With practice No. 9 of spring ball in the books, Wisconsin Badgers football coach Luke Fickell was happy with his team’s progress but appeared to be irritated by some of the nagging injuries that has eroded some of his team’s depth.
“We had too many guys that didn’t make practice today or too many guys that are dinged up, Fickell told reporters assembled on the field at Camp Randall Stadium Thursday morning after practice had ended.
“You’ve got to find ways to be able to get out there and go. Practice nine everybody’s going to be a little bit hurt…We can’t go at the pace we want to go if we don’t have enough guys out here.”
Outside linebackers Jeff Pietrowski Jr. and C.J. Goetz, both out on Tuesday, returned Thursday, albeit in yellow non-contact jerseys.
Offensively, lineman Jake Renfro, wide receiver Chris Brooks Jr., along with running backs Julius Davis and Cade Yacamelli were all out entirely on Thursday.
Meanwhile, running back Jackson Acker, wide receiver Grady O’Neill were among those in the yellow jerseys Thursday.
One player that has continued to impress Fickell is cornerback Ricardo Hallman, who lost his starting job after a shaky performance against Michigan State last fall.
“Consistency” was the exact word Fickell used for Hallman, who lost his starting job a year after a particularly difficult game against Michigan State.
The Badgers will next practice on Saturday morning.
Follow the link for Doug Russell’s latest Camp Confidential podcast:
https://www.spreaker.com/user/9808967/camp-confidential-4-13-2023