BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. — Ten nuggets as the Badgers prepare to open a season unlike any other by hosting Illinois on Friday.
1. Cornerbacks Faion Hicks, Rachad Wildgoose and Caeser Williams have combined for 50 career starts. Hicks has 23, Wildgoose 15 and Williams, 12. The secondary, as a whole, returns 96 career starts, the fourth most among Power Five teams. Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard sez: "The corners are playing with more confidence and that spreads to our defense as well. To me, it starts with those guys. If they're feeling it, I think our entire defense kind of feels the energy that they play with and the confidence that they have."
2. Tight end Jake Ferguson was one of three receivers (Garrett Groshek and Quintez Cephus were the others) with five catches against Illinois in 2019. For Ferguson, who has caught at least one pass in 27 straight games, it matched his career high. What's his next step? Tight end coach Mickey Turner sez: "I get this question a lot about Jake and the easy answer is consistency. We've all seen him make plays in the past; we all know he can be a complete tight end. But can you do it every play? Can you do it against Big Ten competition?"
3. Yes and yes. That would be Turner's answers to his own questions about Ferguson. Turner sez: "His approach this year has been night and day. He always was kind of a hungry guy, like he wanted to be put in the tough moments. You play Ohio State and that's his favorite game of the year. But maybe it's a walk-through day or a lighter practice, are you still going to find a way to get better? And he has bought into that whole heartedly."
4. As a true freshman, nose tackle Keeanu Benton (6-foot-4, 318) started six games and showed flashes of being a dominant presence in the middle of all that traffic with 12 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks. Leonhard sez: "We saw the big play ability … he's a powerful, explosive kid … we knew early that we had something pretty special at the position and we're going to continue to ask him to grow. He doesn't feel like he has arrived yet, which is awesome. He's in a great position going into this season to just be himself and not try to do too much."
Mason Stokke (34)
5. Mason Stokke was named the top linebacker in Wisconsin during his senior year at Menomonie High School. Also rushed for 1,740 yards and 29 touchdowns. Switched to fullback with Badgers. Had 15 carries and two scores last season. Could play tailback. Offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph sez: "He wants to do what he does best and get in there and pop open holes and be that physical player for us. That's where his mindset is. We do rely on him being a leader and one of the ways he leads is that he's ready to step into different roles if needed."
6. Jaylan Franklin did a little bit of everything during his prep years. Rarely got off the field. Played quarterback and linebacker-safety. Also hooper and hurdler. Moved to outside linebacker at UW and had sack in '19 opener. Now a tight end. Rudolph sez: "He's pretty darn long but he's got a great feel with his fluidity. He's not just a track athlete out there. I've been pleased with his knowledge of the game without me having to spend too much time on it."
7. The overall numbers are up in the TE rotation. Obviously, Ferguson will be the workhorse. But now Turner has some other options in Hayden Rucci, Jack Eschenbach, Clay Cundiff, Gabe Lloyd and Franklin. Ferguson sez: "It's good to have all the guys healthy. Last year it was just me and Cor (Cormac Sampson, now an offensive lineman) for a little bit. Now we can really see the whole group come together and kind of see what everybody has to offer."
8. In Champaign, the Badgers had four sacks of Illinois quarterback Brandon Peters, who returns as the starter. Inside linebacker Chris Orr had three and Jack Sanborn assisted on another. Sanborn ended up as the UW's leading tackler (80). With Orr gone, he will partner with sophomore Leo Chenal. Leonhard sez: "At times, he has got to take a little bit more control of the communication. From a consistency standpoint, he has been that since day one and I think he's becoming more of a dynamic linebacker for us. I love everything Jack has done so far."
9. Under sixth-year head coach Paul Chryst, the Badgers are 35-2 when the defense allows 100 rushing yard or less. Leonhard sez: "For us, it always starts out with stopping the run. When we do a great job of stopping the run, we can dictate a little bit more, we can get more aggressive. With the D-line and the D-backs we have, I feel we can challenge receivers on the outside and try to get after the quarterback in the pass game and stop the run."
10. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the postponement and reinstatement of an abbreviated Big Ten season, there will be a sense of relief in finally reaching a game day. Speaking for many, Leonhard sez: "We didn't think we'd be here for a long time being realistic ... There were a lot of frustrating moments, there were a lot of mind games. And we feel like our group really came together. You just see the excitement every day. They're out on the field, they're enjoying it. They love being out there and competing together. Now they get a chance to let it go and get out there and play. That's what we're the most excited for. It feels like an opportunity that almost was lost. (We're) a dangerous team if we can handle this the right way and continue to stay motivated, which I think we will."
