Badgers true freshmen getting thrown into the fire

The plan for Wisconsin did not appear to play many “true” freshmen in 2020.

But 2020 cares not for your plans.

The Badgers played just four first-year players in their opening win at home over Illinois – a blowout, which certainly gave opportunity for younger players to get a taste of college football.

This necessarily wasn’t a surprise as in 2019, head coach Paul Chryst used just six true freshmen all season – a season which lasted 14 games.

But with injuries and players sidelined due to COVID-19, the number of true freshmen to play for Wisconsin this season has ballooned to 12 – and the Badgers have only appeared in three more games since the opener vs. Illinois.

Three made their debut this past Saturday against Indiana.

Linebacker Kaden Johnson played, but did not record a statistic.

With Stephan Bracey out, Devin Chandler took over as kick returner.

Most notably, Tanor Bortolini played center after Kayden Lyles was injured.

Bortolini was Wisconsin’s fourth-string center behind Lyles, Cormac Sampson (out with an injury) and Joe Tipmann (out for the season).

The eyeball test says Bortolini seemed to hold his own. His teammates heaped praise upon him after the game.

“I thought he battled his butt off today,” left tackle Cole Van Lanen said. “I’m really proud of him. He fit right in with us. I think there was no drop-off with him.”

Offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph said Bortolini had never played center and started as fifth on the depth chart did have a few low snaps but overall did “a heck of a job.”

Sampson is listed as Wisconsin’s starting center on this week’s unofficial depth chart. But the Badgers can be certain Bortolini will be ready to go if needed again.

Here’s the complete rundown of the young Badgers after four games:

“TRUE” FRESHMEN
Jalen Berger, RB
Illinois: Did not play
Michigan: 15 rush, 87 yards, TD; 2 receptions, 13 yards
Northwestern: 15 rush, 93 yards
Indiana: 15 rush, 89 yards
Season totals: 45 rush, 267 yards (5.9 average), TD; 2 receptions, 13 yards

Tanor Bortolini, OL
Illinois: Did not play
Michigan: Did not play
Northwestern: Did not play
Indiana: Played, did not record a statistic
Season totals: n/a

Devin Chandler, WR
Illinois: Did not play
Michigan: Did not play
Northwestern: Did not play
Indiana: 2 kick returns, 37 yards
Season totals: 2 kick returns, 37 yards

Chimere Dike, WR
Illinois: Played, did not record a statistic
Michigan: Started, 2 receptions, 29 yards; 1 rush, 30 yards
Northwestern: Started, 2 receptions, 52 yards, TD
Indiana: Started, 3 receptions, 40 yards
Season totals: 7 receptions, 121 yards (17.3 average), TD

Nick Herbig, OLB
Illinois: Started, 1 tackle (solo), sack, TFL, PBU
Michigan: Started, 5 tackles (5 solo), 3 TFL
Northwestern: Started, 3 tackles (3 solo), TFL, 2 QBH
Indiana: Started: 2 tackles (2 solo), FR
Season totals: 14 tackles (11 solo), 5 TFL, sack, 2 QBH, PBU, FR

Kaden Johnson, OLB
Illinois: Did not play
Michigan: Did not play
Northwestern: Did not play
Indiana: Played, did not record a statistic
Season totals: n/a

Jack Nelson, OL
Illinois: Did not play
Michigan: Played, did not record a statistic
Northwestern: Did not play
Indiana: Did not play
Season totals: n/a

Riley Nowakowski, OLB
Illinois: 1 tackle (solo)
Michigan: Played, did not record a statistic
Northwestern: Played, did not record a statistic
Indiana: Did not play
Season totals: 1 tackle (solo)

Jack Van Dyke, K
Illinois: 8 kickoffs, 1 touchback
Michigan: 8 kickoffs, 4 touchbacks; 1 tackle (solo)
Northwestern: 2 kickoffs, 0 touchbacks
Indiana: 3 kickoffs, 3 touchbacks
Season totals: 21 kickoffs, 8 touchbacks; 1 tackle (solo)

Aaron Witt, OLB
Illinois: Did not play
Michigan: Played, did not record a statistic
Northwestern: Played, did not record a statistic
Indiana: Played, did not record a statistic
Season totals: n/a

Preston Zachman, ILB
Illinois: Did not play
Michigan: Played, did not record a statistic
Northwestern: Did not play
Indiana: Did not play

Have not played
Haakon Anderson, WR; Dylan Barrett, OL; Ben Barten, OL; Cole Dakovich, TE; Ross Gengler, ILB; Kerry Kodanko, OL; Cam Large, TE; Max Lofy, CB; Cade McDonald, DE; Gavin Meyers, K/P; Malik Reed, ILB; Isaac Smith, WR; Sean Timmis, OL; Jordan Turner, ILB; Trey Wedig, OL; Amaun Williams, CB; Daniel Wright, QB

Out for season
James Thompson Jr., DE (1 game, no stats)

REDSHIRT FRESHMEN
Stephan Bracy, WR
Illinois: 2 kick returns for 28 yards
Michigan: 1 kick return for 33 yards; 1 rush, 3 yards
Northwestern: 3 kick returns, 53 yards; 1 reception, 11 yards
Indiana: Did not play
Season totals: 6 kick returns, 114 yards; 1 reception, 11 yards; 1 rush, 3 yards

Logan Brown, OL
Illinois: Played, did not record a statistic
Michigan: Played, did not record a statistic
Northwestern: Played, did not record a statistic
Indiana: Played, did not record a statistic
Season totals: n/a

Dean Engram, WR
Illinois: Played, did not record a statistic
Michigan: 2 punt returns for 0 yards
Northwestern: 3 punt returns, 7 yards
Indiana: Played, did not record a statistic
Season totals: 5 punt returns, 7 yards

Tatum Grass, ILB
Illinois: 1 tackle (solo)
Michigan: 2 tackles (1 solo)
Northwestern: Played, did not record a statistic
Indiana: Played, did not record a statistic
Season totals: 3 tackles (2 solo)

Spencer Lytle, OLB
Illinois: Did not play
Michigan: 1 tackle
Northwestern: FR
Indiana: Did not play
Season totals: 1 tackle, FR

Semar Melvin, CB
Illinois: Played, did not record a statistic
Michigan: 1 tackle (solo)
Northwestern: 1 tackle
Indiana: Did not play
Season totals: 2 tackles (1 solo)

Graham Mertz, QB
Illinois: Started, 20-of-21 passing, 248 yards, 5 TD; 5 rush, 2 yards
Michigan: Started, 12-of-22 passing, 127 yards, 2 TD; 3 rush, 8 yards
Northwestern: Started, 23-of-41 passing, 230 yards, TD, 3 INT; 7 rush, 13 yards
Indiana: Started, 20-of-34 passing, 202 yards, INT; 8 rush, 15 yards
Season totals: 75-of-118 passing (63.6%), 807 yards, 8 TD, 4 INT; 23 rush, 34 yards

Hayden Rucci, TE
Illinois: Played, did not record a statistic
Michigan: Played, did not record a statistic
Northwestern: 1 tackle (solo)
Indiana: Played, did not record a statistic
Season totals: n/a

Out for season
Joe Tippmann, OL (2 games, no stats)
Titus Toler, S (2 games. INT)

Have not played
Peter Bowden, LS; Dante Caputo, S; Clay Cundiff, TE; Julius Davis, RB; Quan Easterling, FB; Rodas Johnson, DE; Cooper Nelson, WR; Maema Njongmeta, ILB; Gio Paez, DE.

“TRUE” SOPHOMORES
Keeanu Benton, NT
Illinois: Started, 3 tackles (2 solo)
Michigan: Started, 1 tackle
Northwestern: Started, 1 tackle (solo), FF
Indiana: 1 tackle (solo)
Season totals: 7 tackles (3 solo), FF

Leo Chenal, ILB
Illinois: Started, 4 tackles (1 solo)
Michigan: Started, 3 tackles (3 solo), sack, TFL, INT, QBH
Northwestern: Started, 6 tackles (3 solo), 5 QBH
Indiana: Started, 9 tackles (9 solo), QBH
Season totals: 22 tackles (16 solo), sack, TFL, INT, 7 QBH

Jordan DiBenedetto, WR
Illinois: Played, did not record a statistic
Michigan: Played, did not record a statistic
Northwestern: Played, did not record a statistic
Indiana: Did not play
Season totals: n/a