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5 Standouts from Day 6 of Wisconsin Football Fall Camp
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- 5 Standouts from Day 6 of Wisconsin Football Fall Camp
Wisconsin wide receiver Eugene Hilton. | Christian Borman.
As we really get into the thick of fall camp , the action has begun to heat up under the August sun.
Wisconsin football had a long, spirited practice once again Wednesday, a session that produced some of the best highlights we've seen during camp.
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Badgers On SI had boots on the ground once again . Here's 5 players that stood out at practice No. 6:
WR Eugene Hilton
Wisconsin WR Eugene Hilton | Christian Borman
Hilton looked as good as I've ever seen him Wednesday morning. He trotted out with the starters, alongside Chris Brooks Jr. and Tyrell Henry, in the team's first 11-on-11 period, and he quickly proved why. On his first big highlight of the day, he caught a wide-open deep ball in the back of the end zone on a nifty play-action from Colton Joseph . That was just the beginning.
In 7-on-7s in the red zone, Hilton caught another touchdown from Joseph, this time dragging his feet right at the sideline as he lunged for the ball to complete the catch.
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His best highlight, however, came on another longer pass from Joseph with the offense operating just outside the red zone. Hilton was blanketed in the back of the end zone up the seam, but Joseph threw a frozen rope and Hilton somehow completed the catch with a defender all over him and almost no room to work with in the back of the end zone. Hilton had five touchdowns in team periods between 7s and 11s.
The second year receiver looked good in team periods, which is of course the most consequential. But he also shined in 1-on-1s, displaying a shiftiness at the top of his route that I didn't know he had. He effortlessly shook both Marvin Burks Jr and Cairo Skanes , scoring easily. Hilton is going to start.
QB Colton Joseph
Wednesday morning was also the best I've ever seen Joseph play. He had a two questionable decisions, tossing ill-advised passes into traffic, but they both fell harmlessly to the ground. Otherwise, the gunslinger looked dynamic, using his legs proficiently and putting the ball wherever he wanted.
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His best play came in red zone 11-on-11 work. The pocket broke down, but he spun out of pressure to his right. Just before he ran out of space, he hit a crossing Hilton in the corner of the end zone for a score, throwing a laser on the run. He proceeded to let the defensive sideline hear about it.
An issue I'd had with Joseph is that he's looked much better in 7-on-7s and skeleton periods than full, live 11-on-11s. That wasn't the case Wednesday. He threw a few touchdowns in those portions of practice as well, but he was at his best during full team periods. It was a highly encouraging session from QB1.
TE Jacob Harris
Wisconsin tight end Jacob Harris. | Christian Borman.
Harris had been relatively quiet, but he's starting to make some more noise as we get into the meat of fall camp. The 6-6, 270-pound tight end with soft hands has intriguing athletic potential, and he's finally beginning to display that regularly.
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Harris scored in both 11-on-11s and 7-on-7s, catching touchdown passes from both Colton Joseph and Deuce Adams. His size is a problem for defensive backs and linebackers alike who simply can't get good enough leverage in coverage to break up passes intended for him. I'm still not convinced tight ends are going to be a huge part of this offense, but Harris appears as advertised as a receiving threat.
S Matt Jung
Jung came to play Wednesday. The safety wasted little time making an impact; on the first play on the first 11-on-11 period, he snuffed out a Colton Joseph quarterback keeper that would've resulted in a tackle-for-loss. A few players later, Tyrell Henry got the ball on a jet sweep and attempted to lower his pads into Jung. The safety had none of it, standing up the receiver with an excellent form tackle, stopping him in his tracks.
In the team's 1-on-1 period, which pitted pass-catchers against defensive backs 10 yards out from the end zone, Jung was matched up against the bigger Jackson McGohan. However, he stayed stride for stride on an in-breaking route and swatted the ball away at the catch point.
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Jung doesn't have a whole lot to prove in fall camp, but it's nice to see the fifth-year safety all over the field as the Badgers' defense looks for more splash plays out of him this fall.
CB Cai Bates
Wisconsin cornerback Cai Bates. | Christian Borman.
Much of the discourse surrounding the Badgers' cornerback room has centered on the fast-rising youngster Jai'mier Scott, as well as the play of grizzled veteran Arizona State transfer Javan Robinson. But Florida State transfer Cai Bates appears to be no slouch himself.
Bates held his own in 1-on-1s, denying Jaylon Domingeaux on a fade route. Both players are 6-foot-3, but Bates elevated higher than Domingeaux at the catch point and swatted the ball away, staying stride for stride the entire route. He also showcased his willingness to get physical, making a full-on tackle during 11-on-11s, flying off the edge to stuff the tailback for a very short gain.
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With the way Bates is playing, there looks to be four playable outside corners in Robert Steeples ' room between him, Scott, Robinson and Eric Fletcher.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/wisconsin as 5 Standouts from Day 6 of Wisconsin Football Fall Camp .
