2018 Wisconsin Badgers Football Preview
Opening Statement: If there was going to be a season in which Wisconsin not only won the Big 10 West, but won the conference title game away from Ohio State, this would be the season to do it. Wisconsin has one of the most talented rosters in the nation returning, and has a schedule that could easily be managed into a Big 10 title with a seat at the playoff table having their name on it. Wisconsin is loaded up on both sides of the football, and now is the time to make their mark, and make a run at a national title.
Breakdown Offense: The Badgers scored 33.8 points per game last fall, while passing for 192.1 yards per game, and rushing for 222.93 yards per game. The Badgers are never going to blow you away with the pass, as that is not who they are, but they will pound the football and beat you to death in the trenches, and things should be no different this fall.
Alex Hornibrook is back at QB, and that comes with mixed emotions. He is not a game winner, but is a game manager. If you depend on him too much, he will let you down. If you let him manage the game, and make smart, cohesive (if not conservative) decisions, he will work out just fine. He passed for a respectable 2644 yards with 25 TDs last season, but still managed to toss 15 INTs. That has to drop. Jack Coan is back as the primary backup, but hardly saw the field a year ago.
Jonathon Taylor had one of the all-time great freshman seasons in college football history last season, as he rushed for 1977 yards and 13 scores, while averaging 6.61 yards per carry. He averaged 141 yards rushing per game, and could be even better in 2018. Chris James took over as the RB2 in the spring, but Bradrick Shaw is still available as the RB3 as well. Alec INgold returns as the starting FB.
Quentez Cephus should be back in time for the season opener at WR, but that has not been entirely confirmed as of yet. AJ Taylor will return and start, and the two combined for 61 receptions last fall. Danny Davis, Kendrick Pryor, and Adam Crumholz will be looking for work as well at WR.
Troy Fumagalli is gone at TE, and that is a big spot to fill this fall. Kyle Penniston, who caught one TD pass last fall, should move up into the starting job this season. Zander Neuville could find some reps as well.
David Edwards is slated to start at RT, while Patrick Kasi should be his primary understudy there. Beau Benzachawel is slated to be back at RG, with Micah Kapoi backing him up. Tyler Biadasz is back at C, with Brett Connors backing up. John Dietzen should be playing on Sundays sometime soon, and is at LG, while Jason Erdmann backs him up. Michael Deiter rounds things off at LT, with Cole Van Lanen back at reserve for what should be the best line in the nation.
Breakdown Defense: Wisconsin dominated on defense in 2017, allowing just 13.9 points per game. They allowed 163 yards passing and and just 98 yards rushing per game.
They do have some issues to work out up front this season, as they lose five members of the front seven. Alec James and Connor Sheehy are gone from the line. Isaiah Lowedermilk is back at DE as a sophomore after a learning curve season as a freshman, and big things are expected from him. Aaron Vopal should be the primary backup behind him. Garrett Rand is slated in as the other starter at DE, with Billy Hirschfield set up as his backup. Olive Sagapolu could be one of the best NTs in the nation, and will anchor the young line. Rand and Hirschfield could also back him up inside, while Bryson Williams also looks for work there as well.
Losses were heavy at LB as well, with Leon Jacobs, Garrett Dooley, and Jack Cichy all leaving. Depth from last season should come into play this fall, but Ryan Connelly does return after recording 11 TFLs last season. He will be backed up by Griffin Grady inside. TJ Edwards will continue his battle with Chris Orr at the other ILB spot as we head to fall camp, although Edwards should be the clear starter after recording 11 TFLs. Orr was active as a reserve as a sophomore last fall, and should get more time on the field. Arrington Farrar projects as a backup there as well. Andrew Van Ginkel lines up at OLB once again after recording 10 TFLs last fall. Zach Baun is in a battle at the other OLB spot with Christian Bell, and that battle should carry over well into fall camp. Tyler Johnson provides depth.
Nick Nelson is gone at CB, as is Natrell Jamerson at S, but the Badgers have talent returning. Dontye Carriere-Williams is slated in to start at one CB spot, while Eric Burrell will start at FS. The SS and CB2 spots are wide open as we head into fall camp, with several players coveting those jobs, so stay tuned there.
Breakdown Special Teams: Rafael Gaglianone returns at PK after being one of the most accurate kickers in the nation last fall, after connecting on 16/18 attempts. Zach Hintze returns to back him up.
Anthony Lotti also returns at Punter after averaging 40.02 yards per punt. Connor Allen returns as his primary backup.
AJ Taylor averaged 23.5 yards per KR last season, and will be the primary kick return man once again. Jack Dunn is slated to return punts, replacing Nick Nelson from a year ago.
Final Analysis: Despite some turnover on defense, Wisconsin has the tools and leadership once again to dominate on defense, even if they slide just a bit. This unit should once again be one of the best in the Big 10 and the nation as new players slide into key roles. On offense, the tools are all in place with enormous benefits of having so much big time talent returning. The line may be the best in the nation, and Taylor could be the nation's best back this season, and should be in the Heisman talks. As long as nobody tries to reinvent the wheel with this football team, and health holds, this team could be playing for a national title come January.
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