Wisconsin spring thoughts: Darrion Dupree-Dilin Jones combo, plus 5 interceptions by QBs

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MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin’s sixth spring football practice took place on Thursday inside the McClain Center. Here are six observations from what was an eventful morning.

1. Wisconsin doesn’t have nearly as deep a running back group as it has in some previous years. But there is a lot to like about a potential 1-2 combination with sophomore Darrion Dupree and redshirt freshman Dilin Jones, as well as a sprinkling of junior Cade Yacamelli. All three have earned snaps with the first-team offense during different stages of practice, although Jones and Dupree have handled the most reps.

While Dupree might be the natural projected starter because he played the most last season, Jones could push him for those snaps. Jones is a smooth runner who has a good burst. He broke a tackle up the middle and bounced to the left side for a nice gain on Thursday. Where Dupree separates from any other current Badgers running back is in what he can do with the ball in space.

Twice during practice, after taking a pitch and then a jet sweep coming in motion across the field, Dupree juked defenders to pick up extra yards. His ability to catch passes out of the backfield or split out and run solid routes has been noticeable.

Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell acknowledged after Tuesday’s practice that the group is a little thin. There are four scholarship players, including redshirt freshman Gideon Ituka, because Jackson Acker has moved into a tight end role with some fullback reps. Wisconsin didn’t add any scholarship running backs in the 2025 class, in large part because it signed three in the 2024 class. It didn’t add anybody through the transfer portal. Fickell said the staff felt good about the youth of the group as well as the leadership provided by Yacamelli.

The biggest challenge, according to Fickell, is learning what the Badgers should expect from the rotation as practices continue, often without full tackling.

Yacamelli produced a couple of big plays, including a touchdown run during a red-zone drill. Ituka looks faster this spring and scored on a 60-yard touchdown run during an 11-on-11 segment with the reserves when he had a huge hole created by left tackle John Clifford and left guard Colin Cubberly.

Dilin Jones rushed for 88 yards for Wisconsin in 2024. (Jeff Hanisch / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

“In this game today, not playing live, it’s probably the one position that you don’t know as much about,” Fickell said. “And until you go live, it’s hard to see the next gear or what true balance, what playmaking ability do they have when it’s not live situations. So we’ll have enough live situations this spring to give them some opportunities to kind of shine even a little bit more.”

2. Wisconsin has 15 freshman early enrollees on campus for spring practices, and many of them have earned only a handful of reps with the reserves. Quarterback Carter Smith has handled a lot of third-team work, safeties Luke Emmerich and Grant Dean have flashed (both intercepted passes on Tuesday), and Nolan Davenport has been the second-team right tackle. But the player who has established himself as the most intriguing prospect is wide receiver Eugene Hilton Jr.

Hilton can play on the outside or in the slot — something he did on Thursday with the second-team offense. He consistently makes plays when the ball is thrown to him. Smith made an exceptional across-the-body throw while rolling to his left that Hilton caught along the left sideline. Hilton dragged his feet to stay in bounds for a gain of more than 20 yards.

Two scholarship receivers are out — Trech Kekahuna (left leg/foot injury) and Idaho transfer Mark Hamper (personal family matter). Those absences have allowed Hilton more opportunities. Still, there is a logjam of wide receivers that may make it difficult for Hilton to earn immediate snaps.

Jayden Ballard, a transfer from Ohio State, could pair with returning starter Vinny Anthony on the outside. Chris Brooks Jr., Quincy Burroughs and Tyrell Henry have produced standout moments already this spring. But Hilton’s talent is hard to ignore, and Wisconsin figures to have landed a good one there.

3. The Badgers ramped up their offense with more passing opportunities, which meant more chances for mistakes. And there were plenty of them from Wisconsin’s quarterbacks, who combined to throw five interceptions: two from starter Billy Edwards Jr. and one each from Danny O’Neil, Smith and Milos Spasojevic.

Edwards’ first interception came when he threw behind receiver Joseph Griffin Jr. Safety Austin Brown made an outstanding play when he leapt in the air to grab the ball with his left hand and caught it while landing on his back — a pick so impressive that offensive line coach AJ Blazek ran up to give Brown a high five.

That’s AB’s ball‼️@austintyler_25 x #OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/O6MyFaXxUo

— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) April 3, 2025

Edwards’ second interception came on a poor decision when he threw the ball across his body, intended for Anthony on the other side of the field. Cornerback Ricardo Hallman stepped in front to easily intercept the pass.

O’Neil’s interception came when he made a late read on a throw intended for Burroughs that Miami transfer D’Yoni Hill stepped in front of. Spasojevic was intercepted during a skeleton drill when redshirt freshman cornerback Omillio Agard snatched a wobbling pass out of the air. Late in practice with the reserves, Smith was intercepted by defensive back Owen Arnett when Smith underthrew Burroughs by roughly five yards.

4. Despite those miscues, Edwards and O’Neil each had touchdown throws that went for about 50 yards. Edwards made one of the best throws of the day when he put a back-shoulder pass on Brooks down the left sideline. Cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean fell to the ground, and Brooks ran untouched the rest of the way. Earlier, Fourqurean won a one-on-one matchup with Brooks when he broke up a pass along the right sideline.

O’Neil’s touchdown came when he launched a ball down the right side of the field for Ballard. Hill appeared to slightly misplay the ball by running too far underneath it. Ballard ran past him and into the end zone.

O’Neil sits as Wisconsin’s No. 2 quarterback, although he did earn a handful of snaps with the first-team offense for the first time this spring. His playmaking ability, either outside the pocket or as the pocket collapses, is a strength. On one play, outside linebacker Darryl Peterson put pressure in the pocket on O’Neil, who dropped his arm angle to pass around Peterson and find Henry for a first down. On another play, O’Neil rolled out to his left and put a good ball on receiver Kyan Berry-Johnson, who dove to the ground for the completion.

5. Many of Wisconsin’s second-year players will be factors this season, which is indicative of the talent the Badgers brought in through recruiting. One player who hasn’t been significantly discussed in recent months but who has begun to stand out is tight end Grant Stec.

The top two tight ends are Tanner Koziol, a transfer from Ball State, and returner Tucker Ashcraft. Acker can occupy a variety of roles. But given offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes’ propensity for using two-tight end sets, Stec could see time as the next in line. His size was noticeable when he redshirted last season. At 6 foot 5 and 255 pounds, Stec possesses the blend of blocking and pass-catching that aligns well with Grimes’ offense.

6. Wisconsin had a pair of field-goal kicking segments, one near the start of practice and one at the end. No. 1 kicker Nathanial Vakos made 6 of his 7 attempts, with a 41-yarder missing wide right. Gavin Lahm buried all seven of his field goal tries. Both made a long of 47 yards.

Vakos made 12 of 19 field goals last season and struggled from 30-49 yards, going 6 of 13 in that range. Lahm served as the team’s kickoff specialist but has shown he has the accuracy to handle field goals if necessary.

(Top photo of Darrion Dupree: Ed Mulholland / Getty Images)

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