The Wisconsin Badgers are set to begin their season against the Miami (OH) Redhawks this Thursday at Camp Randall Stadium, with kickoff slated for 8:00 p.m.
Ahead of the game, head coach Luke Fickell spoke with the media on Monday, sharing several key updates, including the latest on injuries to a couple of starters.
Center Jake Renfro had missed the end of fall camp with a lower leg injury that he suffered. Wisconsin considered him week-to-week, and Fickell revealed that the starting center will play
this week after joining the team over the last few practices.
However, on the flip side, tight end Tucker Ashcraft has been ruled out for Week 1, and it’s unclear when his return will be.
“Tucker will not make it [out there for Week 1],” Fickell said Monday. “I don’t know officially know how long he’ll be out for. Jake should be good. He’s practiced, I think the last four or five days. So he looks good and looks healthy. So I feel like we’re in a good place there. I think he’s probably taken most of every rep, so hopefully everything stays on pace there and Jake will be good to go.”
Renfro’s availability will be a big boost for the offensive line, as he’s one of three returning starters on that unit alongside left guard Joe Brunner and right tackle Riley Mahlman. With Renfro out at the end of fall camp, the Badgers were rotating redshirt freshman Ryan Cory and senior Kerry Kodanko at the center spot.
Currently, Cory is listed as the backup to Renfro on the two-deep, while Kodanko is the backup right guard to redshirt freshman Emerson Mandell.
At tight end, with Ashcraft out, the Badgers will rely on Missouri State transfer Lance Mason and senior Jackson Acker, who converted to the position from fullback this offseason. In addition, redshirt freshman Grant Stec should get more opportunities, as Wisconsin will use heavier packages in new offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes’s system.
While the Badgers had some minor injuries elsewhere during fall camp, everyone else seems good to go ahead of the opener, which is a good sign for Wisconsin.
