The Badgers had a major injury during spring ball.
The Wisconsin Badgers have completed their spring ball program, as they debuted their new-look team that features several additions on both sides of the ball.
While a few position groups changed drastically, others remained virtually untouched, such as the running back and offensive line groups.
Wisconsin has only four scholarship backs, going younger with the group as they look to rely on their three 2024 recruits: Darrion Dupree, Dilin Jones, and Gideon Ituka. Despite being young and relatively inexperienced, that group is poised to be the driving force of the Badgers’ offense this upcoming season.
Along the offensive line, Wisconsin lost four-year starter Jack Nelson and right guard Joe Huber, but returned Joe Brunner, Jake Renfro, and Riley Mahlman as starters for 2025. Behind them, younger players are expected to step into starting roles as the Badgers look to rely on their strong recruiting classes from the past few years.
The Badgers did face a significant injury along the offensive line, however, as projected starter Kevin Heywood tore his ACL during spring ball. He is expected to be out for the season. That loss was a crushing blow as Heywood was the prized recruit from Wisconsin’s 2024 class and was the team’s swing tackle as a true freshman.
Wisconsin looked to former Vanderbilt transfer Leyton Nelson as the left tackle following Heywood’s injury, but the redshirt junior looked shaky against the Badgers’ first and second-team edge rushers, giving up pressures constantly in pass protection.
That led Wisconsin to hit the transfer portal in search of a potential starter at left tackle, and they landed Central Michigan transfer Davis Heinzen, who has been a multi-year starter on the edges.
Heinzen is the deciding factor for Wisconsin’s biggest question in 2025: Can they get quality play from the blindside protector?
The Badgers have some options, as they tested out Joe Brunner at tackle. But, that would weaken the interior offensive line, which was expected to be a key advantage for Wisconsin in 2025. Nonetheless, the left tackle spot is key for the Badgers’ success in 2025, especially with how much they’re looking to rely on the run game under new offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes.
Usually, it’s not a good sign if you have to get starting-level talent in the spring transfer portal. But, that was the case for Wisconsin this offseason, and they need the move to pay off in order to see the success they want up front with their offensive line.