Published Sep 20, 2022
Skyler Bell the latest Wisconsin wide receiver to break out
Raul Vazquez  •  BadgerBlitz
Staff Writer
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@VazquezRivals

MADISON -- Redshirt freshman Skyler Bell had yet to truly show up on Saturdays after he established himself this offseason during spring ball and fall camp. That changed this past weekend against New Mexico State, when Bell recorded four catches for 108 yards and two touchdowns.

“I think just him coming to work every day, coming to practice every day, having a focus, having a drive to be great,” junior receiver Chimere Dike said. “He made a lot of plays in spring ball in the summer.

“I was just waiting for it to pop up during the season, and he’s going to continue to pop because he’s a really good player. I think we got a really good group with a bunch of guys who can make plays and I’m super excited because we can make it tough for teams to guard.”

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In his second year in the program, Bell has taken on a new role in the offense. His first score, a catch down the right sideline that he took the distance, was the result of communication with quarterback Graham Mertz when they saw the same look from earlier in the game.

“He jumped out on the scene in the spring making plays and he’s back feeling comfortable,” fellow receiver Markus Allen said back in fall camp. “I feel like that’s a big thing for him. Just feeling comfortable and playing fast. Ever since then, dude’s been playing lights out. He’s been balling and that’s what we need.”

Wide receivers coach Alvis Whitted has praised Bell's strength at the catch point, comparing his skillset to that of Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup, whom he coached at Colorado State. Bell's athleticism has been an asset to the offense as well, with offensive coordinator Bobby Engram getting the ball in his hands three times on jet sweeps. A fourth that went for 26 yards was negated by a holding call.

Against Illinois State, it was Dike with his first 100-yard performance. Against Washington State, Keontez Lewis broke onto the scene with a pair of catches for 62 yards. Allen and Dean Engram have flashed as well.

With his performance against New Mexico State, Bell was the latest Wisconsin receiver to break out this season.

Coming into the season, it was believed that UW was five-deep at receiver with a group that included Bell, Allen, Dike, Lewis and Engram. In the first three games of the season, each receiver has made a play and contributed to a passing attack that has been effective.

Following a quiet opening game, Lewis hauled in a 40-yard catch on third and 10 to set UW up with goal-to-go and converted a third and 17 with a 22-yard reception. He followed that up this past weekend with a 18-yard touchdown in which he cleared out his defender with a crisp post route.

"We got to make them cover the whole field," Mertz said of Lewis' ability. "That'll help the run game, that'll help everything. Just try to space them out a little bit."

That performance comes off a week one contest where Dike eclipsed 100 yards for the first time; Allen also had three catches. Against the Aggies, Engram got in on the fun as well with three catches for 63 yards, including a 37-yard reception.

Five different receivers have registered a reception and in all, Mertz has hit 11 different players. That distribution has been a theme through the early part of the season with Mertz connecting with at least six different targets in all three games so far.

"I think it's dangerous," Mertz said of having multiple dynamic receivers. "The cool thing is we've been working together for so long, it's cool to kind of have the world meet the guys. I know what they're about. I know they go about their business every day."

The group of pass catchers has left its mark to this point. Three different players - Dike, Bell and Clay Cundiff - have over 100 receiving yards on season. Eight different players have a catch over 15 yards and five players have at least four catches. The passing attack, which has impressed, is led by the top five group of receivers who all have at least 45 yards, with Dike, Bell and Lewis each scoring a touchdown.

"I think it makes us dangerous," Bell said on the depth at receiver. "We got guys that can do it all. We got deep threats, we have guys that can change directions, make people miss, we have big receivers so I think in our room, it's just a matter of who's feeling it. We all love each other, it's always love when we make plays."

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