From Dane Brugler at The Athletic. Part of his comprehensive NFL Draft guide known as The Beast
Garrett Groshek - #34 RB
SUMMARY: Garrett Groshek (GROW-sheck) was a three-year starting quarterback at Amherst High School (graduated with Tyler Biadasz) and earned state Offensive Player of the Year honors as a senior with a 68.8% completion rate, 2,398 passing yards, 1,432 rushing yards and 57 total touchdowns. He passed on several Division-II offers to walk on at Wisconsin (put on scholarship in 2018). Groshek was part of the running back rotation throughout his career and earned his first two starts in the final two games of his career (195 rushing yards, two scores). Groshek isn’t very elusive and won’t shake defenders in the hole, but he shows excellent vision, tempo and feel with the ball in his hands. He was active in the screen game (79 catches, only four drops) and does a great job squaring and taking on defenders in pass pro. Overall, Groshek is an average-speed player, but he is a competitive blocker and physical runner who treats every yard like it will be the difference in the game.
Priority Free Agent
Cole Van Lanen - #28 OT
SUMMARY: Cole Van Lanen (LANN-en) was a two-time First Team All-State offensive tackle at Bay Port High School and won the discus and shot put titles at the 2015 state meet. He was a U.S. Army All-American and four-star recruit, committing to Wisconsin over Iowa and Michigan. Van Lanen became the Badgers’ starting left tackle as a junior and started 19 total games, earning All-Big Ten honors as a junior and senior. He played better on his 2020 film compared to his 2019 tape, but there still are several areas he needs to clean up. Van Lanen is a determined run blocker with the hand strength to turn defenders and the natural momentum to strike and widen lanes. In pass protection, he has a patient, stout punch, but his slide mechanics and footwork are choppy, diminishing his functional mirroring skills in space. Overall, Van Lanen is smart and physical, but his average length and balance issues will push him inside to guard for some teams. He projects as a possible backup.
Priority Free Agent
Isaiahh Loudermilk #29 DE
SUMMARY: Isaiahh Loudermilk played eight-man football at West Elk High School and finished his career with 267 tackles, 22.0 sacks, three interceptions and eight touchdown catches on offense. He also starred in baseball, basketball (19.2 points per game) and track (shot put conference title). A three-star recruit, he committed to Wisconsin over Kansas State and Oregon. Loudermilk battled multiple knee injuries over his career, but was a key cog at defensive end in the Badgers’ 3-4 base scheme. He is quick off the snap to knife through gaps, using his hands to pry open the shoulder of blockers, but his counter measures are often ineffective if he doesn’t win at the snap. While active and strong-willed, he struggles to stay square against the run, lacking the leverage or lower-body mass to anchor, especially versus double teams. Overall, Loudermilk doesn’t play with burst or power to be a consistent disruptor, but he is a worker bee who brings energy and toughness
Priority Free Agent
Rachad Wildgoose #46 CB
SUMMARY: Rachad (ra-SHAWD) Wildgoose Jr. spent his freshman and sophomore years at Booker T. Washington High School, his junior year at Coral Gables and his senior season at Miami’s Northwestern High School. As a senior, he helped the team to the 2017 Class 6A state title and earned All-County honors. A three-star recruit, Wildgoose was initially committed to Rutgers and Georgia before signing with Wisconsin. He started all three seasons (inside and outside) before opting out after two games (and a shoulder injury) as a junior. Wildgoose has adequate transitional quickness and carries himself with confidence, but he doesn’t play instinctive and is more reactive than anticipatory. While he plays with aggression, his tackling skills have been inconsistent, leaving concerns about his reliability at inside cornerback. Overall, Wildgoose has ordinary size, strength and speed and struggles to distinguish himself on tape and projects as a developmental NFL prospect.
Priority Free Agent
Eric Burrell #40 S - N/A
Adam Bay #5 LS - N/A
Mason Stokke - #31 TE/FB - N/A
Adam Krumholz - #86 WR - N/A
Jon Dietzen - #39 OT - N/A
He doesn't seem to be too high on the Wisconsin draft prospects. Thought Wildgoose would get drafted. Seen him higher in other places.
Maybe this season makes sense. Maybe instead of it being Covid's fault and the coaches this team just wasn't as talented as the past teams. It happens.
Garrett Groshek - #34 RB
SUMMARY: Garrett Groshek (GROW-sheck) was a three-year starting quarterback at Amherst High School (graduated with Tyler Biadasz) and earned state Offensive Player of the Year honors as a senior with a 68.8% completion rate, 2,398 passing yards, 1,432 rushing yards and 57 total touchdowns. He passed on several Division-II offers to walk on at Wisconsin (put on scholarship in 2018). Groshek was part of the running back rotation throughout his career and earned his first two starts in the final two games of his career (195 rushing yards, two scores). Groshek isn’t very elusive and won’t shake defenders in the hole, but he shows excellent vision, tempo and feel with the ball in his hands. He was active in the screen game (79 catches, only four drops) and does a great job squaring and taking on defenders in pass pro. Overall, Groshek is an average-speed player, but he is a competitive blocker and physical runner who treats every yard like it will be the difference in the game.
Priority Free Agent
Cole Van Lanen - #28 OT
SUMMARY: Cole Van Lanen (LANN-en) was a two-time First Team All-State offensive tackle at Bay Port High School and won the discus and shot put titles at the 2015 state meet. He was a U.S. Army All-American and four-star recruit, committing to Wisconsin over Iowa and Michigan. Van Lanen became the Badgers’ starting left tackle as a junior and started 19 total games, earning All-Big Ten honors as a junior and senior. He played better on his 2020 film compared to his 2019 tape, but there still are several areas he needs to clean up. Van Lanen is a determined run blocker with the hand strength to turn defenders and the natural momentum to strike and widen lanes. In pass protection, he has a patient, stout punch, but his slide mechanics and footwork are choppy, diminishing his functional mirroring skills in space. Overall, Van Lanen is smart and physical, but his average length and balance issues will push him inside to guard for some teams. He projects as a possible backup.
Priority Free Agent
Isaiahh Loudermilk #29 DE
SUMMARY: Isaiahh Loudermilk played eight-man football at West Elk High School and finished his career with 267 tackles, 22.0 sacks, three interceptions and eight touchdown catches on offense. He also starred in baseball, basketball (19.2 points per game) and track (shot put conference title). A three-star recruit, he committed to Wisconsin over Kansas State and Oregon. Loudermilk battled multiple knee injuries over his career, but was a key cog at defensive end in the Badgers’ 3-4 base scheme. He is quick off the snap to knife through gaps, using his hands to pry open the shoulder of blockers, but his counter measures are often ineffective if he doesn’t win at the snap. While active and strong-willed, he struggles to stay square against the run, lacking the leverage or lower-body mass to anchor, especially versus double teams. Overall, Loudermilk doesn’t play with burst or power to be a consistent disruptor, but he is a worker bee who brings energy and toughness
Priority Free Agent
Rachad Wildgoose #46 CB
SUMMARY: Rachad (ra-SHAWD) Wildgoose Jr. spent his freshman and sophomore years at Booker T. Washington High School, his junior year at Coral Gables and his senior season at Miami’s Northwestern High School. As a senior, he helped the team to the 2017 Class 6A state title and earned All-County honors. A three-star recruit, Wildgoose was initially committed to Rutgers and Georgia before signing with Wisconsin. He started all three seasons (inside and outside) before opting out after two games (and a shoulder injury) as a junior. Wildgoose has adequate transitional quickness and carries himself with confidence, but he doesn’t play instinctive and is more reactive than anticipatory. While he plays with aggression, his tackling skills have been inconsistent, leaving concerns about his reliability at inside cornerback. Overall, Wildgoose has ordinary size, strength and speed and struggles to distinguish himself on tape and projects as a developmental NFL prospect.
Priority Free Agent
Eric Burrell #40 S - N/A
Adam Bay #5 LS - N/A
Mason Stokke - #31 TE/FB - N/A
Adam Krumholz - #86 WR - N/A
Jon Dietzen - #39 OT - N/A
He doesn't seem to be too high on the Wisconsin draft prospects. Thought Wildgoose would get drafted. Seen him higher in other places.
Maybe this season makes sense. Maybe instead of it being Covid's fault and the coaches this team just wasn't as talented as the past teams. It happens.
