Year three of the Luke Fickell era kicks off with the Wisconsin football team commencing its first spring practice on March 13, 2025. After experiencing their first losing season since 2002, marked by a disappointing 5-7 record and tie for 12th place in the Big Ten, the Badgers are gearing up to rebound, making significant changes both on and off the field.
One of the most notable aspects of this offseason is the arrival of new offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, who was hired to replace Phil Longo following the team's disappointing loss to Oregon late last year. Grimes brings with him a fresh perspective and NFL-style scheme aimed at rejuvenation. The Badgers underwent significant upheaval, losing over 20 players to the transfer portal and welcoming 19 new transfers. It's been reported (and it's certainly worth noting) how this has impacted their roster, with only returning players like redshirt freshman walk-on Milos Spasojevic at quarterback from last season.
The quarterback position has changed drastically, with no familiar faces returning. The most prominent competitor for the starting job appears to be redshirt senior Billy Edwards Jr., who previously started 11 games for Maryland, completing 65% of his passes with impressive stats, ranking second in the Big Ten with 251.9 passing yards per game. Sophomore Danny O’Neil, also recruited from San Diego State, provides valuable backup experience, having completed 60% of his passes last season. Adding even more intrigue is highly touted freshman Carter Smith, who throws for 8,700 yards and ran for 2,600 during his high school tenure, making him one to watch as Grimes implements his new offensive scheme.
Alongside the offensive shifts is the consistent effort to fortify Wisconsin's defensive line. After giving up 165 yards rushing per game last year— the highest average since 2018— the Badgers' coaching staff recognized the urgent need for improvement. The arrival of new recruits from the transfer portal includes significant acquisitions such as defensive linemen Parker Petersen from Tulane and Charles Perkins from UT-Martin, both boasting impressive size at 315 pounds. This increased size and strength could lead to enhanced performance on the field, coupled with returning players like Dilan Johnson and Ben Barten, who have bulked up significantly to support the revamped defensive front.
With Grimes' new system on deck, the changes aren’t restricted to just the quarterback and defensive positions. The Badgers are also confronting major departures within their wider receiving corps, losing former stalwart Will Pauling to the transfer portal. The group still features some promising talents, including 2023 leading receiver Vinny Anthony II and the returning Trech Kekahuna. With all these adjustments, it remains to be seen whether Wisconsin can maintain effective depth across both the offense and defense.
Diving even more deeply, another major area of concern is the defensive secondary. Wisconsin's cornerbacks return with some experience, but recent developments following portal departures make depth uncertain. Among the returning athletes are Ricardo Hallman and Nyzier Fourqurean, both of whom played significant roles last year. Senior transfers such as Geimere Latimer II and D’Yoni Hill will be filling gaps left by alternate players who transferred out. Even with these adjustments, it's unclear nonetheless where increased competition will emerge.
The inability to fill out all gaps during the offseason, especially within key offensive and defensive roles, is causing many to wonder how effectively Wisconsin’s roster can blend together this spring. The team will utilize the next six weeks to spread its 15 practices, culminating the spring session on April 24. Each practice provides the opportunity for players to showcase their talents, push for starting positions, and solidify team chemistry as the pressure builds leading up to the fall season.
The phrase "unfinished business" resonates deeply among returning veterans like Jake Renfro, Riley Mahlman, and Darryl Peterson as they seek to lead this program back to its rightful place as one of the dominant forces within the Big Ten. Through focused practice sessions and concerted efforts to refine their play, the coaching staff hopes this season marks the beginning of a new and exciting chapter for Wisconsin football.