Dairyland Express
Fansided

Wisconsin Football: 6 newcomers who will have immediate impact

By Brian Sampson

Dec 17, 2022; Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs quarterback Tanner Mordecai (8) throws the ball against the Brigham Young Cougars during the second half at University Stadium (Albuquerque). Mandatory Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2022; Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs quarterback Tanner Mordecai (8) throws the ball against the Brigham Young Cougars during the second half at University Stadium (Albuquerque). Mandatory Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

There is more offseason hype surrounding the Wisconsin Football team than ever before. And a big reason is the influx of talent Luke Fickell has brought to the program just months after taking over as the head coach.

Wisconsin surprisingly moved on from both Paul Chryst and Jim Leonhard last season, deciding to hand the keys over to Fickell. Fickell is bringing the Badgers into the 21st century thanks to an air raid offense run by offensive coordinator Phil Longo.

He’s begun recruiting players that better fit the scheme, including a ton of additions at key positions such as quarterback and wide receiver. The defense also switched schemes and lost some key players from last season. Let’s check out six newcomers who promise to have an immediate impact.

The Wisconsin Football team has received an influx of talent in the offseason. Here are six newcomers who will have an immediate impact.

Bryson Green, Wide Receiver

The Badgers are returning their top wideouts from last season AND have added talent to the room. This promises to be an exciting group. CJ Williams gets the most hype among the transfers, but Green is the most proven newcomer at the position. He caught 36 receptions for 584 yards and five touchdowns for Oklahoma State last season. It will be exciting to see what he can bring to Wisconsin.

Jeff Pietrowski, Outside Linebacker

Wisconsin lost Nick Herbig and is undergoing a transition on defense. They’ll be running a 3-3-5 next season and will have different expectations for the position groups. It was just two years ago when Pietrowski racked up seven tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He could be a nice rotational player for the Badgers.

Jason Maitre, Defensive Back

The Badgers lost some talent in the secondary, especially at safety. Maitre played a whopping five years at Boston College and will head to Wisconsin for a sixth year. He can line up all over the field, but their biggest need might be at safety.

Nick Evers, Quarterback

It’s odd for two quarterbacks to make this list, considering only one can play at a time. However, Evers is here because of what he’s doing off the field rather than on it. He’s taken to social media and other platforms to recruit talent to Wisconsin. Players seem to be responding positively and he’ll continue to help bring in more talent.

Darian Varner, Defensive Line

The Badgers lost a beast in Keeanu Benton in the middle of the defensive line and will fail if they try to replace his production directly. Varner followed Fickell from Cincinnati, where he was a First Team All-American Conference performer last season. He knows how to get into the backfield and bring down running backs and quarterbacks alike.

Tanner Mordecai, Quarterback

Mordecai will be the crown jewel of this year’s transfer class, as he’s the favorite to earn the starting quarterback job. He’s extremely athletic and will blend running and passing abilities to make Wisconsin’s offense go. He threw for a whopping 7,152 yards and 72 touchdowns the past two seasons.

Home/Wisconsin Badgers