Wisconsin spring practice report No. 7

MADISON — The Wisconsin Badgers returned from spring break to complete the seventh of 15 spring practices on Tuesday morning inside the McClain Center.

Some players previously out prior to the week off found their way back on the field, including defensive linemen Garrett Rand (back) and Bryson Williams (left leg) and cornerback Donte Burton (right leg). All appeared to return as full participants.

Rand worked back in with the “first-team” defensive line alongside Olive Sagapolu and Isaiahh Loudermilk. Williams saw “second-team” reps in that position group alongside ends Aaron Vopal and David Pfaff.

Four players saw their status upgraded to “limited,” including cornerback Dontye Carriere-Williams (abdominal), wide receivers Cade Green (left leg), Taj Mustapha (left leg), and Emmet Perry (left leg).

Jake Kocorowski

Fullback Jake Collinsworth (left leg) was listed as limited prior to the break and running back Mark Saari (abdominal) also appeared to be fully dressed, but both worked in some drills. Their official designation was not confirmed.

Wide receiver Kendric Pryor (left leg) and outside linebacker Zack Baun (illness) were held out of practice, joining wide receiver Adam Krumholz (right leg).

Walk-on Tyler Johnson worked alongside Andrew Van Ginkel at outside linebacker with Baun out.

Two projected contributors are now done for the spring, as wide receiver Danny Davis and right tackle David Edwards (both abdominal) have now been designated as out. There are now 10 Badgers with that designation, including:

• Wide receiver Quintez Cephus (right leg)
• Offensive linemen Michael Deiter (right leg) and Jon Dietzen (right/left leg)
• Safety D’Cota Dixon (right shoulder)
• Running backs Garrett Groshek (right leg) and Bradrick Shaw (left leg)
• Tight end Zander Neuville (right leg)
• Inside linebacker Mason Stokke (right leg)

Observations

• The play of the day came from redshirt freshman Jake Ferguson, who made a great one-handed catch with outside linebacker Arrington Farrar holding/interfering with him. Ferguson continues to show just how well he can catch passes. If he continues his progression, the Madison Memorial product could make a splash in fall camp.

• Van Ginkel made one heck of an interception during team drills by snagging a pass out of the air near the line of scrimmage.
• I saw redshirt senior Micah Kapoi in at right guard during most, if not all of the team drills. That’s nothing on Beau Benzschawel, as he was dressed. I’m guessing it is nothing more than giving the fifth-year, all-conference standout a break.
• It appeared Caesar Williams worked with Madison Cone at cornerback with the “first-team” defensive backs along with Scott Nelson and Patrick Johnson at safety. Carriere-Williams was limited, as I saw him in more team drills.
• Burton worked with the “second-team” defensive backs with Faion Hicks at corner; Seth Currens and Eric Burrell were the safeties.
• After practice, NFL-bound Leon Jacobs worked with the linebackers.
• Also after practice, Jack Dunn, Aron Cruickshank, A.J. Taylor, and Mustapha were fielding punts from special teams quality control assistant Taylor Mehlhaff. Cruickshank even tried to catch one behind his back.

Visitors

• There were some recruits in the house visiting Wisconsin. Newly-offered 2019 athlete Marcus Graham was among them. Be sure to read BadgerBlitz.com’s interview ($) with the North Carolina product, who said UW “is No. 1 by a large margin right now.”

• Four-star defensive end Noah Potter was also inside the McClain Center (h/t BadgerBlitz.com’s Jon McNamara). The prep standout later announced he was offered by Wisconsin.

• 2021 defensive end J.C. Latham from Waukesha, Wis. (Catholic Memorial) also attended practice. The high school freshman is already listed at 6’6, 250 pounds by Rivals and holds offers from Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, and Iowa State.
• As McNamara reported yesterday, 2019 linebacker Spencer Lytle was also there in attendance.