Notes on Wisconsin's special teams as camp wraps up

MADISON — Last but not least, the Wisconsin Badgers' specialists spoke to reporters on Monday to kick off the last week of training camp.

BadgerBlitz.com was on hand and compiled a handful of notes from interviews with Wisconsin's kickers and punters.

Nathanial Vakos, Wisconsin's top kicker throughout camp, had an impressive freshman season at Ohio University, making 22 of his 27 field goal attempts. He told reporters he has no specific goals for this season — he just wants to build on what he did last year.

"Hopefully, I can get above 85% because I finished around 83 (last year)," Vakos said. "It's always improving year after year. That's my goal."

Vakos last season went 9 of 9 from 20-29 yards, 8 of 9 from 30-39 yards, 4 of 6 from 40-49 yards and 1 of 3 from 50-59 yards (that make was from 55 yards), according to Pro Football Focus. He said he has routinely made attempts from 53 yards in recent practices.

"I am excited," he said. "I get to kick some deep ones this year, hopefully."

When the offseason began, kicker was not among the Badgers' pressing roster needs.

Redshirt sophomore Nate Van Zelst took over for Vito Calvaruso early last season and went 3 of 3 from 20-29 yards, 5 of 8 from 30-39 yards and 3 of 3 from 40-49 over 11 games.

Nevertheless, new UW head coach Luke Fickell and his staff went out and added Vakos.

Asked if the move frustrated him, Van Zelst said, "I wouldn’t say frustrating. Competition makes everyone better. I try to stay positive and compete every day."

Van Zelst doesn’t have as much range as Vakos — he did not attempt a 50-yarder last year — but he gave UW consistency, even in nasty conditions. In a November win over Maryland, Van Zelst went 3 of 4 while kicking into strong wind gusts and sideways rain.

"I think the opportunity to play in some tough conditions was big for me," Van Zelst said. "I was able to prove that I can be successful in tough conditions. I was ready whenever my number was called (taking over for Calvaruso), which was big for me."

Fickell is heavily involved with Wisconsin's punt team, one of the main reasons Prokick Australia product Atticus Bertrams committed to the Badgers over the summer.

This offseason wasn't the first time Fickell turned to Prokick Australia for a punter. The veteran head coach tapped into that well twice during his six seasons at Cincinnati and landed highly successful punters (John Smith and Mason Fletcher) each time.

Smith ended his career as Cincinnati's all-time leader for total yardage (10,245 yards), and Fletcher ranked fourth in the nation in average yardage in 2022 (46.4). They were both finalists for the Ray Guy Award, which is given annually to the nation's best punter.

Bertrams said he talked to Fletcher before committing.

"He had nothing but good things to say (about Fickell)," Bertrams, who's been taking first-team reps throughout camp, said. "Everything he said I can back up as well. He loves the punt team. He puts a lot of pressure on us. The pressure is what you want. I knew that coming in. This is a really important part of his team."

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