Wisconsin is already reaping the benefits from a talented 2024 class.
It’s been an offseason of turnover for the Wisconsin Badgers, who will have quite a few new starters in 2025 on both sides of the ball.
The trenches are where the Badgers are rebuilding, but it’s coming in different ways on both sides of the ball.
Wisconsin attacked the transfer portal for starters along the defensive line and on the edges, looking to add to their depth and front-end talent in the room, while relying on younger players to step up along the offensive line.
Sophomore Kevin Heywood is expected to start at left tackle, replacing longtime starter Jack Nelson, while the right guard position is more of an open book.
Redshirt senior J.P. Benzschawel was the leader to start at right guard, given his experience as a backup at the position. But, Wisconsin opened the spring with a three-way competition at right guard, with Benzschawel competing alongside senior Kerry Kodanko and redshirt freshman Emerson Mandell.
Over the past few practices, with Benzschawel not participating, it’s been the latter two duking it out, rotating at right guard between days. How has the battle gone so far?
“Because it’s an equal group and they all bring a different strength from experience to physicality, to mix of both, we’re going to keep working that, and I think it’s going to be [the] norm,” offensive line coach A.J. Blazek said about the competition at right guard.
“You’re going to see seven, eight guys. That’s the goal. You know, knock on wood, we were able to go through the whole season last year with the same five starters. That’s awesome if we can do that. You still got to keep guys engaged because a bump, a bruise, a shoe breaks. Kerry Kodanko goes in on a big third down against Alabama, and nobody even noticed. Pick it up protection. Here we go. Playing center, which is probably the hardest position to rotate.
“But no, we have a group of guys right now. I’m really excited about not just the right guard spot, but a couple of other spots where the next guy [can play]. They’re still the next guy for a reason. That’s why they’re not rotating. But that right guard spot’s fun to watch right now. I think you guys [recognize] the same stuff so far.”
Kodanko and Mandell are completely different players, but both have been valuable to Wisconsin this offseason in their own right.
“There’s a reason Kerry Kodanko’s in there. Kerry’s a physical player,” Blazek continued. “Kerry’s got the trust of the guys next to him. He knows what he’s doing. He communicates loud. So those are all things that let the guys next to him play fast.
“You know, I was a glue guy. I wasn’t good enough to play, but I allowed the guys around us to play faster because at least I’d be in the right spot. I might not win a lot of battles. That trust factor of guys blocking people next to him, I think that’s the biggest thing where the glue really happens.”
On the other side, Mandell’s physical traits are freakish, and his IQ is catching up with that.
“Emerson’s football IQ’s grown. He plays fast in there with those guys,” Blazek said about Mandell. “He might be the most explosive guy in the whole unit as far as, like, [line] of scrimmage movement. And he’s a guy that, his confidence, he had to know: ‘yeah, you’re good enough to play with these guys.’
“And when you do that for a young guy, boy, and he knows you believe in him. And he’s hitting it running. And so does he make some mistakes? Sure he does. Same as [fellow sophomores] Ryan [Cory] and [Kevin] Heywood. And some little mistakes along the way that end up being big when you’re out there with the 1s, they show up. But he’s playing physical, and he’s really learned just to play through it [and] learn more reps, more reps, bank it. And his mistakes have really gone down, but his physicality has gone up.”
The players have also noted the battle, which has fueled competition in the offensive line room.
“They’re kind of two different players,” right tackle Riley Mahlman said of Kodanko and Mandell. “You know, Kerry’s an old vet. He’s played before. I played next to him and just really knowing and understanding each other. And Emerson’s more learning and growing. But, I mean, that guy’s a freak. He’s stronger than probably anyone in the room. Super athletic. So, when he puts things together, he’s great, but it’s the consistency piece for him, and we’re really working on that, and I’m excited to see how he’s going to grow through the rest of the spring and into next season.”
The Badgers would like to know who their starter is by the time fall camp starts. But, it’s a battle currently, with the redshirt freshman slowly edging his way in there, mixing the unique physical traits with increased knowledge all-around.