Wisconsin football opponent preview: Miami (OH) RedHawks
Here's what you need to know about the Badgers' Week 1 opponent, the Miami (OH) RedHawks.
The Wisconsin football team kicks off its 2025 campaign this Thursday under the lights of Camp Randall Stadium when it takes on the visiting Miami (OH) RedHawks.
Wisconsin Football Week 1 Preview: Miami (OH) RedHawks
The RedHawks are coming off a successful 2024 campaign, where they went 9-5 overall and made an appearance in the MAC Championship Game after going 7-1 in conference play. The MAC runners-up went on to defeat Colorado State in the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl, 43-17.
Opponent Overview
Team Name: Miami (OH) RedHawks
Team Record: (2024) 9-4 overall; 7-1 conference (MAC)
Head Coach: Chuck Martin (2014-2025; 65-67 overall record)
Offensive Scouting Report
Key Players:
Quarterback: DeQuan Finn (7th yr.)
2024 stats (transfer from Baylor): 307 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
DeQaun Finn was a big name in the transfer portal a season ago, coming off a career season at Toledo, where he threw for 2,657 yards, 22 touchdowns, and nine interceptions during his junior season. He eventually transferred to Baylor but wasn’t able to win the starting job for the Bears, appearing in just three games. He transferred to Miami (OH) for his seventh and final season.
Running Backs: Kenny Tracy (6th yr.); Jordan Brunson (RS-Sr.)
Kenny Tracy: missed the 2024 season with an injury
Joran Brunson 2024 stats: 299 rushing yards, 4 TD
The running back room is largely unproven. Their leading rushers from a season ago, Keyon Mozee and Kevin Davis, have both graduated and are out of the program. Tracy is listed as the RedHawks’ top running back on the team’s Week 1 depth chart.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends: (WRs) Brady Simmons (RS-Jr.), Kam Perry (RS-Jr.), Deion Colzie (RS-Sr.), (TE) Brian Shane (RS-Sr.)
Brady Simmons (transfer from Indiana) 2024 stats: 1 reception, 6 yards
Kam Perry 2024 stats: 10 receptions, 166 yards
Deion Colzie (transfer from Notre Dame) 2024 stats: 5 receptions, 41 yards, 1 TD
Brian Shane 2024 stats: 1 reception, 12 yards
Like the running back group, the receiver/tight end corps is relatively inexperienced. The RedHawks brought in a pair of transfers from Indiana and Notre Dame to reinforce their receiving corps, but neither Simmons nor Colzie comes in with a lot of game experience. Tight end Brian Shane hasn’t been featured in the passing game much in the past, either.
Defensive Scouting Report
Key Players:
Defensive Line: DE Adam Trick (RS-Jr.), DL Roosevelt Andrews (RS-So.), DL Nasir Washington (RS-Sr.)
Adam Trick 2024 stats: 37 tackles, 6 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, 1 INT
Roosevelt Andrews 2024 stats: 6 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 0.5 sacks
Nasir Washington 2024 stats: 31 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 3 pass deflections
The defensive line remains mostly intact from last season. The unit played a big part in allowing just 137.1 yards per game on the ground, the 15th-fewest in the country. Nasir Washington was the 16th-best run defender in the country, according to PFF, with an elite 86.1 grade. The Miami (OH) defense is a solid unit, and the defensive line is a big part of that.
Linebackers: Corban Hondru (RS-Sr.), Oscar McWood (RS-Sr.)
Corban Hondru 2024 stats: 70 tackles, 4 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, 3 INT
Oscar McWood 2024 stats: 51 tackles, 6 tackles for a loss, 0.5 sacks
The linebacking duo of Hondru and McWood provides the RedHawks with an experienced and senior-laden unit. Both players played in all 14 games for the team in 2024 and combined for 121 tackles. In 2024, Hondru snagged three interceptions, tied for the most on the team. McWood, on the other hand, was more effective in the pass rush. In limited snaps, he graded out as an above-average pass rusher according to PFF with a grade of 73.6, the second-best on the team.
Secondary: Silas Walters (RS-Sr.) Luke Evans (RS-So.), Eli Blakely (RS-Sr.),
Silas Walters 2024 stats: 95 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss
Eli Blakely 2024 stats: 89 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 INT
Luke Evan 2024 stats: 31 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss
The secondary is also an experienced group. Walters and Blakely were both in the top four on the team in tackles in 2024. This isn’t a group that necessarily produces a lot of turnovers, but it is solid in coverage. Walters finished with an elite 87.4 grade in coverage, according to PFF.
Overall Takeaways
This isn’t going to be your typical warm-up game against an FCS opponent. Even the Badgers’ non-conference schedule is a challenge this year.
The new offense for the Wisconsin football team is not going to have a cupcake matchup to start the season. The idea that the running game will be a featured aspect of the new offensive scheme will be challenged. The RedHawks will lean on their experienced defense and dynamic quarterback to try to pull an upset over the Badgers to open the 2025 season.
Last season, the Badgers came out flat in their opening non-conference games. Wisconsin needs to come out hot and with some urgency to gain some momentum heading into their difficult schedule. Beating a solid MAC team and showing this team is headed in the right direction is what Wisconsin football fans will be looking for.
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