Big Ten Football: Each team’s most important newcomer for 2020

Next season will be interesting for the Wisconsin Badgers. Both the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Iowa Hawkeyes are nipping at the heels of the men from Madison. Arguably the best running back in the history of the school — Jonathan Taylor — is headed to the NFL.

The Badgers didn’t lose a lot of players — five on offense and four on defense — but sometimes it isn’t how much you lose, it’s who you lose. Those five players on offense, their best wide receiver, three best linemen and starting running back.

The four players on defense, two anchors to their defensive line rotation and two of the best linebackers to ever play for Wisconsin. The Badgers have to replace a lot of quality this season.

Everyone knows what the Badgers want to do offensively. They want to run power football and throw when they need to throw. It remains to be seen how much they love Nakia Watson as their featured back next season.

That opens the door for true freshman Jalen Berger. The Badgers have had lots of luck recruiting in New Jersey — see Jonathan Taylor. There is a lot to love watching Berger’s tape. He has top-end speed. He’s strong enough to run the Wisconsin zone-blocking scheme between the tackles as well as running wide to the perimeter.

Berger is also a good receiver out of the backfield which adds an element to what the Badgers can do offensively. He has the opportunity to be next in the line of great Wisconsin running backs.