In an exciting game that saw 922 yards of total offense (including 639 passing), Junior QB Scott Tolzien's 4 TD passes helped Wisconsin pull out the win. 3 of Garrett Graham's 5 receptions went for touchdowns, and the Badgers were ahead 38 to 17 at one point in the 4th quarter. MSU QB Keith Nichol came off the bench to throw 2 TD's in the final 2:07, including a 91 yarder to sophomore WR Keshawn Martin. Battering ram/Running Back John Clay made the Spartan front 7 look weak, wearing them down with 32 carries for 142 yards. This game wasn't as close as the final score, as Wisconsin stayed unbeaten and looked like a serious contender in the Big 10 this year.


College: Michigan State Conference: Big 10 Columnist: Jake Popkin

Greg Jones 53 6' 1.0" 222 4.60 LB 2011
He looked athletic and was all over the field. The defense seems like it's designed to funnel the play to him. Needs to get bigger and stronger, got pushed back a couple times and struggled to get off some blocks. He's a natural dropping into coverage. Finished the game with 9 solos and 5 assists. Grade: Slightly Positive

Mark Dell 2 6' 2.0" 188 4.50 WR 2011
Lanky, a smooth athlete with impressive body control and good hands. Had 5 catches for 74 yards and 1 TD. He'll need to bulk up and would have a hard time going over the middle at the next level, but the tools to be a solid NFL WR are there. Grade: Positive

Danny Fortener 33 6' 1.0" 199 4.65 S 2010
2nd team safety; didn't see him get any action until it was 38-17. Grade: Incomplete

Blair White 25 6' 2.0" 200 4.65 WR 2010
He had one catch for 8 yards and one drop. Won't beat anybody deep, I don't think he'll make it in the NFL based on this performance. Grade: Negative

Joel Nitchman 65 6' 3.0" 297 5.25 C 2010
Played LG and C, not real mobile or strong but he rarely got beat. He could be a versatile backup at the next level, doesn't have great physical tools to work with and still got the job done. Grade: Neutral

Chris L. Rucker 29 6' 2.0" 190 4.50 CB 2011
He flashes with his height/long arms and is stronger than you'd think. Made a couple good hits, can help in run support. Doesn't have great closing speed and can be beat with quick moves, but overall he had a good day. Grade: Slightly Positive

Trevor Anderson 58 6' 2.0" 250 4.75 DE 2010
A classic 'tweener. Probably too small to play DE in the NFL and doesn't look athletic enough to make the transition to OLB. He beat his man a couple times and has some solid pass rushing tools to work with, but to me he just looks like another college DE that won't find a home in the pros.

Rocco Cironi 57 6' 6.0" 308 5.40 OT 2010
A little heavy legged. Struggled with the speed rush. Did a solid job in the running game and looks surprisingly comfortable hitting moving targets downfield, although he is very slow getting there. Strong, can absorb the bull rush but is probably one of the least athletic LT's you'll find in the Big 10. Will have to make the move to OG or RT to have any shot of playing on Sundays. Grade: Slightly Negative

Brett Swenson 14 5' 8.0" 169 5.00 K 2010
1 for 1, a 28 yarder. Doesn't have a real strong leg on kickoffs.

Ross Weaver 37 6' 1.0" 202 4.45 CB 2010
He looks the part, good speed and fluid change of direction skills. I'd like to see a guy his size be more physical. Wasn't really tested that much in coverage. Grade: Neutral


College: Wisconsin Conference: Big 10 Columnist: Jake Popkin

Gabe Carimi 68 6' 8.0" 313 5.20 OT 2011
A mammoth at LT, didn't get beat all day and moved surprisingly well. I was very impressed with his run blocking, locks onto his targets and pushes them backwards. Might play a little too high but that's the price he pays for being 6'8". If he plays like this week in and week out he could be a first round talent. Grade: Very Positive

Chris Maragos 21 6' 0.0" 198 4.60 S 2010
He seemed to be in the right place at the right time, has good instincts and smarts. Fairly athletic, can keep up with receivers downfield and has very good ball skills (2 interceptions on the day). Safe tackler, not a big hitter but won't miss many. Grade: Positive

O'Brien Schofield 50 6' 3.0" 242 4.60 DE 2010
Extremely athletic, has an effective spin move and is real quick off the snap. Natural pass rushing skills, stronger than his size would suggest. Had a much bigger impact on this game than the stats would suggest. Was a constant force speed rushing off the edge. Definitely looks like he could make the move to LB if needed in the NFL. Grade: Positive

Garrett Graham 89 6' 4.0" 248 4.70 TE 2010
HUGE day, 3 touchdowns on 5 receptions. Has deceptive speed and flat out beat Spartan safety Kendall Davis-Clark on a seem route. Does a good job getting in the right position while blocking but doesn't really move anybody back, not much of a hitter. Tough going over the middle, very reliable target with consistent hands. Grade: Positive

Shane Carter 25 6' 2.0" 202 4.55 S 2010
I didn't see him in the game, wasn't credited with any stats. Grade: Incomplete

Jaevery McFadden 47 6' 3.0" 226 4.65 LB 2010
Doesn't look like a 4.6 guy, plays too high and looks uncomfortable dropping into coverage. Took a couple poor angles and didn't play very aggressive. A game to forget for him. Grade: Negative


MORE GAME NOTES

Michigan St
Safety Roderick Jenrette is a head hunter. Very aggressive, flies to the ball and can hit. RS Freshman DT Jerel Worthy is a load and can split gaps consistently. Was rarely moved back and was credited with 1.5 TFL. He also did a good job getting his hands up and broke up 2 passes at the line. True freshman TE Dion Sims is a guy to watch for in a couple years for sure, very athletic for his size. WR Keshawn Martin had a big day, going for 139 yards and a TD on 4 catches (one was a 91 yarder). Not very big but is real quick with good top speed.

Wisconsin
TE Lance Kendricks showed very good hands and reminds me a little bit of Travis Beckum. WR Nick Toon runs good routes and got open a lot in the first half. John Clay has a no nonsense running style that works very well for him, especially late in the game. Doesn't dance around at all, just charges ahead and always seemed to fall forward. LB Mike Taylor had a productive day, he's a good athlete and showed great instincts in this one. I was impressed with QB Scott Tolzien's accuracy and decision making, but he didn't show a real strong arm. Former top recruit RT Josh Oglesby was a little disappointing today, isn't real aggressive and was beat several times by speed rushers.

Nice writeup! Did Schofield drop into coverage at all from his DE position? Conversely, do you think he has the frame to add another 10-15 pounds and stay explosive enough to play DE in a 43 front?

I know this question wasn't addressed to me, but funny thing, I just scouted WI-Fresno State (intensely, like I would had I claimed it, and did everything like I normally would except write it up.) Here is what I wrote on Schofield, for whatever it might be worth...

"Explosive pass rusher who can blow through lackadaisical blocks. Slaps opponents hands away and doesn't get wired to blocks. Plays out of the 4-pt. stance at times. Doesn't do a very good job of protecting his legs. Slow to counter, and doesn't redirect smoothly. Diagnoses well."

My impression based, admittedly, on just one game of study on him is he that he might be a tough guy to convert to OLB. If you do, he probably shouldn't be asked to cover much...i.e. I'd only try him that way in a 3-4, if at all. Personally, I agree he needs to bulk up a tad and stay as a 4-3 weakside DE.

A little Trent Cole in him?

Definitely. A poor man's Trent Cole.

I wouldn't drop Cole into coverage that much either....