observer throughout August. We’ve already published videos of the following since Aug. 5:

• Coach Luke Fickell after Aug. 6 and Aug. 14 practices

• Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes

• Quarterbacks coach Kenny Guiton

• Running backs coach Jayden Everett

• Tight ends coach Nate Letton

• Offensive line coach Eric Mateos

• Defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow

• Outside linebackers coach Matt Mitchell

• Linebackers coach Tuf Borland

• Quarterbacks Colton Joseph and Ryan Hopkins

• Running back Abu Sama III

• Defensive lineman Hammond Russell IV and Junior Poyser

• Outside linebackers Nick Clayton and Micheal Garner

• Linebackers Cooper Catalano and Mason Posa

Among the topics Steeples spoke about with reporters included:

• “I like the versatility in the room and how we get to rotate”

• Transfer cornerback Eric Fletcher Jr. and how he’s “challenged himself to grow”

• Transfer cornerback Cai Bates “playing big-corner football”

• Transfer cornerback Javan Robinson being “a computer but he’s a burner”

• How the competition between Fletcher and redshirt freshman Jai’mier Scott “hasn’t been as much of a battle as it is getting ready for your moment because you know it’s coming”

• Mental conditioning

• “The biggest growth I’ve seen from like a group standpoint is the sideline conversation”

Expect more fall camp interviews with Badgers to drop on Badger Observer throughout August. We’ve already published videos of the following since Aug. 5:

• Coach Luke Fickell after Aug. 6 and Aug. 14 practices

• Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes

• Quarterbacks coach Kenny Guiton

• Running backs coach Jayden Everett

• Offensive line coach Eric Mateos

• Defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow

• Outside linebackers coach Matt Mitchell

• Linebackers coach Tuf Borland

• Quarterbacks Colton Joseph and Ryan Hopkins

• Running back Abu Sama III

• Defensive lineman Hammond Russell IV and Junior Poyser

• Outside linebackers Nick Clayton and Micheal Garner

• Linebackers Cooper Catalano and Mason Posa

Among the topics Letton spoke about with reporters included:

• Redshirt freshmen Nizyi Davis and Emmett Bork

• “I think we have a number of guys in the room that can play at this level”

• The minimum amount of tight ends needed with Wisconsin’s scheme under offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes

• Redshirt sophomore Grant Stec

• Fullbacks Tyler Jansey and McCoy Smith, and Smith’s nickname

• Transfer Jacob Harris

MADISON, Wis. — A pair of running backs who started their University of Wisconsin football careers as walk-ons certainly got their fair share of carries this weekend.

That included facing the first-team defense.

Senior Abu Sama III and junior Darrion Dupree carried the rock with the first-team offense Sunday, but Bryan Jackson II, Juju Pope or Nate Palmer didn’t participate in 11-on-11 periods. That allowed redshirt sophomore Mason Lane and sophomore Harrison Bortolotti to jump in with the second-team unit in addition to third-team reps.

Coach Luke Fickell and his staff had their first-team offense against the second-team defense towards the end of practice, and vice versa with the 1s on defense against the interchangeable quarterback duo of Deuce Adams and Ryan Hopkins and the second-team offense.

Lane (at a listed 6 foot 1 and 220 pounds) and Bortolotti (5-9, 202) are solid, physical backs, and both didn’t look out of place Sunday with their second- and third-team carries. Bortolotti has also shown during fall camps that he possesses a burst of speed with his compact frame that can get him past the first level of the defense, and as previously noted earlier Sunday, he’s also had some verbal exchanges with some defenders over the first eight practices.

Here are four more takeaways and thoughts from Sunday’s practice. Now’s the perfect time to take advantage of Badger Observer’s new deal where fans can get ALL the coverage from Big Ten football media days, fall camp, recruiting and much more for $2 a month or $20/year!

A couple of transfer wide receivers made impacts in passing game during 11-on-11 reps

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Badger Observer is about to head down to yet another University of Wisconsin football fall camp practice Sunday, so we’ll keep the intro short and sweet here.

The Badgers wrapped up their eighth preseason practice Friday on the field just north of Camp Randall Stadium, and they are now only three weeks away from their Sept. 6 season opener against a highly-touted Notre Dame team that currently has plenty of connections to coach Luke Fickell and Wisconsin.

Here are eight things to know about the Badgers after these eight practices.

Now’s the perfect time to take advantage of Badger Observer’s new deal where fans can get ALL the coverage from Big Ten football media days, fall camp, recruiting and much more for $2 a month or $20/year!

Wisconsin’s run game is better

It’s been well documented that Wisconsin had its worst rushing output since 1991 last season (116.7 yards rushing per game, 3.3 yards per carry), a sizable portion due. That season’s leading rusher, Terrell Fletcher only gained 446 yards. 2025’s leader was Darrion Dupree with 363 yards rushing on 4.4 yards per attempt.

Mike Tressel’s defense clearly won two practices early last week, but Wisconsin’s offensive line has come along further and further under assistants Eric Mateos and Casey Rabach during fall camp. That’s with two projected starters on the right side being out heading into Sunday’s practice.

“I think there’s some consistency things that we never quite got an ability to do last year, and so that’s what we’re trying to find out,” Fickell said Friday. “Do we have the consistency to do the things we know we need to do when it comes down to winning ball games, in particular in this league? And so there is some consistency, there’s some things we’re starting to see.

“I try to remind, hey, I know we all are coaches and we all want to show our creativity, but what it comes back to is the little fundamental things. And so I think we’re doing a better job.”

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Expect more fall camp interviews with Badgers to drop on Badger Observer throughout August. We’ve already published videos of the following since last week:

• Coach Luke Fickell after Aug. 6 and Aug. 14 practices

• Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes

• Quarterbacks coach Kenny Guiton

• Running backs coach Jayden Everett

• Offensive line coach Eric Mateos

• Defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow

• Outside linebackers coach Matt Mitchell

• Linebackers coach Tuf Borland

• Quarterbacks Colton Joseph and Ryan Hopkins

• Running back Abu Sama III

• Defensive lineman Hammond Russell IV

• Outside linebackers Nick Clayton and Micheal Garner

• Linebackers Cooper Catalano and Mason Posa

Among the topics discussed with Poyser included:

• Being named one of the players in The Athletic’s College Football Freaks List for 2026, what it means and how he found out

• How he’s being used at Wisconsin compared to Buffalo

• How a connection led him to Wisconsin from the transfer portal

• Wisconsin’s strength and conditioning staff “pushed my body to a limit that I didn’t know I had”

• “No drop off” with deep defensive line unit

• Which offensive lineman he’s faced thus far in fall camp

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MADISON, Wis. — It was a celebration that quite frequently occurred Friday for those University of Wisconsin volleyball players on the Field House court.

Wisconsin recorded 14 service aces during its four-set exhibition finale against Butler, which were led by a pair of Graces. Each time a Badgers player hit an ace, the six on the court jumped together and exclaim in celebration, “Suiii!” It’s how famous soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his goals, though according to sophomore libero Kristen Simon, the catalyst for the Badgers to start doing it may have come from another volleyball team around the area, League One Volleyball (LOVB) Madison.

“Definitely new,” Simon said. “Wasn’t going on last season.”

Added outside hitter Grace Lopez: “Thought it was cool.”

Lopez and fellow outside hitter Grace Egan, both utilizing an aggressive topspin serve, registered four service aces each. Setters Charlie Fuerbringer and Isabelle Hoppe (two each), Simon (one) and middle blocker Natalie Wardlow (one) also got in on the action.

Here are more takeaways and musings from Friday’s tuneup before the regular season begins. Now’s the perfect time to take advantage of Badger Observer’s new deal where fans can get ALL the coverage from Big Ten football media days, fall camp, recruiting and much more for $2 a month or $20/year!

Efficient Grace Egan on the attack

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Now’s the perfect time to take advantage of Badger Observer’s new deal where fans can get ALL the coverage from Big Ten football media days, fall camp, recruiting and much more for $2 a month or $20/year!

Among the topics discussed with Sheffield included:

• The topspin serve seen from Lopez and Grace Egan

• The origins of the players’ service ace celebration

• What was seen during that fourth set

• What stood out from Egan’s performance, which included nine kills in three sets

• The play of the middle blockers

Thoughts and takeaways from Friday’s practice will be up later in the day.

Expect more fall camp interviews with Badgers from that day to drop on Badger Observer throughout August. We’ve already published videos of the following since last week:

• Coach Luke Fickell after Aug. 6 practice

• Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes

• Quarterbacks coach Kenny Guiton

• Running backs coach Jayden Everett

• Offensive line coach Eric Mateos

• Defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow

• Outside linebackers coach Matt Mitchell

• Linebackers coach Tuf Borland

• Quarterbacks Colton Joseph and Ryan Hopkins

• Running back Abu Sama III

• Defensive lineman Hammond Russell IV

• Outside linebackers Nick Clayton and Micheal Garner

• Linebackers Cooper Catalano and Mason Posa

Among the topics discussed by Fickell include:

• “This is where we have to challenge guys in a lot of different ways”

• On the running game: “So there is some consistency. There’s some things we’re starting to see”

• Running back Nate Palmer

• Wide receiver Eugene Hilton Jr.

• Updates on offensive linemen Kevin Heywood and Emerson Mandell

• Offensive lineman Stylz Blackmon

• Cornerbacks Eric Fletcher Jr. and Jai’mier Scott

• Updates to the rules for punting

• “I got the utmost respect for” quarterback Danny O’Neil

• Redshirt freshman tight end Nizyi Davis

Thoughts and takeaways from Thursday’s practice are seen here.

Expect more fall camp interviews with Badgers from that day to drop on Badger Observer throughout August. We’ve already published videos of the following since last week:

• Coach Luke Fickell

• Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes

• Running backs coach Jayden Everett

• Offensive line coach Eric Mateos

• Defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow

• Outside linebackers coach Matt Mitchell

• Linebackers coach Tuf Borland

• Quarterbacks Colton Joseph and Ryan Hopkins

• Running back Abu Sama III

• Defensive lineman Hammond Russell IV

• Outside linebackers Nick Clayton and Micheal Garner

• Linebackers Cooper Catalano and Mason Posa

Among the topics Guiton discussed with media included:

• The QB2 battle between Hopkins and Louisville transfer Deuce Adams

• What Hopkins has shown as a freshman

• Joseph’s growing confidence

• How he’s teaching the running game and the reads for the quarterbacks

• Wide receiver Eugene Hilton Jr.

• Carter Smith “has done a really good job this fall camp”

• Being “really, really proud of” quarterback Danny O’Neil

MADISON, Wis. — Colton Joseph appeared to have an open receiver for a touchdown, but another one of the University of Wisconsin football team’s offseason transfers had other plans.

Wisconsin worked a period inside the Kellner Family Athletic Center on Thursday where the offense lined up inside the 5-yard line. Joseph threw to his left, where based on the view from the second floor area where media is allowed to observe practice, the receiver appeared to have enough separation for a potential touchdown. But defensive lineman Hammond Russell IV got his right mitt up at the right time to swat the ball, and it floated in the air for a second before Russell tracked it for an interception.

A caravan of first-team defenders then sprinted with him down the right sideline for what could be called a touchdown.

Russell’s been among the first set of defensive linemen up for Wisconsin thus far through the first week of fall camp, and he’s been often paired with fellow upperclassmen Charles Perkins.

“Obviously, a guy like Hammond is a senior guy, a veteran guy that’s got a lot of experience, and he’s very sharp,” defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow said. “He does a good job of kind of really getting the group grounded, focused.

“Being a pro, taking care of your body, the little things off the field. And then Perk does a good job of bringing … that emotional burst and energy that the unit needs.”

Badger Observer breaks down more from Thursday’s practice, which started inside Camp Randall Stadium then moved inside Wisconsin’s new facility. Now’s the perfect time to take advantage of Badger Observer’s new deal where fans can get ALL the coverage from Big Ten football media days, fall camp, recruiting and much more for $2 a month or $20/year!

Let’s talk about the QB2 battle

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Thoughts and takeaways from Thursday’s practice will be up later in the day

Expect more fall camp interviews with Badgers from that day to drop on Badger Observer throughout August. We’ve already published videos of the following since last week:

• Coach Luke Fickell

• Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes

• Running backs coach Jayden Everett

• Offensive line coach Eric Mateos

• Defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow

• Outside linebackers coach Matt Mitchell

• Linebackers coach Tuf Borland

• Quarterback Colton Joseph

• Running back Abu Sama III

• Defensive lineman Hammond Russell IV

• Outside linebackers Nick Clayton and Micheal Garner

• Linebackers Cooper Catalano and Mason Posa

Now’s the perfect time to take advantage of Badger Observer’s new deal where fans can get ALL the coverage from Big Ten football media days, fall camp, recruiting and much more for $2 a month or $20/year!

Among the topics Hopkins discussed with media included:

• “Taking each day by each day” after the last two practices

• Colton Joseph “definitely found his voice on this team”

• His mentality and how that’s led to early success

• Playing at Santa Ana Mater Dei

• “I really felt just right here” at Wisconsin during recruiting process

• Adjusting to the demands of college football fall camp

• Danny O’Neil being “a really smart guy”

• Some of the deep completions to wide receiver Eugene Hilton Jr.

• Wisconsin defense “doing a great job right now”

Now’s the perfect time to take advantage of Badger Observer’s new deal where fans can get ALL the coverage from Big Ten football media days, fall camp, recruiting and much more for $2 a month or $20/year!

Among the topics Sheffield discussed include the following:

• The daunting nonconference schedule that starts next week with the AVCA First Serve, and if that’s been reemphasized with the players in preparing for the season

• Grace Lopez returning from injury

• Fuerbringer working with the United States women’s national team in late spring, and her next steps are

• The large amount of matches that will be televised this season

• How freshmen Audrey Flanagan and Halle Thompson “are two extremely different personalities”

• Updates on Thompson and transfer middle blocker Jaela Auguste

• How the practice schedule changes start next week ahead of the season opener

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MADISON, Wis. — One day the defense stands tall, only for the offense to respond the following.

It’s how preseason practices can roll at times, and that’s exactly what’s happened during the last two University of Wisconsin football practices. The Badgers continued working into its second week of fall camp, and Mike Tressel’s defense made plenty of noise Sunday and Tuesday in cranking up the pressure in the backfield. Jeff Grimes’ offense then returned to the field and found success in red-zone situations Wednesday. A sophomore receiver — who’s had a solid start to fall camp to date, at the very least — exploded for big plays.

Here are Badger Observer’s takeaways from the last two days of practices. Now’s the perfect time to take advantage of Badger Observer’s new deal where fans can get ALL the coverage from Big Ten football media days, fall camp, recruiting and much more for $2 a month or $20/year!

Let’s talk about the linebackers behind Cooper Catalano and Mason Posa

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Thoughts and takeaways from Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s practices will be up later Wednesday evening.

Expect more fall camp interviews with Badgers from that day to drop on Badger Observer throughout August. We’ve already published videos of the following since last week:

• Coach Luke Fickell

• Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes

• Running backs coach Jayden Everett

• Offensive line coach Eric Mateos

• Outside linebackers coach Matt Mitchell

• Linebackers coach Tuf Borland

• Quarterback Colton Joseph

• Running back Abu Sama III

• Defensive lineman Hammond Russell IV

• Outside linebackers Nick Clayton and Micheal Garner

• Linebackers Cooper Catalano and Mason Posa

Now’s the perfect time to take advantage of Badger Observer’s new deal where fans can get ALL the coverage from Big Ten football media days, fall camp, recruiting and much more for $2 a month or $20/year!

Among the topics discussed with Whitlow include:

• Defensive lineman Charles Perkins

• How Perkins and Russell work off of one another

• How he feels about potential defensive line rotation

• The combination of Junior Poyser and Dillan Johnson

• Transfer DeNigel Cooper

• Freshmen Arthur Scott III and Djidjou Bah

• If he views reps as first-team, second-team, etc.

Now’s the perfect time to take advantage of Badger Observer’s new deal where fans can get ALL the coverage from Big Ten football media days, fall camp, recruiting and much more for $2 a month or $20/year!

Among the topics Fuerbringer discussed include the following:

• “I’m excited for how our team’s been coming along”

• Next steps for the 2026 season

• Working back from his shoulder dislocation suffered last season

• Her experience playing with the United States women’s national team this spring

• “We have very youthful energy”

• Being a leader and holding others accountable

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Mateos is in his first year mentoring one of the program’s most vaunted position groups after coming over from Arkansas. Wisconsin’s entered its second week of fall camp practices Tuesday after starting Aug. 6, and the past two sessions have seen Mateos display his displeasure with his unit. It could be vocally on the sideline during a break in the practice, or having certain linemen perform up-downs after individual position work.

“At this stage, practice (No. 5) is all about I’m trying to kill them,” Mateos said Tuesday. “I’m trying to break them. I’m trying to break them down like a wild bronco. And practice (No. 5), there’s a wall in the mind that they have to understand is built of softness, thoughts.

“We all have it, alright, and we’re attacking that. That’s the emphasis right now. We’re working on fundamentals. We’re working on the install, and all of that is really important. But practice (No. 5), probably till we get through practice (No. 8), we try to break them down and try to prune them. You gotta cut the flowers down a little bit if you want them to grow a little bit bigger and more beautiful, and that’s what I’m trying to do right now.”

Mateos has liked how his linemen have responded.

“Just the way they just looked at me just now at the end of practice, all eyes up. They’re dead. I got them,” Mateos said. “I’m talking to them. I’m trying to win the mental warfare on them all day long. I’m trying to win in the Inception — the movie “Inception” — I told them I’m two levels down in your dreams, and I’m just trying to teach them that.

“Because here’s the deal: on Sept. 6th, I’m not going to be out there. It’s going to be five guys versus the world. And when you’re in O-line, that’s how it is. Every time you’re on the field, home or away, because if you don’t perform well, the home fans hate you, too. So when you’re out there and your coach ain’t out there, it’s five guys versus the world. So we’re trying to get them comfortable with that that mentality.”

Watch and listen to Mateos’ full availability with reporters after Wisconsin’s practice Tuesday inside the Kellner Family Athletic Center.

Expect more fall camp interviews with Badgers from that day to drop on Badger Observer throughout August. We’ve already published videos of the following since last week:

• Coach Luke Fickell

• Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes

• Running backs coach Jayden Everett

• Outside linebackers coach Matt Mitchell

• Linebackers coach Tuf Borland

• Quarterback Colton Joseph

• Running back Abu Sama III

• Defensive lineman Hammond Russell IV

• Outside linebackers Nick Clayton and Micheal Garner

• Linebackers Cooper Catalano and Mason Posa

Now’s the perfect time to take advantage of Badger Observer’s new deal where fans can get ALL the coverage from Big Ten football media days, fall camp, recruiting and much more for $2 a month or $20/year!

Among the topics discussed with Mateos include:

• Offensive line depth with injuries to likely starters Kevin Heywood and Emerson Mandell

• Right tackle Lucas Simmons-Johansson having “an unbelievable offseason” and playing strong

• Leadership within the group of returners

• Why he’s “really happy” with where the run game install is

• Why he communicates the way he does

• Which second-team players Mateos mentioned

• What’s made Hardy Watts “the biggest surprise from spring to now”

• The mechanics behind center Ryan Cory’s new snapping technique

• PJ Wilkins being “just an angry man when he plays,” and where he needs to improve on

• Why he took the Wisconsin offensive line coach job

Expect more fall camp interviews with Badgers from that day to drop on Badger Observer throughout August. We’ve already published videos of the following since last week:

• Coach Luke Fickell

• Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes

• Running backs coach Jayden Everett

• Outside linebackers coach Matt Mitchell

• Linebackers coach Tuf Borland

• Quarterback Colton Joseph

• Running back Abu Sama III

• Outside linebackers Nick Clayton and Micheal Garner

• Linebackers Cooper Catalano and Mason Posa

Now’s the perfect time to take advantage of Badger Observer’s new deal where fans can get ALL the coverage from Big Ten football media days, fall camp, recruiting and much more for $2 a month or $20/year!

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MADISON, Wis. — It was a practice where it appeared the defense overall won the day, but one position from the University of Wisconsin offense raised some eyebrows.

Inclement weather forced Wisconsin indoors to the Kellner Family Athletic Center on Sunday after initially kicking off its fourth fall camp practice on the Camp Randall Stadium field. The Badgers wide receivers took advantage of the dry conditions within the new confines with their most noticeable performance yet during the first week of preseason practices.

Eugene Hilton Jr. snatched a Colton Joseph throw that was behind him, and caught passes thrown his way. Joseph also found Tyrell Henry for a couple of big gains: one up the left seam, and the other across the middle of the field later in practice. Those were just a few examples of a strong day overall for Ari Confesor’s position group.

Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes said last week that he thought there was more depth, and there were more receivers worthing of playing time and who could make plays after spring ball.

“We’ve got more guys with height and length and size than what we had last year, for sure,” Grimes said. “I think that shows up in two ways: when they’re blocking, and then as well when they’re competing for a ball. Big guys have better opportunities to win those 50-50 balls.”

The next step for the position group, according to Grimes, would be for someone to emerge as a deep threat, and there could be two or three receivers who could do that.

“But we got to see throughout the course of fall camp who really proves to be that primary vertical threat,” Grimes said.

Here’s more from Sunday’s practice. And of course, now’s the perfect time to take advantage of Badger Observer’s new deal where fans can get ALL the coverage from Big Ten football media days, fall camp, recruiting and much more for $2 a month or $20/year!

A transfer receiver stands out Sunday

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