5 takeaways from Wisconsin's Week 1 depth chart (2024)

The University of Wisconsin football team released its depth chart Monday prior to coach Luke Fickell's Monday news conference.

There weren't many surprises as Wisconsin prepares for its 8 p.m. Friday kickoff against nonconference foe Western Michigan. Offensive coordinator Phil Longo declared Miami transfer Tyler Van Dyke as starting quarterback Aug. 14, and many of players who worked first- or second-team reps during preseason camp found themselves in the two-deep.

There were still some notable takeaways from Wisconsin's Week 1 depth chart, especially after a key injury to an expected contributor on defense.

James Thompson Jr.'s injury replacement on the defensive line

The loss of redshirt senior James Thompson Jr. indefinitely to injury will sting, especially with his experience and athleticism along the defensive line. Fickell said Monday that Thompson had surgery last week but doesn't know "that we'll have him for the year."

Wisconsin's base defense under coordinator Mike Tressel has normally been a nickel look with five defensive backs and only two defensive linemen on the field.

Redshirt senior Ben Barten and redshirt sophom*ore Curt Neal are listed as the starters, with redshirt senior Cade McDonald and senior Elijah Hills, a transfer from Albany, listed as the second-team defensive linemen.

Fickell said he expected Wisconsin to play six defensive lineman prior to Thompson's injury, but the plan is now five. That includes another FCS transfer and a true freshman not listed on the depth chart.

"So Brandon Lane (Jr.) will definitely be a guy that you will see, and how much time will we'll see," Fickell said. "And then Dillan Johnson is, for sure, a true freshman that's going to play, and how much we'll see, right?

"The idea of us trying to play those guys 40 snaps a game being maybe the top three guys, there's a lot of other snaps in there that we need from Hills and Brandon Lane and Dillan Johnson. We're only going to be as good as deep as we can be in that position."

How Wisconsin's offensive line shakes out

The first-team offensive line appeared set since the spring, from left tackle to right tackle: Jack Nelson, Joe Brunner, Jake Renfro, Joe Huber and Riley Mahlman. Those five are the starters, though Mahlman missed some time during preseason camp. True freshman Kevin Heywood, who primarily received second-team left tackle snaps in the spring and preseason camp, worked at first-team right tackle for parts of preseason camp due to Mahlman's injury. Redshirt sophom*ore Barrett Nelson also received first-team right tackle snaps when he returned to preseason practice.

Barrett is now listed as the second-team left tackle behind his older brother, while Heywood's designated as the second-team right tackle behind Mahlman. Redshirt freshman James Durand is the second-team left guard, while redshirt junior JP Benzschawel is second-team right guard. Kerry Kodanko is listed as the backup center in the two deep, though Huber has game experience playing that position.

Chris Brooks Jr. listed at wide receiver

Five of the seven receivers listed by Wisconsin were expected to be in the two-deep, but two others also made the depth chart.

Redshirt sophom*ore Chris Brooks Jr. is behind senior Bryson Green. Brooks made splashes during spring and fall practices but has only played in one game. He participated in the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bowl against Oklahoma State but missed last season due to injury.

Wisconsin lists juniors Vinny Anthony II and CJ Williams as first-team outside receivers opposite Green with an "OR" designation, and redshirt sophom*ore Quincy Burroughs is behind Anthony and Williams. Burroughs missed some time during preseason practices.

The starting slot receiver is redshirt junior Will Pauling, who was among the Big Ten's leaders in receptions in 2023, and redshirt freshman Trech Kekahuna is behind him.

Freshman Xavier Lucas listed at cornerback

Heywood's the second-team right tackle, and Fickell mentioned Johnson as someone who he expects to play to this season. The only other true freshman listed on the depth chart is Xavier Lucas, who is listed as a second-team player alongside redshirt senior RJ Delancy III at one of the cornerback spots.

On3 and Rivals rated Lucas as a four-star recruit in 2024 and was one of the key wins for Fickell during his first full recruiting cycle at Wisconsin. Lucas showed his ability to go toe to toe with Wisconsin's wide receivers in preseason camp, especially toward the end of practices that were open to reporters.

Transfer Tyrell Henry to return punts

Wide receiver Tyrell Henry is slotted in as the No. 1 punt returner. The Michigan State transfer returned 13 punts for 89 yards last season for the Spartans. Kekahuna is behind him.

Outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator Matt Mitchell told reporters not to sleep on Henry at that spot during preseason camp.

"He's really confident catching the ball, and I think that he's had a good, solid camp, too," Mitchell said of Henry on Aug. 7.