The Wisconsin Badgers came into the offseason with quite a bit of turnover, but one area where there was expected to be some strong continuity was the offensive line.
Wisconsin was returning left guard Joe Brunner, center Jake Renfro, and right tackle Riley Mahlman, with 2024 four-star Kevin Heywood expected to take over at left tackle after being in the two-deep and burning his redshirt last season.
That left the right guard spot as the main unknown heading into spring ball. Wisconsin had former four-star
J.P. Benzschawel patiently waiting in the wings, rather than electing to transfer. But, 2024 four-star Emerson Mandell and senior Kerry Kodanko were also expected to provide some competition.
Benzschawel dealt with a foot injury that kept him out for much of spring ball, leaving Mandell and Kodanko to battle for much of the spring, although the former also had some injuries, limiting his reps at times.
With Heywood going down in the spring, Wisconsin added Davis Heinzen to replace him, but also needed some more tackle depth. So, Benzschawel naturally started to see more tackle reps with the second-team offense, opening up the right guard competition for Mandell to take.
Back in the spring, offensive line coach A.J. Blazek had heaps of praise for Mandell, calling him arguably the strongest and most explosive athlete in the room. It was just a matter of reps and getting the needed experience at the position.
Well, the Badgers feel confident in the redshirt freshman, who ran away with the starting right guard role in fall camp and is now slated to take over next Thursday when the Badgers host Miami (OH) to kick off the season.
What separated Mandell from the group during the fall?
“He’s a guy that I think we’ve all known has tremendous potential, and he missed a lot of time in the spring due to a high ankle sprain. One of those where he’s trying to go, but he’s just kind of hanging on. And so, I don’t think we got a real good evaluation of where he was at the time,” offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes acknowledged last week.
“As a young guy that hasn’t really played, and you have a new offense that has a lot of stuff, I just don’t think we really saw who he was at the time. And I think he’s done a good job really preparing himself for this fall. And now, he’s become a guy that is more reliable, knows what’s going on, and we still see that potential that he has. He’s one of those few guys that’s big enough, strong enough that he can just handle a big defensive tackle by himself, and there aren’t a whole lot of humans that can do that at this level. So we’re still seeing that from him, but now we’re seeing a guy that’s more consistent.”
Earlier in fall camp, Blazek continued to praise Mandell for his growth at the right guard spot, noting the consistency in addition to the natural traits.
“I think as a freshman, you’re just trying to drink through a fire hose, and this class of young guys, now, that’s what they’re going through. Super talented, but that’s what they’re going through,” Blazek said earlier in August. “At the end of the day, [what matters] is production. And so, that’s the biggest thing to see right now is if they produce, and [Mandell] is physical and strong, but you gotta make sure he keeps fitting that spot. He’s doing a hell of a job.”
Wisconsin is trying to balance the fine line of getting its younger guys in the action, while also keeping that coveted experience on the field. But, they’re in line to start multiple underclassmen this year on offense, including Mandell, either running back Darrion Dupree or Dilin Jones, and wide receiver Trech Kekahuna. Of course, Heywood would’ve joined that list, had he been healthy.
But, Wisconsin will get to see that sheer power and athleticism on hand when they begin their season next Thursday against Miami (OH), with kickoff set for 8:00 p.m.
