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Dean Engram's versatility allowed him to develop into a consistent contributor for Wisconsin in two phases last season - defense and special teams. Engram served as UW's third cornerback and primary punt returner and rotated in on other special teams units as needed. The redshirt junior appears capable of doing the same in 2022, with a twist. Engram has made a smooth transition from cornerback to wide receiver, a move made in the spring, appears headed to returning punts again this season and could be one of the gunners on punt coverage. "Anything I can do to help this team is what my role is," Engram said after practice Tuesday. "If I'm going down as a ‘sky' gunner, get it down. If I've got to make a big (tackle) on a returner, go get it. On offense? Go get it. "Any phase of the game, I want to be dedicated and committed to helping this team." - Journal Sentinel

(DS#999 CB) rSr/2024

CB Dean Engram, Wisconsin
News Source: Journal Sentinel
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08/06/22 - Chez Mellusi, rSr/2025, Wisconsin, 5-11, 212 (DS#999 RB) + More +

Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst is determined to avoid overworking several key players who are returning to the practice field this week in camp. "We've got to be smart on volume initially," he said. Perhaps the No. 1 player to monitor is tailback Chez Mellusi, who suffered a torn anterior ligament in his left knee last season at Rutgers. "You'd be crazy to have Chez just go 100 miles an hour right away," Chryst said.

UW is scheduled to hold its first practice Wednesday and the workload of Mellusi and fellow tailback Isaac Guerendo will be worth monitoring. "I feel great," Mellusi said Tuesday during the team's annual media day. "I'm full-go. I'm not limited. "We're going to see how it progresses throughout camp. They're going to watch my load. But I'm in a good spot and I'm just excited to play football." Guerendo sounded the same optimistic chord. "I'm full-go, 100 percent for Day 1," he said. "The mentality I have built is whatever opportunities I get, just take advantage of those. If anybody knows, it is me, that opportunities can be taken away like that." Mellusi broke the 100-yard mark in four of the nine games he played last season and finished with 815 yards, an average of 4.7 yards per carry, and five touchdowns. - Journal Sentinel

(DS#999 RB) rSr/2025

RB Chez Mellusi, Wisconsin
News Source: Journal Sentinel
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08/06/22 - Tanor Bortolini, rJr/2024, Wisconsin, 6-4, 303 (DS#4 C) + More +

Wisconsin offensive line coach Bob Bostad hasn't forgotten the 2009 season when Wisconsin, because of injuries and illness, had to use three centers. That memory, as well as the recent departure of Cormac Sampson, led Bostad to make an intriguing move before UW opened preseason camp Wednesday. Tanor Bortolini, who has played center, guard and tackle and is arguably UW's most versatile offensive lineman, is working as the No. 2 center behind Joe Tippmann. "You've got to have guys at that spot," Bostad said of the critical center position. "You just don't plug (someone) in there. We have to build depth and quality there. He is going to be quality there. I can see that. We need to continue to do that with the loss of (Cormac). We are really in a race now." So, at least for now, Bortolini will back up Tippmann rather than vie to start at one of the guard spots. - Journal Sentinal

(DS#4 C) rJr/2024

C Tanor Bortolini, Wisconsin
News Source: Journal Sentinal
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08/03/22 - Keeanu Benton, Sr/2023, Wisconsin, 6-4, 309 (DS#7 DT) + More +

Keeanu Benton spoke with reporters at during media days Lucas Oil Stadium a day after Minnesota, Iowa and Northwestern. His goal is "to disrupt everything I can." "So that people are starting to notice it, I feel like it's alright," Benton said. "I don't really care if you notice it or not. I'm gonna be the same person, whether you know it or not. But now that you know, it's kind of going to be in the back of your mind and open up plays for other players." Benton returns as one of UW's team leaders. He sought input about the potential to head to the NFL draft after a 2021 season where Big Ten coaches named him a second-team all-conference pick. His power is evident with a 405-pound bench press, 335-pound power clean and 635-pound squat.

Benton may become an even greater presence for the Badgers' highly regarded defense this season. One area the 2022 Outland Trophy watch list selection saw improvement from the end of last season came in work capacity. "Usually last season, I got a report from coach (Shaun) Snee, our strength and conditioning coach," Benton said. "He talked to all the scouts and stuff, and they all kind of saw the same thing about me being tired (during the) the third, fourth quarter. "So this summer and this winter, I was really pushing myself to get my endurance up. So I feel like I've made a stride that way and got stronger and faster, so it overall worked out." - Wisconsin State Journal

(DS#7 DT) Sr/2023

DT Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin
News Source: Wisconsin State Journal
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08/03/22 - Tanner Mordecai, rSr/2024, Wisconsin, 6-2, 210 (DS#28 QB) + More +

2022 PRESEASON WALTER CAMP PLAYER OF YEAR PLAYER TO WATCH: Tanner Mordecai, QB, senior, SMU,...Mordecai threw for 3,628 yards (12th NCAA) and a school-record 39 touchdowns (5th NCAA) in 2021, while his 41 total TDs responsible for were also a program record. His 308 completions ranked second at SMU, while his 454 attempts were ninth. In all, he posted eight 300-yard games and five games with 4+ passing TDs and six with 4+ total TDs. He also ranked in the top 10 nationally and led the conference in points responsible for (248, 6th NCAA), points responsible for per game (20.7, 6th NCAA), completions per game (25.67, 8th NCAA), passing yards per game (302.3, 10th NCAA) and total offense (319.2, 10th NCAA). His seven passing TDs in the season opener against ACU set the SMU single-season record, while his 427 yards against Tulane were ninth. - SMU Football

(DS#28 QB) rSr/2024

QB Tanner Mordecai, Wisconsin
News Source: SMU Football
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08/03/22 - Tanner Mordecai, rSr/2024, Wisconsin, 6-2, 210 (DS#28 QB) + More +

In not-so-surprising news: SMU coach Rhett Lashlee, as he has all offseason, declined to name a starting quarterback during Thursday's virtual American Athletic Conference media day. Lashlee, in his first season as a head coach, wants to instill a culture of competition, including the battle between incumbent starter, all-conference quarterback Tanner Mordecai, and heralded redshirt freshman Preston Stone. "Their position is obviously the one you talk about because it's quarterback, but it's like all of them," Lashlee said. "We feel like competition makes our roster better." Lashlee called competition one of SMU's core philosophies.

Most coaches would probably say the same thing, but veteran wide receivers with a knack for candor? That was a little more surprising. Moments after Mordecai finished answering a question about how he and Stone feed off each other, all-conference wide receiver Rashee Rice gave his opinion, too. "The quarterback room is a major key to our offense," Rice said, "and to have two great quarterbacks is a great thing for the receiver room. It's not mentioned that much, but I think everywhere on this team, everyone's competing." - Dallas Morning News

(DS#28 QB) rSr/2024

QB Tanner Mordecai, Wisconsin
News Source: Dallas Morning News
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08/02/22 - Braelon Allen, Jr/2024, Wisconsin, 6-1, 235 (DS#7 RB) + More +

2022 PRESEASON WALTER CAMP PLAYER OF YEAR PLAYER TO WATCH: Braelon Allen, RB, sophomore, Wisconsin,... led the Badgers and ranked 3rd in the Big Ten with 1,268 rushing yards ... joined Ron Dayne (1996), James White (2010) and Jonathan Taylor (2017) as the only true freshmen in school history to run for 1,000 yards ... averaged 6.82 yards per carry, tied with Ohio State's TreVeyon Henderson for the best average in the nation among backs with at least 140 carries. - Wisconsin Football

(DS#7 RB) Jr/2024

RB Braelon Allen, Wisconsin
News Source: Wisconsin Football
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08/02/22 - Peter Bowden, rSr/2024, Wisconsin, 6-2, 239 (DS#1 LS) + More +

2022 PRESEASON PATRICK MANNELLY AWARD WATCHLIST: Peter Bowden, Wisconsin,...Earned first letter in 2021 ... played in all 13 games as UW's starting long snapper for all kicks...Did not playin 2021...Academic All-Big Ten in 2021. - Wisconsin Football

(DS#1 LS) rSr/2024

LS Peter Bowden, Wisconsin
News Source: Wisconsin Football
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08/02/22 - *Nick Herbig, Jr/2023, Wisconsin, 6-2, 240 (DS#7 OLB) + More +

2022 PRESEASON CHUCK BEDNARIK AWARD WATCH LIST: Nick Herbig, Wisconsin, Junior LB,...Earned second letter after starting all 13 games in 2021... led the Badgers and ranked 4th in the Big Ten with 9.0 sacks ... also ranked 7th in the Big Ten with 14.5 tackles for loss ... 3rd on the Badgers with 64 total tackles ... also broke up 4 passes, forced 2 fumbles and recovered a fumble. - Wisconsin Football

(DS#7 OLB) Jr/2023

OLB *Nick Herbig, Wisconsin
News Source: Wisconsin Football
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08/01/22 - Chez Mellusi, rSr/2025, Wisconsin, 5-11, 212 (DS#999 RB) + More +

As Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst and his staff prepare for preseason camp, two critical questions about the team's running game remain unanswered: Will the Badgers be able to use multiple tailbacks to wear down opponents and keep the runners fresh? Or, will sophomore Braelon Allen be asked to handle and inordinate number of carries, as happened in the team's final four games last season? The ability of Chez Mellusi and Isaac Guerendo to return from season-ending injuries and the development of Julius Davis and Brady Schipper should provide the answers.

Davis believes Allen will have plenty of help in 2022. "We're going to be hard to stop, I think," he said. "There is a lot that we all bring to the table. We all push each other to be the best we can be, because we want to be the best running back room in the nation. "We're still going to be Wisconsin football. We're going to run it down your throat and then we're going to open it up and pass it. We're going to do our thing." Mellusi, Guerendo and Schipper were held out of spring ball so they could recover from injuries. Mellusi suffered a season-ending torn ACL on Nov. 6 at Rutgers. Guerendo's season ended when he suffered a broken foot in pregame warmups on Oct. 9 at Illinois. Both appeared to be moving well in a video taken during summer workouts but head coach Paul Chryst noted this week the staff will work them in gradually in camp. Mellusi was on pace for a 1,000-yard season when he went down. He finished with 815 yards, a 4.7-yard average and five touchdowns. - Journal Sentinel

(DS#999 RB) rSr/2025

RB Chez Mellusi, Wisconsin
News Source: Journal Sentinel
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07/30/22 - Andy Vujnovich, rSr/2023, Wisconsin, 6-3, 233 (DS#10 P) + More +

2022 PRESEASON RAY GUY WATCHLIST: Andy Vujnovich - Wisconsin,...Vujnovich (6-3, 230) is a senior who has improved almost every year since he left Columbus High School (Wisc.) where he was a punter, receiver, ran track, played baseball and was an award-winning geek. He finished first in the state in computer applications and intro to information technology competitions. Although he was rated a 4.5-star recruit out of high school, Vujnovich played 2018 and 2019 at University of Dubuque. Has been Badgers' starting punter for the last two seasons ... 83 career punts for UW for 3,963 yards ... career average of 44.5 yards per punt would be tops in UW annals if he had 100 or more career punts (Kevin Stemke is current leader at 43.5). - Wisconsin Football

(DS#10 P) rSr/2023

P Andy Vujnovich, Wisconsin
News Source: Wisconsin Football
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07/30/22 - Isaac Hamm, Fr/2026, Wisconsin, 6-4, 260 (DS#999 DT) + More +

The top-rated defensive player in the University of Wisconsin's 2022 recruiting class isn't on the initial roster. Isaac Hamm, a 247Sports composite four-star edge defender from Sun Prairie, is taking classes at Madison Area Technical College and not on the Badgers' roster, coach Paul Chryst told reporters at Big Ten media days. A UW official said Hamm still could make the team at some point this season, and that Chryst is hopeful it can happen. "I appreciate what he's doing right now," Chryst said. "He's taking classes, not at Wisconsin, finishing up some things, and then obviously hopeful. He's doing it and we're in communication. "He's working on some stuff...I appreciate what he's doing to have a good summer." Hamm wasn't expected to be an instant contributor because he's been recovering from shoulder injuries and was joining a loaded position group with outside linebackers and defensive ends. But potentially losing Hamm is a blow to the recruiting class that was ranked 44th nationally on 247Sports and 46th on Rivals with Hamm. - Wisconsin State Journal

(DS#999 DT) Fr/2026

DT Isaac Hamm, Wisconsin
News Source: Wisconsin State Journal
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07/29/22 - Keeanu Benton, Sr/2023, Wisconsin, 6-4, 309 (DS#7 DT) + More +

2022 PRESEASON BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY WATCHLIST: DT Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin,...Benton has played in 33 career games with 24 starts at nose tackle ... has 45 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks...Earned third letter, starting all 13 games at nose tackle ... recorded 25 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in 2021. - Wisconsin Football

(DS#7 DT) Sr/2023

DT Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin
News Source: Wisconsin Football
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07/29/22 - *Nick Herbig, Jr/2023, Wisconsin, 6-2, 240 (DS#7 OLB) + More +

2022 PRESEASON BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY WATCHLIST: LB Nick Herbig, Wisconsin,...Earned second letter after starting all 13 games in 2021 ... led the Badgers and ranked 4th in the Big Ten with 9.0 sacks ... also ranked 7th in the Big Ten with 14.5 tackles for loss ... 3rd on the Badgers with 64 total tackles ... also broke up 4 passes, forced 2 fumbles and recovered a fumble. - Wisconsin Football

(DS#7 OLB) Jr/2023

OLB *Nick Herbig, Wisconsin
News Source: Wisconsin Football
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07/29/22 - Keeanu Benton, Sr/2023, Wisconsin, 6-4, 309 (DS#7 DT) + More +

2022 PRESEASON OUTLAND TROPHY WATCHLIST: DT Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin,...Earned third letter, starting all 13 games at nose tackle in 2021... recorded 25 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks ... also forced two fumbles and broke up two passes ... had a career-high 6 tackles with 2.0 sacks at Minnesota ... recorded 3 tackles and a TFL in win at Purdue. - Wisconsin Football

(DS#7 DT) Sr/2023

DT Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin
News Source: Wisconsin Football
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