6 thoughts from Wisconsin football fall camp practice No. 14
A redshirt freshman answering one of the team's questions for this season, a linebacker's return to first-team reps and notes on a couple freshmen
MADISON, Wis. — Emerson Mandell appears to have answered one of the several questions about the University of Wisconsin football team heading into the season.
Mandell started off fall camp receiving first-team reps at right guard, one of the position battles needing to be sorted out before the Aug. 28 season opener against Miami (Ohio). Outside of a couple practices early on in Platteville, he’s continued to be with the top line in that role as seen Friday inside Camp Randall Stadium.
Mandell emerged as a consensus four-star recruit by the end of the 2024 class after coming from a very run-heavy, triple-option offense, and he played in one game last season. Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes said that Mandell “has tremendous potential,” but the Wisconsin staff wasn’t able to compile a good evaluation this spring because of the young lineman suffering a high ankle sprain.
“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,” Grimes said, “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.”