Who will crack the rotation at receiver this season?
The Wisconsin Badgers are fully in offseason mode, having completed spring ball last month, so let’s go position-by-position and break down every group.
We started with the quarterbacks and running backs. Now, let’s move on to the wide receivers.
Wisconsin had some key losses this offseason, as Will Pauling, Bryson Green, and C.J. Williams are all gone. But, that led to a few additions in the transfer portal, including Jayden Ballard and Dekel Crowdus (spring portal window). They also brought in 2025 four-star Eugene Hilton, the son of NFL wideout T.Y. Hilton.
Let’s break down the full room and see what the projected depth chart should look like heading into the fall.
Starters
Vinny Anthony
Jayden Ballard
Trech Kekahuna (slot)
Vinny Anthony returns to the room as the clear WR1 after posting 672 receiving yards in his breakout campaign last season.
Wisconsin had a competition for the other boundary spot, which became quite competitive in the spring. But, it was Jayden Ballard who quickly ascended to the top group, thanks to his top-end speed and playmaking ability.
Ballard isn’t only a one-trick pony, however, as he made plays both with the ball in his hands and over the top as a receiver. The duo should fit well in offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes’s vertical attack, stretching defenses deep, which allows for success elsewhere.
Trech Kekahuna was arguably the biggest addition (or retention) this offseason, as Wisconsin brought him back out from the transfer portal, which in return led to the loss of Will Pauling.
While he missed the majority of spring with a foot injury, he should be back for fall camp and is widely seen as the top breakout candidate in the room. Wisconsin does a lot more motion with their offense, which could benefit Kekahuna, especially.
Rotational pieces in the two-deep
Outside: Chris Brooks Jr., Joseph Griffin, Eugene Hilton
Slot: Tyrell Henry, Dekel Crowdus, Kyan Berry-Johnson
There’s been quite a bit of competition in the wide receiver room so far, so this room is still being figured out in terms of the depth chart.
Behind Anthony and Ballard, Chris Brooks Jr. has been the biggest riser this spring on the boundary. After injury-laden seasons over the past few years, it wasn’t clear what Brooks’s role would be on this team. But, the potential was always there, as Brooks had constantly been a player to watch when healthy.
Brooks provides Wisconsin with a bigger-bodied receiver who can make contested catches. But, he’s sneaky fast for his size and has reliable hands, making him the top option off the bench currently.
The other spot on the boundary in the two-deep is currently between Joseph Griffin and Eugene Hilton. Griffin could be slightly ahead right now, getting back in the action after sitting out last season.
He’s great at contested catches with his ability to high-point at 6’4, which has been seen quite a bit this offseason. He could very well be a key red zone threat for the Badgers.
Then, there’s the true freshman Eugene Hilton, who was one of, if not the best, early enrollee on either side in the spring. Hilton moves very fluidly, has good hands, and constantly stacked up good days of practice.
It would honestly be somewhat of a surprise if he didn’t find himself on the field at some point this season.
In the slot, things are a bit more fluid. Tyrell Henry was the top slot wideout with Kekahuna out for the spring, so he figures to be in the mix. Henry didn’t look ready to play as a wideout last year, but seemed improved this spring, and benefited from a lot of reps.
The player I thought would be primed for a jump up was redshirt freshman Kyan Berry-Johnson, who saw the field late in the season last year and was a four-star recruit in the Class of 2024.
But, it was a quieter spring for Berry-Johnson, who looks bigger but had some inconsistent days overall. Add in the fact that the Badgers targeted a slot receiver in the transfer portal, and it may be another year before Berry-Johnson sees a key role in the offense.
Dekel Crowdus is the wildcard of the room. He should compete to be in the two-deep this fall, but is entering his final season of collegiate eligibility and hasn’t put up much production over his career.
He had his best year as a junior for Hawaii in 2024, catching 16 passes for 402 yards, marking a whopping 25.1 yards per catch. That should help the Badgers create some explosive plays, but it’s notable that Crowdus was seventh on the team in catches last year for Hawaii.
Injuries will always play a factor, so it’s good that Wisconsin will have some depth in the room. But, they need a big step up in production from the wide receiver room after seeing some inconsistencies over the past two years. Can that happen with this group?