Observations from the first week of Wisconsin football spring practice

Tell me if you've heard this one before: the Wisconsin football offense will be better this year

Madison, WI - As I sat beneath overcast skies in the bleachers of Camp Randall Stadium last week, one intrusive thought continued to worm its way into my head: at least it will not be worse than last year.

I mean, it can’t, can it?

The unofficial first week of the 2025 college football season is in the books. After three Wisconsin football spring practices, the third year under head coach Luke Fickell is beginning to take shape.

It is a season of change after the most disappointing Wisconsin Badgers football season in a generation. Following its first losing season in a generation and snapping a 22-year bowl streak, UW has made wholesale changes to its offense.

Sure, the defense needs to improve significantly after finishing dead last among all 133 FBS teams in tackles for loss, but the side of the ball that is supposed to score points has been listless for years now. And, well, the only way I know of winning a football game is to score more points than your opponent. Despite UW’s disappointing defensive performances of late, the offense remains the focal point of scrutiny.

Last season, the Badgers scored 22.5 points per game - the lowest mark in two decades. As a result, zero scholarship quarterbacks on the 2024 roster returned to Madison. After Wisconsin fired former offensive coordinator Phil Longo mid-season, Jeff Grimes hopes to generate more offensive production than his predecessor.

To ease the former Kansas Jayhawks assistant's transition in Madison, Wisconsin brought in a Big Ten football veteran to lead the offense. After being named QB1, the signal-caller might already have a favorite target, and that connection is even more critical as one dynamic wide receiver will be out for the remainder of spring with an injury.

Wisconsin Football QB Billy Edwards Connecting with WR Jayden Ballard

Two of the Badgers' splashier transfer portal additions are quickly building a rapport in Grimes' offense. Quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. and wide receiver Jayden Ballard have combined to make a few head-turning plays in spring practice.

The duo flashed potential on the first day in a one-on-one drill. With cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean defending, the former Maryland Terrapins starter threw a well-placed ball to the left corner of the Camp Randall Stadium north endzone. Ballard managed to speed past the Fourqurean for a catch in stride.

The former Ohio State Buckeyes pass catcher was behind a pair of All-Big Ten wideouts on the depth chart in Columbus. After logging a pair of receptions for 18 yards in six games with OSU in 2024, Ballard could play an outsized role with Wisconsin football.

The connection between the former conference foes grew on the second day of practice. After dropping back in the pocket, Edwards wound up for a 70-yard throw down the middle of the field. The 2023 Music City Bowl MVP connected with Ballard for an impressive touchdown pass.

Inside the McClain center, with a roof so low that punters boom footballs off the ceiling of the indoor practice facility, Ballard hurled the ball in the air to celebrate his feat. Frankly, part of me expected to see that ball hit the the ceiling with how high the Massillon, Ohio native threw it.

The nearby official dropped a flag for excessive celebration in response. “In practice?” I asked to no one in particular, trying to find my inner Allen Iverson.

As practice continues, the connection between Edwards and Ballard grows, but so is the competition between Wisconsin's offense and defense.

On Tuesday, it was Fourqurean who got the better of Ballard. Once again throwing to the left corner of the north endzone, Edwards tried to dial-up a touchdown to the early contender for UW's leading receiver. The former top-100 prospect did not manage to get a step ahead of the 2022 Division II all-American on that go-around. Fourqurean put a hand up to break up the well-placed pass by Edwards.

The graduate student defensive back was in the ear of the wide receiver he had just bested the entire walk back to the line of scrimmage. There was no touchdown ball to be thrown into the student section this time for Ballard, just an earful from CB1.

The Badgers lose a young wide receiver to injury

As the compete level increased during that third practice, the Badgers strapped on the shoulder pads for the first time on Tuesday. However, even before the pads went on, Grimes lost one of his offensive weapons to injury.

Trech Kekahuna was not practicing on Barry Alvarez Field inside Camp Randall Stadium. Instead, the Badgers Trech Kekahuna was roaming the sidelines of Barry Alvarez Field rather than participating in practice.

More than that, the pass-catcher was wearing a large boot on his left foot.

A team spokesperson told ‘Sconnie Six Pack that Kekahuna has a "lower-body injury." The injury will keep him sidelined for the remainder of the spring, but he is expected to be fully healthy when Wisconsin returns for fall camp.

The redshirt sophomore had been expected to become a key part of Grimes' offensive plans. After initially entering the transfer portal this offseason, Kekahuna opted to return to Madison in 2025. Clearly, this Wisconsin football staff did a lot to keep the shifty five-foot-ten-inch, 185-pound wideout on the roster.

Following starting slot receiver Will Pauling's departure via the transfer portal, Kekahuna is the heir apparent for Pauling's targets. In 2024, Kekahuna saw the fifth-most snaps among Badgers wide receivers with 316. The Honolulu native tallied 25 receptions for 339 yards. He scored two touchdowns in his redshirt freshman campaign, both coming in a blowout victory over the Purdue Boilermakers.

This spring, the Bishop Gorman product was taking snaps with the offense led by Edwards, Jr. Showcasing the former three/four-star recruit's speed, Kekahuna had been utilized in motion behind the line of scrimmage, in punt returns, and the traditional passing game.

Redshirt freshman Kyan Berry-Johnson stands to benefit from increased opportunities with QB1 this spring. Although the Bolingbrook, Illinois native has taken the bulk of his snaps with the other offensive units in the first three practices, he figures as a logical replacement for Kekahuna at a near-idential five-foot-ten-inch, 186-pound frame.

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