Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2020 Notre Dame Football Preview
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126 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2020 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY PATRICK ENGEL W hen a program identity and culture is so far imbued in everyone involved, per- sonnel losses become hurdles rather than a black hole. Since head coach Paul Chryst arrived in 2015, Wisconsin has jumped over them without knocking them down. The Badgers won 10 games in the first year without Mel- vin Gordon. They lost 1,300-yard rusher Co- rey Clement after 2016 and got better when Jonathan Taylor slid into his spot. The 2020 season has a few more hurdles lined up. Gone is Taylor, who ran for 6,174 yards and 50 touchdowns in three years. But he is not all. Wisconsin must also replace its entire interior offensive line — namely center and fourth-round NFL pick Tyler Biadasz — and leading receiver Quintez Cephus, a fifth- round pick. "Those are all big pieces Wisconsin has to plug holes in to have a cohesive offense going into next year," BadgerBlitz.com beat writer Benjamin Worgull said. That effort starts with running backs Na- kia Watson, a sophomore, and fifth-year se- nior Garrett Groshek. Watson was Taylor's main backup last year, while Groshek is a former walk-on who worked his way into the rotation. The door is open, though, for a freshman to emerge like Taylor did in 2017. And there is one to watch: Jalen Berger, the No. 87 overall player in the 2020 class. Senior quarterback Jack Coan returns after throwing 18 touchdowns against five interceptions, and redshirt junior tight end Jake Ferguson is the top returning receiver. Coan brought stability to the position after a couple uneven years and is expected to start again. But Graham Mertz, the No. 42 overall player in the 2019 class, is a different caliber of quarterback than Wisconsin has signed in recent years. It is difficult to imagine bench- ing Coan after his 2019 season. It also would seem bizarre for a team that could use an- other gear from its passing offense and must replace a 2,000-yard rusher not to play its most decorated recruit for two years. "I'd be surprised if Chryst didn't go with Coan," Worgull said. "He won a lot of games last year, showed a lot of poise. He played solidly and was consistent." As usual, Wisconsin's defense has the makings of a top-flight unit in the Big Ten, but its two departed starters are substan- tial losses. Linebackers Zack Baun (a third- round pick) and Chris Orr were disruptive edge presences all year while combining for 33.5 tackles for loss and 24.0 sacks. Wisconsin brings back junior inside line- backer Jack Sanborn, plus a secondary that returns all its starters and several of its rota- tion players. Fifth-year senior Eric Burrell can play both safety spots and is effective around the line of scrimmage and as a center fielder. "The secondary is going to be the strength of their team," Worgull said. "They have a lot of guys back and played a lot of guys last year." ✦ WISCONSIN BADGERS GAME 5 • OCT. 3 • LAMBEAU FIELD X-FACTOR: Redshirt junior tight end Jake Ferguson is the Badgers' leading returning pass catcher, after finishing the 2019 season with 33 receptions for 407 yards (12.3 yards per catch) and two touchdowns. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL 2020 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2019 Result Sept. 4 Indiana — Sept. 12 Southern Illinois — Sept. 19 Appalachian State — Sept. 26 at Michigan W, 35-14 Oct. 3 vs. Notre Dame* — Oct. 10 Minnesota W, 38-17 Oct. 24 at Maryland — Oct. 31 Illinois L, 24-23 Nov. 7 at Northwestern^ W, 24-15 Nov. 14 at Purdue W, 45-24 Nov. 21 Nebraska W, 37-21 Nov. 28 at Iowa W, 24-22 * at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.; ^ at Wrigley Field in Chicago QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Notre Dame leads 8-6-2 Last Meeting: Notre Dame 31, Wisconsin 7 (Sept. 26, 1964 in Madison, Wis.) Head Coach: Paul Chryst, 52-16 at Wisconsin (6th year) and 71-35 overall (9th year) 2019 Record: 10-4 overall, 7-2 Big Ten West (1st) Returning Starters: 15 (6 offense, 9 defense) Prediction: Notre Dame 27, Wisconsin 24 RETURNING LEADERS Rushing: RB Nakia Watson (331, 2 TD) Passing: QB Jack Coan (2,272 yards, 18 TD) Receiving: TE Jake Ferguson (407, 2 TD) Tackles: LB Jack Sanborn (80, 9.0 TFL) Sacks: Sanborn (5.5) Passes broken up: CB Caesar Williams (11, 1 INT) Reasons For Optimism • Overall steadiness • Defensive depth, experience • Schedule friendliness Wisconsin just doesn't experience many valleys, no matter the departing personnel situation. Head coach Paul Chryst has failed to win 10 games just once. The Badgers have a way of replacing star defensive players with unknowns who turn into stars. The cycle has a way of repeating. Ohio State is off the schedule. Reasons For Concern • Skill position losses • Passing game upside • Pass rush losses Just like on defense, Wisconsin has developed well enough to plug holes and churn out NFL- caliber running backs and offensive linemen. It especially needs to this year. The departed Quintez Cephus led the team in every major receiving cat- egory and was on a level of his own.