Wisconsin releases 2018 football roster

Ah yes, the most wonderful time of the year. A thousand watch-list nominees are revealed, Big Ten Media Days are ongoing in Chicago, and now, the annual release of the Wisconsin Badgers football roster for fall camp.

Wisconsin disclosed its roster on Monday with some notable number and position changes, some players no longer present after spring camp, and some other interesting updates.

For starters, Houston transfer Collin Wilder is now on the roster. The former Cougars safety will wear No. 18.

Compared to the spring roster, the following Badgers are no longer in the program:

• QB Karé Lyles (transfer)
• RB Sam Brodner
• WR Chris Clementi
• WR Sam DeLany
• OL Brett Connors
• S Jake Benzing
• S Brad Laufenberg
• S Ryan O’Connell

Perhaps the two most notable names here are Connors and Brodner. Connors, a former walk-on, played in 30 games throughout his Wisconsin career, most notably taking over at center for four games during the 2016 season.

Brodner, a redshirt sophomore, did not play last year due to a left knee injury suffered at the end of spring. He carried the ball at times during the spring, but faced an uphill battle for reps with Jonathan Taylor, Chris James, Bradrick Shaw, Garrett Groshek, and Taiwan Deal in front of him.

According to reports, their departures were explained by head coach Paul Chryst.

Position changes

• As noted on Sunday, redshirt freshman Kayden Lyles will play nose tackle this year.
• We noted the work Coy Wanner received in the backfield during the spring, and the roster now lists him as a fullback.

Number changes

There’s a lot of them, so here we go (excluding incoming freshmen who did not participate in spring ball):

2018 Season Preview

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

We’ve been previewing the 2018 season pretty much ever since the 2017 one ended. Here are some key bookmarks for you:

• Position Previews
• Badgers to Watch
• Who stood out on offense during fall camp?
• Who stood out on defense during fall camp?
• Everything to know about Wisconsin’s 2018 recruiting class
• Bill C.’s SBNation.com Wisconsin preview
• All 130 teams ranked by Bill Connelly, from Alabama to UTEP

• WR Aron Cruickshank: No. 1 (previously No. 11)
• S Reggie Pearson: No. 3 (No. 19)
• CB Deron Harrell: No. 8 (No. 89)
• S Scott Nelson: No. 9 (No. 25)
• S Eric Burrell: No. 25 (No. 26)
• CB Madison Cone: No. 31 (No. 24, though he switched in the spring)
• OLB Paul Jackson: No. 38 (No. 41)
• OLB Hegeman Tiedt: No. 46 (No. 45)
• LS Josh Bernhagen: No. 52 (No. 91)

The rest of the freshmen

Five true freshmen enrolled early and participated in spring practices: Cruickshank, Pearson, Bryson Williams, Donte Burton, and Taj Mustapha. Here is the rest of the class of 2018 with their respective numbers and positions:

• QB Chase Wolf: No. 2
• CB Rachad Wildgoose: No. 5
• RB Isaac Guerendo: No. 10 (listed at ATH during the early signing period)
• CB Alexander Smith: No. 11
• WR Mike Gregoire: No. 13 (walk-on, listed at ATH during the early signing period)
• QB Nate Carter: No. 19 (walk-on)
• S John Torchio: No. 19 (walk-on, verbally committed in February but no announcement was made for his signing until now)
• ILB Jacob Heyroth: No. 22 (walk-on)
• CB Travian Blaylock: No. 24
• RB Nakia Watson: No. 25 (listed at a robust 231 pounds)
• WR Brady Schipper: No. 28 (walk-on, listed at RB during the early signing period)
• OLB Marty Strey: No. 32 (walk-on)
• ILB C.J. Goetz: No. 34 (listed at OLB during the early signing period)
• TE Jack Eschenbach: No. 42 (walk-on)
• OLB Jaylan Franklin: No. 42 (listed at TE during the early signing period)
• FB John Chenal: No. 44 (walk-on, listed at ILB during the early signing period)
• OLB Mason Platter: No. 48
• ILB Jack Sanborn: No. 57
• OL Andrew Lyons: No. 59 (walk-on)
• OL Michael Furtney: No. 74
• WR A.J. Abbott: No. 89
• DE Isaiah Mullens: No. 90
• DE Boyd Dietzen: No. 94
• TE Cormac Sampson: No. 96

Update: According to a UW official, this is actually the 120-man roster. Teams will be allowed to have 110 players on the roster for training camp.