Rachad

Wildgoose

Wildgoose (5'11/194) missed most of the 2020 season with a shoulder injury but started for the previous two seasons at Wisconsin. Wildgoose came up short on accolades over that span, though he did record 14 pass breakups and an interception in his two years as a starter. Athletically, Wildgoose is pretty middling across the board, save for a blazing 1.50-second 10-yard split. Wildgoose finished with just a 4.53 40-yard time, though, so none of that early explosion translated to long speed, which is a concern that shows itself on tape as well. Wildgoose’s best coverage trait is how natural his ball skills are. It is just a matter of how consistently he can actually put himself in position to defend the ball in the NFL. Wildgoose profiles as a practice squad candidate who can work himself into being a depth outside cornerback for the Bills down the line.

His impressive 40-yard dash time would have ranked in the top-10 of the of the 2020 combine. Wildgoose (5'11/197) also posted a 10-yard split of 1.49 seconds, which is just a tick behind Jeff Okudah’s cornerback combine leading time of 1.47 seconds last season. The Wisconsin defensive back rounded out his testing numbers with a 120-inch broad jump, seven-second three-cone drill, 36-vertical and benched 225 pounds 11 times. His excellent testing numbers could vault the Badgers’ DB into Day 2 consideration

Getting Wildgoose (5'11/197) back ahead of Saturday’s showdown in Evanston is big news for the Badgers, who blew out Michigan last weekend. The junior defensive back, who started seven games in 2019, accounted for three tackles (1.0 for loss) in Wisconsin’s season-opening win over Illinois. Per Big Ten rules, any player that tests positive for COVID-19 has to quarantine for 21 days before being allowed to return to play.

Wildgoose (5'11/197) was listed as a starter on Wisconsin’s depth chart ahead of this past weekend’s win at Minnesota, but he ultimately did not play in the game. The sophomore cornerback has accounted for 18 total tackles (3.0 for loss) and one interception this season. Semar Melvin would likely start opposite Faion Hicks if Wildgoose is unable to go against the Buckeyes.

Wildgoose (5'11/193) appeared in ten games for the Badgers in 2018, starting seven, and he spent time at both corner and nickel back. While the sophomore didn’t tally any interceptions, he did lead Wisconsin with seven pass breakups to go along with 29 total tackles and two fumble recoveries. HC Paul Chryst’s team doesn’t lack for depth in the secondary heading into 2019. But given his production once moved into the starting lineup and his positional versatility, Wildgoose stands to see a lot of playing time if he can continue to progress as he did once moved into the starting lineup last season.