UW’s specialists are battle-tested

Last in a series of nine position previews leading to the opening of Wisconsin's preseason camp on Thursday.

MADISON – Wisconsin has the individual components in place to field some of the more productive specialteams units in the Big Ten in 2018. Consider:

Kicker Rafael Gaglianone, entering his final college season, has played in 43 games at UW. He hit 16 of 18 field-goal attempts (89%) last season and has made 60 of 75 overall (80%).

Gaglianone has made four gamewinning kicks and his field goal total (60) is No. 2 in program history behind Todd Gregoire (65).

In P.J. Rosowski and Zach Hintze, UW has two proven kickoff specialists.

Rosowski, entering his senior season, recorded 51 touchbacks on 79 kickoffs (64.6%) in 2016. He recorded four touchbacks on nine kickoffs in the ’17 opener but suffered a torn quadriceps in his right leg in practice and missed the remainder of the season.

Hintze took over for Rosowski and recorded 54 touchbacks on 79 kickoffs (68.4%).

Junior Anthony Lotti has punted in 26 games in his first two seasons.

Lotti improved his average to 40.0 yards per punt last season from 37.7 as a freshman. He had 12 punts of 50 or more yards last season after recording just two of that distance as a freshman.

He should be able to make another jump this season.

“We’ve got guys that have done it,” UW coach Paul Chryst said. “I like the group that we have.”

He isn’t certain about the return units, however.

UW finished fourth in the Big Ten in punt returns last season with an average of 8.6 yards. Nick Nelson handled all 24 returns, with the highlight a 50-yard scamper for a touchdown against Michigan. The Badgers finished 11th in the Big Ten in punt returns in 2015 (7.3-yard average) and ninth in 2016 (6.8).

UW’s kickoff-return unit generally has failed to provide a boost for the offense in the last three seasons, with one touchdown in 89 returns.

2015: UW averaged 19.8 yards per return, ninth in the Big Ten, with a long return of 98.

2016: UW averaged 19.8 yards, ninth in the Big Ten, with a long of 41.

2017: UW averaged 20.9 yards, eighth in the Big Ten, with a long of 42.

The last time UW returned a kickoff for a touchdown came in the 10th game of the ’15 season, when Natrell Jamerson went untouched for 98 yards in a 31-24 victory at Maryland.

Thirty-one games have passed since Jamerson’s return.

Freshman Aron Cruickshank handled punts well during the spring, though most of the work was done indoors.

Cruickshank could be an effective weapon because of his ability to change directions quickly, accelerate and use his speed in the open field.

UW had few opportunities to work on kickoff returns in the spring because of the inclement weather.

“We’ve got to find some returners,” Chryst said. “The return game can get better and it needs to get better.”

“I think it is a significant change,” Chryst said. “We’ve had some early discussions about strategizing. I think it will certainly have an impact.”