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LSU football vs. Wisconsin: Three players to know on the Badger offense

Can the Tigers stop these three players?

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5 months ago

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LSU football vs. Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Tanner Mordecai, Jackson Acker, Will Pauling
Credit: @BigTenTed on Twitter

We’re less than 24 hours away from LSU football vs. Wisconsin on New Year’s Day. In preparation for the ReliaQuest Bowl matchup, three players to know on the Badger offense are quarterback Tanner Mordecai, running back Jackson Acker and wide receiver Will Pauling.

LSU football vs. Wisconsin: Three players to know on the Badger offense

Senior QB Tanner Mordecai

If there’s one thing the LSU defense has struggled mightily against in 2023, it’s the passing game. Ranking No. 100 overall in passing yards allowed per game, the Tigers haven’t exactly impressed when it comes to slowing down opposing quarterbacks.

For Wisconsin and senior quarterback Tanner Mordecai, this bodes incredibly well. The former SMU and Oklahoma signal caller didn’t exactly have the most efficient season this year, but he is more than capable of taking over a game with either his arm or legs.

Since entering college football in 2018, Mordecai has thrown the ball 1,241 times for 9,478 yards and 82 touchdowns, while adding 610 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.

With this being his final game of eligibility, look for the veteran quarterback to take some shots in the upcoming ReliaQuest Bowl. The Tiger secondary is still young, and if they haven’t shown improvement since the regular season, we could be in for yet another shootout on Monday.

Sophomore RB Jackson Acker

When it comes to the Badger offense, skill positions are the number one concern for Wisconsin fans. The transfer portal and opt outs as a whole were not kind to coach Luke Fickell, as they lost several big-time players earlier this month.

As far as the running back room goes, sophomore Jackson Acker is looking like the man to stop. Star junior Braelon Allen is heading off to the NFL, while senior Chez Mellusi went down with a season-ending injury earlier this year.

Still, Wisconsin historically has never struggled to produce at the running back position. A former three-star recruit, Acker has shown solid production whenever given the opportunity. Standing at 6-foot-1, 235 pounds, not only is he a bruiser, but he’s solid athletically, having caught 18 passes this season for 86 yards and a touchdown.

While the running game might not be as formidable as we’re used to seeing from the Badgers, the unproven sophomore could make some big plays if overlooked.

Sophomore WR Will Pauling

Speaking of skill positions, wide receiver is looking about as thin as one could imagine. While the retention of sophomore Will Pauling is big for quarterback Tanner Mordecai and the passing game, the depth doesn’t go much further than that.

Still, this could mean plenty of targets for the 5-foot-10, 187-pound pass catcher. While not the biggest by any means, his combination of athleticism and route running finds a way to get him open frequently throughout a 60-minute game. After spending his first two collegiate seasons with Cincinnati, he’s recorded a total of 79 receptions for 822 yards and four touchdowns in his three years.

As far as impact pass catchers go, he’s a name to watch against the LSU defensive backfield. If Wisconsin wants to move the ball against the purple and gold, Pauling is likely the man to make it happen.

LSU will face off against Wisconsin in the 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl in what will be the fifth all-time meeting between the two schools. The matchup will take place on New Year’s Day in Tampa, FL, and will be broadcast live at 11:00 a.m. CST on ESPN2.

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Tyler serves as the Managing Editor of LSU Glory. First being introduced in 2023, LSU Glory is one of the fastest-rising media outlets dedicated to comprehensive coverage of LSU sports. Tyler has covered college athletics since 2019, with his work being featured in top publications like Bleacher Report, BVM Sports, Verbal Commits and Yardbarker.

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