MADISON – The Wisconsin football team went back to work Aug. 16.
The Badgers returned to Camp Randall Stadium for their ninth practice of fall camp. The two-hour session was held in temperatures that started in the low 70s but reached the high 70s by the end.
Here are the hghlights and takeaways from the day.
Badgers length on the defensive front paying off
Linebacker Mason Posa continues to make plays against the pass, but his pick during an early team period marked another noteworthy trend for UW. Its defensive lineman and edge rushers are deflecting passes.
We saw it Aug. 13 when 6-4 Hammond Russell got a hand on a red zone throw, pick off the ball and returned it for a touchdown. Nick Clayton, who is 6-5, deflected a pass that day. Edge Micheal Garner, who is 6-7, appeared to get a hand on the pass Posa picked off. Nolan Vils (6-2) got his hand on a pass, too.
Consider it another good sign about UW’s ability to forced turnovers and create disruption up front.
Wilkins, Simmons-Johansson battle in 1-on1s
The offensive and defensive lines matched up for one-on-one pass rushing drills. This has been a spot when the edge rushers have in general gotten the best of the offense but not on this day.
Left tackle PJ Wilkins had strong reps against Sebastian Cheeks and Jayden Loftin. On the other side right tackle Lucas Simmons-Johannson had good reps against Tyreese Fearbry and Cheeks.
Also, a shout out second-string tackle Peyton Lange, who at 6-9 and 345 pounds is the biggest Badgers. He won his matchup with Yahya Gaad but had a tougher time containing Liam Danitz, whose strength is his speed rush.
Freshman receiver making plays
The field for playing time at receiver is crowded, but freshman Kash Brock has been playing his way into consideration. His jewel of the day went for about 30 yards and came despite a strong contest from corner Cai Bates.
Tackle Barrett Nelson gets some work, other tidbits
It’s been a long road back from tackle Barrett Nelson, but the redshirt senior who missed all of last season and all of spring due to a leg injury, got some reps with the second team at right tackle. He and redshirt freshman Hardy Watts rotated during the early parts of practice, but Watts got the work during the later, more physical periods. …
Freshman corner Donovan Dunmore made one of the best plays of the day on the ball when he recovered in coverage in time to knock away a deep ball to Shamar Rigby …
Practice was a bit testy. There were at least three situations when teammates got into each other’s face and needed to be separated. ….
Outside linebacker Jaylen Williams has been out the past couple of practices with an upper body injury.
This story was updated to add a link and photo.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Defense disrupts with length, other takeaways from Wisconsin camp
Reporting by Mark Stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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By Mark Stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
