TEAM NOTES

• Today’s captains: senior NT Keeanu Benton, junior ILB Nick Herbig, junior QB Graham Mertz
• Today’s attendance at Camp Randall Stadium was 74,057.
• With the win, Wisconsin has won all 4 matchups against the Terrapins.
• The Badgers secured another key November victory. Wisconsin has now posted a 39-8 (.830) record in the month since 2010. Among Power-5 schools heading into Saturday, only Ohio State (.886), Georgia (.857), Oklahoma (.857) and Alabama (.844) have totaled better records in the month since 2010.
• The Badgers held Maryland to just 10 points, its lowest scoring output of the season and fewest points since a 43-3 loss to Northwestern in 2020.
• Wisconsin’s defense snapped Maryland’s 10-game streak of 27+ point performances. The streak was a Terrapin program record.
• UW’s defense:

o Gave up just 189 total yards, the lowest total by a Badger opponent since holding Iowa to 156 on Oct. 30, 2021.

o Allowed 77 yards passing, the fewest since limiting Illinois to 67 yards on Oct. 9, 2021.

o Held Maryland to 9 first downs, fewest surrendered since Iowa had 9 on Oct. 30, 2021.

o Had a season-high 5.0 sacks, the team’s most since recording 6.0 in the Las Vegas Bowl vs. Arizona State on Dec. 30, 2021.

o Allowed Maryland to convert only 5-of-17 third downs (29.4%). The marks back-to-back games holding the opponent below 35.0% (Purdue was, the lowest percentage since 5-for-16 (31%).

• Wisconsin won the turnover battle, forcing one INT without a turnover of its own. The Badgers, who entered the game third in the Big Ten in turnover margin, are now +6 in turnover margin on the season.
• The Badgers outscored the Terrapins 17-0 in the first half. Wisconsin has now scored first in 7 of 9 games this season. The Badgers have outscored opponents 80-10 in the first half over the last 4 games.
• The Badgers ran for a season-high 293 yards, the team’s highest mark since rushing for 305 at Rutgers on Nov. 6, 2021.
• With RBs Isaac Guerendo and Braelon Allen both surpassing the 100-yard rushing mark, it marked the first time that the Badgers have had multiple 100+ yard rushers since Chez Mellusi (149) and Braelon Allen (140) did so vs. Purdue on Oct. 23, 2021.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• Sophomore RB Braelon Allen posted 119 yards and a score on 23 carries.

o Allen recorded his 14th 100-yard game over his last 18 games.

o Allen recorded his 10th rushing TD of the season. A total of 29 Badgers have now assembled double-digit rushing TD seasons since 1996, the most in the Big Ten.

• Senior RB Isaac Guerendo ran for a career-high 114 yards and 1 score on 12 carries. Guerendo broke an 89-yard TD to give the Badgers a 14-0 lead in the 2nd quarter.

o The 89-yard carry was the 2nd-longest rush of the season and the 5th-longest in program history.

o Guerendo and Braelon Allen are the first Badger RB combo to both record runs of 80+ yards in the same season since Melvin Gordon (80) and James White (93) did so in 2013.

o Wisconsin now has 2 separate players with 85+ yard runs in the same season for the first time in program history.

• Junior WR Chimere Dike caught 3 passes for 32 yards in the Wisconsin win. Dike surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in his career, moving his total to 1,016.

o All 3 of Dike’s catches converted successful 3rd downs. Dike entered the game ranked T-2nd in the Big Ten with 10 catches for first down in 3rd-down situations this season.

o Dike has now recorded 3+ catches in 5-straight games, the longest streak of his career.

• Sophomore S Hunter Wohler picked off a Maryland pass to begin the 4th quarter, notching his first career INT in his return to action.

o Wohler is the 10th Badger to pick off a pass this season. Wisconsin entered the game ranked 2nd in the nation with 14 INTs.

o With 10 different players recording INTs, the Badgers matched the 2018 defensive unit.

• Junior OLB Nick Herbig recorded a pair of sacks, pushing his season total to 8.0. Herbig totaled 4 tackles, including 3.0 for loss in the win.

o Herbig entered the game alone atop the Big Ten sack leaderboard.

o Herbig’s 3.0 TFLs matched a career high and gave him 5.5 over his last 2 games.

o Herbig now ranks T-9th in program history with 18.0 career QB takedowns. Herbig tied Erasmus James (2001-02, 04) with Saturday’s 2-sack performance.

• Senior NT Keeanu Benton recorded a sack on 4th down in the 1st quarter. Benton totaled 4 tackles.
• Senior OLB C.J. Goetz totaled 4 tackles and notched a 2nd-quarter sack, his 2nd of the season and first since recording 1.0 in Wisconsin’s OT loss at Michigan State.
• Sophomore ILB Jordan Turner totaled 6 tackles, giving him 6+ tackles in 3 straight games.
• Senior P Andy Vujnovich punted 6 times for an average of 39.7 yards and a long of 50 yards. Vujnovich pinned the Boilermakers inside the 20 3 times.

o Vujnovich has recorded 7 punts inside the 20 over the last 2 games.

o Vujnovich has pinned opponents inside the 20 in each of the last 5 games and in all but one game this season.

• Redshirt freshman K Nate Van Zelst knocked in 3 FGs on 4 attempts, converting his first FGs since drilling a 39-yarder against Illinois. The 3 FGs were a career high.

Saw this kid two weeks ago when I went to watch Chase Spellman. Coufal is a little undersized but has some nasty to him.

Any idea what this is about? Something NIL related?

Login to view embedded media

Badgers getting healthier.

Thanks for all you do for the board.

We'll start the fun with some more Austin Alexander analysis and then let us know what you want to hear about!

VIDEO: https://wisconsin.rivals.com/news/week-9-in-state-blitz-2024-running-back-terrance-shelton

STRENGTHS

Login to view embedded media
Terrance Shelton has been on my radar since his sophomore year at Franklin High School. I’ve seen him play a handful of times, but this was the first time I went to a game with him as my top priority.

Listed at 6-foot and 200 pounds, Shelton ran for four first-half touchdowns in a win over Kenosha Bradford on Friday evening. Body-wise, Shelton is stockier with a strong lower half. With that, he’s different in comparison to someone like Corey Smith, an in-state back from Catholic Memorial who’s longer with a different running style in comparison.

From what I saw Friday night and in past performances, Shelton is an effective runner between the tackles. Arguably his top attribute is the pad level and balance he displays, largely due to his powerful hips and legs. Shelton also has good footwork and a nice burst with the ball in his hands. He runs through arm tackles and moves the pile forward.

Friday night, Shelton also displayed good receiver skills with two screens that went for chunk plays against the Red Devils. With the ball in open space, Shelton is patient and has good vision. He also returns punts and kicks for the Sabers on special teams.

This summer, people from Franklin said Shelton was running in the 4.4 range in the 40-yard dash. He’s not the homerun threat that Smith is in the open field, but he does have legit speed at the tailback position. In track, Shelton ran 11.49 in 100- and 23.44 in the 200-meter dash as a sophomore.

REMAINING QUESTIONS

Login to view embedded media
I think pass blocking is a question mark at this point for Shelton. We saw him do it a little bit on Friday night in some roll out action for the Sabers, but it’s not necessarily something he excels at right now.

OUTLOOK/RECRUITMENT

I’m surprised Shelton doesn’t have a handful of offers at this point in his recruitment. I can understand questions about his ability to be a Power 5 back, but there’s no doubt that he can play at the FCS level, in my opinion. From the time I first saw him as a sophomore, I felt he could play at the highest level in college, and I’m going to stick by that prediction.

As far as where he stacks up on Wisconsin’s board, Shelton isn’t in Al Johnson’s first tier. Right now, Smith is at the top of the list, followed closely by Titus Cram, who has been on campus twice. Gideon Ituka is also an intriguing option from Maryland, and the three-star back has a connection to coordinator Bobby Engram. Jordan Marshall and Bryan Jackson are also worth keeping an eye on, but they feel like long-shots at this point.

Taking at least two running backs in the 2024 class makes sense right now, so it’s too early to close the door on Shelton’s chances to end up at Wisconsin right now. Minnesota, Northwestern and Minnesota are also involved in his recruitment.

Very curious to see what happens in Shelton’s recruitment over the next few months. I think schools are going to like what he put on tape this fall, and he checks off all the other boxes - grades, character, multi-sport athlete, etc. - away from the field.

WISCONSIN COMPARISON ON THE CURRENT ROSTER

Login to view embedded media
Issac Guerendo isn’t a perfect match, but he’s a thicker kid who, like Shelton, has a nice mix of power and speed. Shelton isn’t as big as guys like Jackson Acker or even Braelon Allen, but he’s also different than Chez Mellusi and Julius Davis.

For fans that have been around for a while, Shelton (body-wise) reminds me of a bigger version of Anthony Davis, who was obviously one of the better backs to ever play for the Badgers. Not saying that’s what will happen with Shelton, but the two have some similarities.

Let me know what you think.