{"id":169621,"date":"2022-12-27T10:23:05","date_gmt":"2022-12-27T10:23:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wisconsin-players-to-watch-in-the-guaranteed-rate-bowl\/"},"modified":"2022-12-27T10:23:05","modified_gmt":"2022-12-27T10:23:05","slug":"wisconsin-players-to-watch-in-the-guaranteed-rate-bowl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wisconsin-players-to-watch-in-the-guaranteed-rate-bowl\/","title":{"rendered":"Wisconsin players to watch in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl"},"content":{"rendered":"
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(Photo: Brad Fedie, 247Sports)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

The quarterbacks: <\/strong>It’s not yet clear who will start in place of Graham Mertz<\/b>, who entered the transfer portal and committed to Flordia after three seasons as Wisconsin’s starter. But the decision is between fifth-year senior Chase Wolf<\/b> and true freshman Myles Burkett<\/b>and there may not be an answer until the offense takes the field for its first possession.<\/p>\n

If Burkett has proven that he’s prepared for such an opportunity, then the game sets up perfectly for the staff to learn much more about him before the offseason. He served as Mertz’s backup for a good portion of this season as Wolf recovered from an injury, but his only game action came at the end of blowout wins over Illinois State and New Mexico State. He went 4 of 5 passing for 84 yards in the latter appearance.<\/p>\n

He hasn’t shown it at Wisconsin yet \u2014 at least not in a game \u2014 but he has the dual-threat ability to fit the scheme that offensive coordinator Phil Longo<\/b> will begin to implement in the winter. Burkett passed for<\/span> <\/span>6,483 yards and 71 touchdowns and rushed <\/span>1,054 yards and 14 touchdowns at Franklin High School. He won the Dave Kreig Award as Wisconsin’s top prep quarterback as a senior.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

While Wolf hasn’t started a game at the collegiate level, he has been called upon 12 times as the backup over the last three seasons. He’s completed 17 of his 31 passes for 176 yards with more interceptions (4) than touchdowns (2). His most moment came in 2020 when he helped the Badgers pull out a victory against rival Minnesota in relief of Mertz, who suffered an injury.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>Kaden Johnson<\/b>outside linebacker:<\/strong> Johnson will get his first career start in place of Nick Herbig<\/b>who declared for the NFL Draft after leading the Big Ten Conference in sacks and tackles for a loss this season.<\/p>\n

A four-star prospect in the 2020 class, Johnson has played in 20 games over the last three seasons and logged a career-high 159 defensive snaps this season. However, he played more than 20 snaps in just two games, as Herbig rarely came off the field. Johnson ended the 12-game regular season with 19 tackles. With an expanded role, he will have more opportunities to make disruptive plays and can put himself in a good position for 2023 by taking advantage of them.<\/p>\n

Tanor Bortolini<\/b>center: <\/strong>Bortolini will start at center in place of two-year starter <\/span><\/span>Joe Tippmann<\/b><\/b>who recently declared for the NFL Draft.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bortolini, UW’s most versatile offensive lineman, worked at center during training camp before starting <\/span><\/span>five games at left guard and two at right guard in the regular season. <\/span><\/span><\/span>He played 116 snaps at center over three games (one start) in 2020.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Bortolini will likely be a starter regardless next season, but could center be his permanent spot in 2023 and beyond? A strong performance in the bowl game could be a step toward that.<\/p>\n

Gio Paez<\/b>defensive tackle: <\/strong>Much like Johnson, Paez is in line for this first career start as Keeanu Benton<\/b> sits out in preparation for the NFL Draft.<\/p>\n

Paez, a redshirt junior, played a career-high 143 snaps behind Benton this season and drew praise for his steadiness. He may not be as dynamic as Benton, who this season set career highs in tackles (35), tackles for a loss (10) and sacks (4.5), but the 6-foot-3, 316-pounder can be a sound run-stopper who frees up spaces for linebackers to make plays. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The younger cornerbacks: <\/strong>Alexander Smith<\/b> (fifth-year senior) and Jay Shaw<\/b> (sixth-year senior) will be the starting outside cornerbacks, but younger players like Ricardo Hallman<\/b> (redshirt freshman) and Avyonne Jones<\/b> (true freshman) could see some action too.<\/p>\n

Hallman started the first seven games of the season and played well at times, recording four pass breakups and one interception. However, Smith’s return to the lineup and a rough outing against Michigan State pushed Hallman out of the lineup. He played just three defensive snaps over the final five regular-season games. <\/p>\n

Jones has intriguing versatility, as the Badgers played him outside, in the slot and at safety during spring practices. He played in just one contest this season (New Mexico State).<\/p>\n

With Shaw, Justin Clark<\/b> and Cedrick Dort<\/b> moving on, Hallman and Jones could be battling for expanded roles this offseason and into fall training camp. Perhaps the bowl game gives Fickell an early look at both.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n