Wisconsin is heading into its final three practices of spring ball after wrapping up its fourth full week of sessions on Saturday inside the McClain Center. Those who continue to make strides and finish strong in mid-to-late April can help their cause for more reps as fall camp approaches in August and the season begins on Sept. 3.
BadgerBlitz.com saw all three practices this past week, and we report our thoughts and observations as a whole. As a disclaimer, this article highlights just one week and is not indicative of players' entire performances during the spring. For that matter, these practices in late March through late April allow the staff and players to test their limits, so mistakes can happen without immense penalty.
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1) I like the makeup of the wide receiver room
Even with a significant chunk of its 2021 roster at wide receiver having departed (either exhausting eligibility or entering the transfer portal), there is optimism about this group and its potential. Chimere Dike is the No. 1 receiver at the moment, and assistant coach Alvis Whitted told reporters on Friday that the Waukesha, Wis., native is his Swiss Army knife in being able to do everything asked within the position.
Who can emerge besides Dike has been a storyline this spring, and Whitted expects opponents to try to neutralize the third-year Badger until others in the room can display the ability to make plays.
"I certainly anticipate that, but I also relish it because that's what this time is for," Whitted said. "That's what spring ball is for. It's an evaluation time to really see who's the next guy, who's the one that's going to step up and show that they can complement him as well. And it's great because every one of these guys has a different skill set, and they bring a lot to the table.
"We have four more opportunities to just continue to see who can retain, who can carry over, who can be consistent. So I'm really excited, I really am. This is very refreshing to have a room full of guys that again love each other, that they want to play for each other, that are very selfless, but are willing. And they're doing a great job so far."
Whitted believes there will be more than one possibility to help complement Dike as well.
