BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer

MADISON, Wis. — After getting some snaps and carries at fullback, Jackson Acker got some snaps and carries at tailback. By practice's end, he was rotating freely between spots. All by design. All in a day's work for a hybrid. Whether blocking or running, he has shown to be a versatile offensive piece.

"That's kind of what I'm trying to be right now," said Acker, a 232-pound redshirt freshman. "Just be available for what they need me for. If they need me at tailback, I can play it. If they need me at fullback … (pause) … Obviously some of my fullback needs a little work. I've just started playing this."

This? This would be his orientation to a new position and the 19-year-old Acker admitted, "It's a little bit of a learning process, but I'm enjoying this" before reiterating, "I just hope I can be useful to the team. I try to get in as much as I can at both spots. The more snaps I take, the more experience I have."

That extended to a post-practice technique drill for special teams where he's well down the depth chart on the punting unit. Nonetheless, he said, "I'm still working on doing everything so they can use me wherever." His goal is to get on the field by whatever means. "That's why I'm here."

Here is home. Acker grew up in Madison. As a prep, he starred in Verona. Hometown USA. After Saturday's workout, he was greeted by one of his youth league coaches — triggering this flashback from Acker, "I remember I played right guard when I played for him. That's how long ago it was."

There was a weight limit back then preventing him from running with the rock.

Acker's girlfriend and her parents were also in attendance Saturday for the 12th of 15 spring practices at the McClain Center. So was Acker's mother, Darcy, a Wisconsin alum who had to leave early for her job at UW Hospital. There has been no bigger role model in his life.

"A lot of people asked me why I stayed so close to home," Acker said. "But my mom is my rock. She was a huge part of why I wanted to come here in the first place. I knew I wanted to stay local. I grew up watching Badger football."

Another flashback. Recounting his recruitment, he said, "The day I got the offer (from UW), it was the second-to-last day my sophomore year. I committed that same day. I know Iowa was looking at me just a little before that. But I kind of lost interest through the recruiting process. It wasn't my thing."

The Badgers moved aggressively on Acker even though they didn't have much to go on statistically — 84 rushes for 528 yards — from his sophomore season on the Verona varsity. It was assistant coach Chris Haering who convinced Acker to attend the Badgers' summer camp in early June of 2019.

"I was supposed to talk to the track coach before I went to the football camp," said Acker, who had begun to turn heads with his ability to throw the discus and shot put. "I was just planning on doing track (in college). Later that day at camp, they offered me.

"Football scholarship or track?" he said, weighing the choice. "I've got to go with football."

•  •  •  •

Late last June, Acker was the clear-cut favorite to win the discus event at the WIAA Division I state track and field meet in La Crosse. During the regional competition, he had unleased a personal-best throw of 207 feet, 6 inches. It was the third time that he had topped 200 feet.

Despite rainy conditions, Acker did not disappoint. While falling short of breaking the meet record — held by Verona's Luke Sullivan (193-3 in 1993) — Acker still won the state title in the discus (183-9) by 14 feet over the field.

It was particularly fulfilling since the 2020 meet had been wiped out by COVID. Even more satisfying for Acker was that he also won the state title in the shot put (57-2 3/4), which he conceded "was a little surprising" since he was the No. 2 seed behind Kimberly's Quinten Wynn, an Auburn track recruit.

Between throws, Acker anchored Verona's 400-meter relay team to a sixth-place finish. (Last May, he ran 10.8 in the 100 meters.) All in all, he hoped to make a statement at state before joining his Wisconsin football teammates, who were already in the midst of summer conditioning. And he did.

Acker hasn't touched a discus or shot put since La Crosse. On Saturday, he was asked if he has considered joining the UW track team following spring ball, which wraps up at the end of the week, and he responded, "We were talking about that earlier before I knew how time consuming all of this was.

"It would have been nice to do both and see how far I really could have gone with track.

"As of right now, my full attention is football."

Just the same, the track background factored into his early gridiron training and Acker said, "The biggest thing is just being explosive with the throws, especially the shot put, and working that fast twitch. Doing the 4x100, the speed and running form were definitely a big part that helped my football."

During his short time on campus, Acker has gotten to know Ron Dayne, who set the New Jersey state record in the discus (216-11) and won the shot put at the Penn Relays before enrolling at Wisconsin. Dayne, of course, went on to a Hall of Fame career and won the 1999 Heisman, along with having his No. 33 retired.

"I've seen him around here and there, like at my barber, and spoken to him — I've also played against some of his kids in other sports," said Acker, who listed Melvin Gordon and Jonathan Taylor as his favorite contemporary Badger tailbacks. "I would come to games," he said, "and seeing (Taylor) in person was really cool."

Last week, Acker got to meet Bradie Ewing, who was at practice with three of his young boys. Ewing played fullback and wore No. 34 for the Badgers (2008-11). Mason Stokke also played fullback and wore No. 34 through the 2020 season. Acker has made the connection since he's wearing No. 34.

As it is, Wisconsin running backs coach Al Johnson has compared Acker's skill set to a No. 45. That was Alec Ingold's number at Wisconsin. As a freshman, Ingold made the transition from linebacker (Acker was initially projected as a potential defender) to tailback. As a sophomore, he went to fullback.

It has paid dividends. This offseason, Miami signed Ingold to a two-year deal worth $7.5 million.

"Run blocking is the biggest thing I'm getting used to, but I do enjoy it," Acker said of his conversion to fullback. "It's going from hitting the holes to actually making the block and sticking on the guy. I know what I'm supposed to do. The physical aspect of fullback is what I'm still getting used to."

Last season, Acker saw action in two games. He rushed six times for 34 yards (fittingly). On his first collegiate touch at Rutgers, he made one cut behind a block from his tight end Jack Eschenbach, got another block from flanker Jordan DiBenedetto and outraced the safety to the end zone.

The 18-yard touchdown put the Badgers up 52-3 in the third quarter of what was a rout of the Scarlet Knights. But it still had plenty of meaning to Acker, who confided, "That was an eye-opening experience for me — actually being on the field and then scoring. That was just crazy.

"It felt like it all came together," he then reflected. "Coming here. Staying local. And it felt good to just be able to do that (score on his first carry). It felt great. I'm hoping for many more in the future."

Head coach Paul Chryst spoke to the UW's fullback tradition/legacy. And Acker's credentials.

"We've been spoiled … and all have been a little bit different type of fullbacks," Chryst said. "We look at Jackson and you see a guy who's truly willing and wanting to contribute. He's got strength. He's got power. He's got speed.

"Now, he has got to get a ton of reps to learn the position. It's never the same (in execution). You can call the same play versus the same defensive look, but it's going to play out differently each time, and that's what he needs."

A week ago, the running backs room was shaken with the sad news that former assistant coach Gary Brown had passed away. He was 52. Brown had been in the program for less than a year — after making the jump from the NFL to the collegiate ranks — but he left a lasting mark on everyone.

"He was a great guy," Acker said. "I didn't know him for very long, but he brought an awesome energy to this team and everyone loved him. He brightened everyone's day. I know he and Braelon (Allen) were pretty close and it was pretty hard on Braelon."

Although Brown had been battling health issues for years, he remained upbeat, something Acker respected.

"He always had a positive attitude," Acker said. "One of the things he'd say was, 'Every day is a gift.' When he would speak to the team, he'd give some heartfelt messages like, 'Treat every day like it's your last.'"

As such, Acker has taken nothing for granted here. Especially since here is home.