Wisconsin to open the season without center Jake Renfro and defensive end Isaiah Mullens
MADISON – Although Wisconsin is listed as a 27 ½-point favorite in its season-opener against visiting Buffalo, Luke Fickell’s team will not be at full-strength when the teams meet Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
Center Jake Renfro, who missed significant time in camp after suffering a sprained right foot, was not listed on the team’s depth chart released Monday and is not expected to play.
Whether Renfro, who was expected to be the No. 1 center after transferring from Cincinnati, is ready for Week 2 at Washington State is unclear.
Tanor Bortolini, who can play any position on the offensive line, set to open the season as Wisconsin's center
With Renfro still out, redshirt junior Tanor Bortolini is set to start at center. He anchored the No. 1 line when Renfro was out in the spring and again in camp.
The other projected starters on the line have not changed: Jack Nelson at left tackle, Joe Huber at left guard, Michael Furtney at right guard and Riley Mahlman at right tackle.
Defensive lineman Isaiah Mullens (knee) is also expected to miss the opener. His return date is also unclear.
“He had a scope (arthroscopic procedure) maybe two weeks ago,” Fickell said Monday. “Not to that point where we would know if he is two weeks away or three weeks away. I think we’re still a week or so away on figuring out what we can project on that.”
With Mullens out indefinitely, Rodas Johnson and James Thompson Jr. are the only ends with significant playing experience at UW. Darian Varner, a transfer from Temple, could get more action with Mullens sidelined.
Reserve cornerback Michael Mack, who transferred to UW from Air Force, is still waiting for a waiver to play immediately.
“Hopefully we’ll get a response here really quick,” Fickell said.
With Mack’s status uncertain, freshman Jonas Duclona and junior Nyzier Fourqurean, a transfer from Division II Grand Valley State, are the top two reserve cornerbacks. They are behind Ricardo Hallman and Alexander Smith, respectively.
Safety Owen Arnett, from Arrowhead High School, opens as the No. 2 slot cornerback behind Jason Maitre.
More: Luke Fickell's No. 1 goal for Braelon Allen? Make sure the tailback is fresh in November.
Transfer wide receiver Bryson Green moves onto Badgers' top unit
UW’s staff expects to play at least six wide receivers each game but the top three are Chimere Dike, Cincinnati transfer Will Pauling (slot) and Bryson Green, a transfer from Oklahoma State.
Green, who missed most of spring ball while recovering from shoulder surgery, opened camp on the second unit. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound junior put together a fabulous camp and eventually moved ahead of CJ Williams and onto the No. 1 unit.
Williams, Keontez Lewis, Skyler Bell and Vinny Anthony are the top reserves for Week 1.
As expected, freshman Tucker Ashcraft is the No. 2 tight end behind senior Hayden Rucci.
The specialists offered no surprises.
Atticus Bertrams, who initially signed with USC but did not participate last season because of a back injury, is the No. 1 punter. Nathanial Vakos, who transferred to UW from Ohio, is the No. 1 place-kicker.
Jack Van Dyke is set to handle kickoffs and Dike is set to handle punt and kickoff returns.
Dike has not handled punts but has a 24.8-yard average on nine kickoff returns.
"Just being able to impact the team on different facets is awesome," Dike said. "Coach Fickell emphasizes playing on special teams."
What does Fickell want to see Saturday against a Buffalo team projected to finish third in the East Division of the Mid-American Conference?
"For us," he said, "it's about being able to play clean...to take care of the football and then you're ability to tackle.
"Those are the things that will leave me laying awake a little bit on Friday night."
More: Balanced offense? Wisconsin's Phil Longo wants to spread the ball around to his playmakers
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin to open without Jake Renfro, Isaiah Mullens
