During the time of the Hauser recruiting miss and the Tyler Herro decommitment, as well as when Alando Tucker released the audio of the players criticizing Gard in a closed door meeting, I was one of many who questioned whether Gard should be the man to run the Hoops program. I admit I was wrong. Gard can flat out coach. He has kept many of the principals of Bo's style, but the freedom he allows his young talent (Johnny Davis, Hepburn and this year Essegian) is refreshing. I think he has been successful in the transfer portal, and he has clearly stamped his personality on this team. Hard nosed and tough, but with freedoms on offense that this program needed. Watching Fran, and Juwan Howard act like freaks, I like how consistent Gard is...he represents the school and the state well. At this point in time I wouldn't trade Gard for any coach in the BIG (partly because Izzo is old). I like where this program is. Mea Culpa!

Few threads have asked for it. It's always linked on the front page. I have 14 open scholarships for the Badgers.

Just one tonight.

I can't remember another coach, outside of Dave McClain who passed away suddenly while still at the helm...Sucks for Mississippi State...he was a legend and I enjoyed the heck out of him while he was in Pullman....more quotes than anyone. Someone is going to write a book about Leach...

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Sounds like he may have had a major medical event. Hope he's OK as he's one of the more colorful college coaches around.

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VIDEO: https://wisconsin.rivals.com/news/week-2-chicago-blitz-2023-inside-linebacker-tyler-jansey

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STRENGTHS

Got a chance to see Tyler Jansey for the first time in person on Saturday evening against Phillips High School. Physically, the three-star prospect from Batavia passes the eye-ball test. He’s all of 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, and there’s no bad weight on his frame. Jansey is a kid who sticks out almost immediately because of his physical traits and the way he leads his teammates.

A strong and efficient tackler, Jansey is physical and aggressive in the box, attributes that suit him well in the middle of the field. On Saturday, I thought he was very good at diagnosing the action in front of him and flowing to the football. And then there’s his motor. Jansey, who also took a few snaps at running back during a 43-6 win, looks like a player who - at the high school level - would be fine playing every snap in all three phases of the game.

“I’d definitely say I’m extremely versatile because of my speed,” Jansey said after the game. “I can really get out to the flat on those guys, and I’d also say I’m a really good run stopper.”

Wisconsin has had a lot of success with players like Jansey over the last handful of years. He probably doesn’t have the highest ceiling when looking at Wisconsin’s 2023 class, but Jansey also has a pretty high floor, in my opinion. This is a kid who, barring injury, is going to find his way onto the field, and he’s probably someone we’re talking about as a potential contributor on special teams as a true freshman. Jansey’s body is going to be further along than most freshmen, so the need to transform in Wisconsin’s strength program isn't a necessity. Much of that foundation has already been laid.

AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT

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I thought Jansey was a little stiff in the hips and probably won’t bring that elite bend and flexibility from the inside linebacker position. With that, he’s more of a straight-line prospect as opposed to a sideline-to-sideline player, though he can run well. When it’s right in front of him, Jansey is going to clean it up. But I’m curious to see how he plays in coverage, specifically with quicker running backs. I don’t think tight ends will be an issue because of his physicality.

One other thing I jotted down was playing with a little more patience. There were a few times Jansey overran a play in space, and he did the same in the backfield on occasion. That could be chalked up to opening-night jitters and not something to worry all too much about.

OUTLOOK/RECRUITMENT

Jansey was Wisconsin’s first commitment in the 2023 class. He didn’t have offers from Northwestern and Illinois, which is a little odd considering one of those two programs is trying to make in-state recruiting a top priority.

UW's current group at inside linebacker is deep but largely unproven. Right now there are eight scholarship players at the position, and the entire unit could return in 2023 for first-year assistant coach Mark D’Onofrio. With that, Jansey could be the only scholarship athlete at the position UW takes in this cycle, but it sounds like the Badgers are taking a long look at Blake Fletcher. I plan to see the in-state standout from Horlick High School on Friday evening.

One last thing… Jansey’s younger brother, Jacob, is a sophomore linebacker for Batavia. I wouldn’t be surprised if he popped up on campus a few times with Tyler this fall.

WISCONSIN COMPARISON ON THE CURRENT ROSTER

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You see a lot of Sanborn (Bryan and Jack) qualities in Jansey, who is - as cliche as it sounds - a tough, physical, lunch-pail-type inside linebacker. Physically, Jansey could actually be a little further in his development in comparison to the Sanborns at this stage in their respective careers. And like the Sanborns, Jansey looks like a perfect fit for not only Wisconsin’s defense, but the entire program.

"Tyler Jansey is very similar, personality-wise and mentality-wise, to some of the other guys that Wisconsin has recruited out of here,” Timothy O'Halloran, better known as EdgyTim, told BadgerBlitz.com. “I immediately think of the Sanborns (Bryan and Jack), meaning the kid lives and breathes football. Throw-back, old school… he just wants to destroy everything in front of him. Very good athlete who will continue to get bigger and stronger. But he’s already a real high-level player. Very intelligent player who is a smart kid on and off the field. He’ll win press conferences and be very quotable - just a really good personality.”

Let me know what you think.

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Should be a good night for the Badgers.

Are they any updates for Bowl Practices? I would have assumed they started last week but we haven't head anything.