Separating the Badgers’ Fall Camp Roster Into 5 Groups

With Big Ten Media Days in the rearview and fall camp just around the corner, the Wisconsin Badgers are eager to get back on the field and atone themselves after a 9-4 season that fell short of preseason expectations in 2021.

UW enters camp with several new faces on the coaching staff, including new offensive coordinator Bobby Engram, the former Baltimore Ravens tight ends coach.

He’ll attempt to reinvigorate a stagnant Badgers offense that averaged fewer than 26 points per game in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1991.

The Badgers will also need to replace six preferred starters on offense and eight off Jim Leonhard’s top-ranked defense. Yet, the media picked Wisconsin as the favorite to win the Big Ten West and return to Indianapolis for the first time in three seasons.

To better grasp where the Badgers stand as of early August, let’s separate the UW roster into five groups: Guaranteed starters, meaningful contributors, in the two-deep, on the cusp, and still developing…

Guaranteed Starters

Nov 20, 2021; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz (5) hands the football off to running back Braelon Allen (0) during the first quarter against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

This grouping consists of core players guaranteed to be starting for UW come Week 1:

Graham Mertz, QB
Braelon Allen, RB
Chimere Dike, WR
Tyler Beach, OL
Joe Tippmann, OL
Jack Nelson, OL
Keeanu Benton, NT
Isaiah Mullens, DE
Jordan Turner, ILB
Nick Herbig, OLB
Jay Shaw, CB
Alexander Smith, CB
John Torchio, S

Meaningful Contributors

Sep 4, 2021; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Chez Mellusi (6) rushes with the football as Penn State Nittany Lions cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (9) defends during the first quarter at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

This grouping of…