Latest news with #JeffGrimes
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wisconsin Badgers offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes talks running backs, left tackle and more
MADISON – Excited is the key word for Jeff Grimes. Since arriving at Wisconsin in December, the Badger football team's new offensive coordinator has been focused on installing his system, which could unlock a physical element to the game missing from the team's play the past couple of seasons. On the ladder of learning, Grimes puts his players on the cusp of grasping the offense and how to make it work to their advantage. 'I would say that's where most of our team is now, the next step is can I actually do these things well and then can I do them better than the people who are trying to keep us from doing these things,' he said. 'I'm really excited to see our guys take that next step. They've been really unbelievably willing to work and learn.' More: How a text message from Jeff Grimes got Montee Ball excited about Wisconsin's new offense More: Wisconsin's Camp Randall Stadium in Madison ranks among the top 25 college-football venues by USA TODAY The Badgers have a few weeks to take those next steps. Fall camp was set to open July 29 at UW-Platteville's Pioneer Stadium. The season opener vs. Miami (Ohio) is slated for Aug. 28. Before leaving for camp Grimes spoke to reporters on the Badgers media day July 28 at the McClain Center practice facility. Here is what we learned. RB rotation ideally two backs plus an occasional third Grimes loves the depth of the running backs room and the way that Dillin Jones, Darrion Dupree and Cade Yacamelli support each other despite a very competitive battle for playing time. Grimes, however, said that while the possibility of a three-back rotation isn't out of the question, a two-back rotation with third back getting 'a couple of plays' is ideal. 'But if we have three that are ready, then we'll play all of them,' Grimes said. The immediate challenge with the three will be getting them all adequate work during camp so that a decision on the pecking order can be made. Jones got the most work with the No. 1 unit during spring ball, but Dupree and Jones missed time due to injury. More: Wisconsin quarterback Billy Edwards, center Jake Renfro understand the value of being on the same wavelength Davis Heinzen will get every opportunity to win job at left tackle The Badgers had two weeks of spring practices after left tackle Kevin Heyward went down with a left ACL injury to evaluate Leyton Nelson with the No. 1 unit. Reading between the lines the addition in April of Davis Heinzen, a three-year starter at Central Michigan at left tackle, showed the coaches had wanted more at the position. '(Heinzen) certainly hasn't earned his stripes with the other guys in the offensive line room as well as some other people have, but we didn't bring him here to not play,' Grimes said. 'And so he's going to get a lot of opportunities to win that starting job.' Lance Mason is a natural route runner Even though UW was happy at tight end with the development of junior Tucker Ashcraft and the smooth transition Jackson Acker made to the position from running back, the room lacked an individual who could stretch the defense. Enter Lance Mason, who caught 34 passes for 590 yards and six touchdowns last season at Missouri State. Those stats speak to his potential as a receiver. Grimes put that potential into words. 'What stands out from him that I've seen thus far is the same thing that I saw when we made the decision to bring him here and that is he's a natural route runner, understands space, leverage, has the ability to get in and out of breaks,' Grimes said. 'I think that's his strong suit. Now how well he blocks, particularly in this league, will also be a determining factor in terms of how much he actually plays instead of somebody else.' This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes media day takeaways
USA Today
21-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Where Wisconsin football falls in Big Ten 2025 preseason media poll
Big Ten Poll Penn St (11)2 Ohio St (10)3 Oregon (2)4 Illinois5 Michigan6 Indiana7 Iowa8 Nebraska9 USC10 Washington11 Minnesota12 Wisconsin13 Michigan St (tie)13 Rutgers15 UCLA16 Maryland17 Northwestern18 Purdue Media members from across the Big Ten are far from bullish on Wisconsin's chances in 2025. After a 5-7 finish to the 2024 campaign and overall 12-13 record in two years under head coach Luke Fickell, the Badgers landed at No. 12 in 2025 preseason Big Ten football media poll. The poll was unveiled in advance of Big Ten media days July 22-24 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Since the conference itself does not conduct a media poll, ranking is considered the Big Ten's de facto poll of record. Penn State unsurprisingly led the media's projected standings, with Ohio State, Oregon, Illinois and Michigan rounding out the top five, respectively. Wisconsin's top rivals, Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota, fell at No. 7, No. 8 and No. 11, respectively. Wisconsin's place in the latter half of the standings isn't a major surprise. On one hand, many expect significant improvement from the team after a five-game losing streak to close the 2024 season led to it missing a bowl game for the first time since 2001. Reasons for optimism include a return to the program's old-school offensive style with coordinator Jeff Grimes, a transfer-heavy defensive front and one of the Big Ten's more underrated quarterbacks. On the other hand, the Badgers will face by far the toughest schedule in the Big Ten, plus one of the most challenging in the entire sport. Even a dramatic improvement could lead to just a 6-6 or 7-5 finish. Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell, center Jake Renfro, cornerback Ricardo Hallman and quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. will appear at Big Ten media days on Wednesday, July 23. Only 38 days remain until the team opens its 2025 season at Camp Randall Stadium against Miami (OH). Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Athlon Sports lists Wisconsin veteran lineman as All-America and All-Big Ten Teamer
Wisconsin football veteran offensive lineman Riley Mahlman was named to Athlon Sports' preseason All-Big Ten first team on Wednesday. Mahlman, entering his fifth season as a member of the Badgers' program, was named a First-Team All-Big Ten selection alongside offensive lineman Olaivavega Ioane (Penn State), J.C. Davis (Illinois), Gennings Dunker (Iowa) and Emmanuel Pregnon (Oregon). The conference's First-Team was headlined by quarterback Drew Allar (Penn State), running back Nicholas Singleton (Penn State) and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State). Advertisement The right tackle's position on the list doesn't come as much of a surprise. The program veteran was recently included in ProFootballFocus' list of top returning Big Ten offensive tackles, and he's served as a starter on Wisconsin's offensive line since 2022. Specifically, Mahlman was listed behind Indiana left tackle Carter Smith, Northwestern left tackle Caleb Tiernan and Iowa right tackle Gennings Dunker in PFF's list of the highest-graded returning offensive tackles in the Big Ten. The star tackle has appeared in 25 contests since the beginning of the 2023 season, playing as one of Wisconsin's more consistent offensive line starters under former offensive coordinator Phil Longo. Advertisement The veteran's contributions will be even more significant in 2025 under newly hired offensive Jeff Grimes, who will implement a pro-style approach to a program which traditionally relies on its strength in the trenches. With transfer quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. under center, coupled with an increase in touches for running backs Darrion Dupree and Cade Yacamelli, Mahlman will need to put together arguably his most prolific season as a member of UW's offensive line. UW and Mahlman will open the season on Thursday, Aug. 28, at home against Miami (OH). Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football OL Riley Mahlman on Athlon Sports All Big Ten team
USA Today
11-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Wisconsin one of 10 college football programs to only face FBS opponents on 2025 schedule
Wisconsin one of 10 college football programs to only face FBS opponents on 2025 schedule Wisconsin football will be one of 10 college football programs to square off solely against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents during the 2025 season. The Badgers, fresh off a 5-7 output during the 2024 campaign, join the Colorado Buffaloes, Michigan Wolverines, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Sam Houston State Bearkats, Stanford Cardinal, Texas Longhorns, Tulane Green Wave, UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans as those 10 programs. To open the season, Wisconsin will square off against the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks on Aug. 28 and the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders on Sept. 6 at Camp Randall Stadium. A season ago, the Badgers played Western Michigan, an FBS program, and South Dakota, a Football Championship Subdivision team, to begin the 2024 slate. Unlike last season, both the Redhawks and Blue Raiders compete at the highest level of college football. While Miami, a MAC representative, and Middle Tennessee, a Conference USA team, may not boast the historical resumes of a Power 4 program, both have competed in the FBS for decades. The last 10 games of Wisconsin's schedule, meanwhile, are as difficult as any in the sport. The Badgers play the Alabama Crimson Tide on Sept. 13, Michigan Wolverines on Oct. 4, Ohio State Buckeyes on Oct. 18 and Oregon Ducks on Oct. 25. Other notable games include Iowa on Oct. 11, Washington on Nov. 8, Indiana on Nov. 15, Illinois on Nov. 22 and Minnesota on Nov. 29. With an entirely new offensive system in place -- captained by offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes and Maryland transfer quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. -- UW will need to perform well against the subpar Big Ten programs to return to the six-win threshold. The Nittany Lions, Buckeyes, Crimson Tide and Ducks are as formidable as any group of teams in the country, which means that Wisconsin will need to reestablish its ground-and-pound identity before October rolls around. First is the Thursday, Aug. 28 battle against Miami (Ohio) at Camp Randall. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
USA Today
06-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN's Football Power Index predicts Wisconsin football's 2025 win total
ESPN's Football Power Index predicts Wisconsin football's 2025 win total It's no secret that Wisconsin football faces a gauntlet this season. Specifically, the Badgers face the No. 3 (Alabama), No. 4 (Ohio State), No. 6 (Oregon), No. 17 (Michigan), No. 27 (Washington), No. 31 (Indiana) and No. 39 (Iowa) teams in ESPN's preseason Football Power Index. The entire slate is by far the toughest in the Big Ten and more challenging than all but one SEC schedule. That context is necessary when discussing Wisconsin's expectations entering the season. The team is fresh off its first losing campaign since 2001. While it appears to have better direction with new offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes in place, it's hard to argue that the program isn't reeling. This brings up an important question: What should be considered a success for Wisconsin football in 2025? Against the team's top-of-the-sport schedule, even a bowl trip could look like a major win. For reference, FPI currently projects Wisconsin's win-loss record at 5.6 - 6.5. That total analyzes how Badgers' rating of 6.3 (No. 38 nationally) compares to the teams it faces. While a startlingly low total on the surface, it suggests that a six-win output is within range. There will be further discussion surrounding what would make Wisconsin football's 2025 season successful. For now, it's worth noting that most major outlets and betting sites are setting a projection at 5.5 wins, with an equal chance to finish in either direction. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
