The Wisconsin Badgers will take on…the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday at noon in the annual spring game, and with that the 2016 spring football camp will come to an end. Will it also mean the end of some of the most prominent position battles?
Injuries and other factors may play a role in the future of some battles, but as we gave you 5 players to watch for in the spring game, here are 5 positions to keep your eye on either in person or live on BTN…
Offensive Line
Wisconsin struggled to put together a consistent performance up front in its offense last season. Between injuries, inconsistent play and youth things just never seemed to click for UW. That has supposedly changed, even with the departure of long-time starter Tyler Marz.
Chalk a lot of it up to some unique circumstances and youth growing up. A one-time D3 player, Ryan Ramczyk, will take over for Marz at left tackle and some observers have stated that he’s actually been UW’s best offensive lineman this spring.
That’s high praise considering breakout performances from the likes of redshirt freshman Jon Dietzen and redshirt sophomore Michael Dieter. The duo has been so good that senior center Dan Voltz has considered a move to guard once he’s healthy in the fall, allowing Dieter to stay at center and to give Dietzen a run at left guard.
UW won’t display a ton of depth in the spring game thanks to some injuries, but the group has been light years better than it was even back in the Holiday Bowl. Watching to see the new-look O-line is going to be key.
Quarterback
Of course all eyes are going to be on this position, they usually are regardless of who is behind center. However, with Joel Stave gone and very little game experience for senior Bart Houston, there is a lot to prove at this position.
Can Houston finally be consistent enough to earn the starting position, something he has struggled with throughout his career? It’s been a concern again this spring, as Houston goes from solid, to great, to bad on a seemingly practice-by-practice scenario.
Unfortunately, the same can be said of redshirt freshman Alex Hornibrook. However, that should be expected given his limited role last year and his overall youth. The good news here is that Hornibrook has become more and more consistent as spring has worn on.
Reports out of camp in the past week and a half indicate that the redshirt freshman has gained all the ground needed on Houston and may be passing him by.
The spring game won’t make or break this battle, but performing well can certainly give one the momentum needed to win this job come the fall.
Safety
Losing both starters at such a key position undoubtedly hurts, but there are few positions on the UW roster as stacked as safety. That has played out this spring, as there have been legit battles happening for both starting spots.
Sometimes those battles are including three or four players as well, and that is what makes this a position worth watching in the spring game. While cornerbacks have been all the talk, the safeties have been real stars throughout spring ball.
Senior Leo Musso looks like a potential starter after flashing crazy potential throughout his career, but he is battling it out hard with sophomore Arrington Farrar.
Opposite of Musso is likely D’Cota Dixon, who flashed moments of brilliance last season and has only been more consistent this spring. If there is a breakout star in the secondary, look for Dixon to be on that short list.
Depth comes in the form of not only Farrar, but also names like Joe Ferguson, Lubern Figaro and Keelon Brookins. The latter two have bounced around throughout their careers, but have looked their best at safety this spring.
Let’s just say that new defensive backs coach Jim Leonhard has a nice problem on his hands.
Inside Linebacker
Heading in to last season, this was easily the position that was the biggest worry of the defense. Heading in to this spring, it was more like “how are the coaches going to find playing time for all this talent?”
That’s because a pair of freshman showed out in big ways last season and a sophomore showed he belonged somewhere. Of course, we’re talking about former freshman T.J. Edwards and Chris Orr, along with Jack Cichy.
It appears that Orr has become an absolute monster against the run, repeatedly seen in UW’s backfield throughout the spring. He’s bulked up nicely and been a consistent playmaker, flashing moments that could make people forget at Chris Borland.
Edwards has been consistently good too, as has Cichy and therein lies the problem for Wisconsin’s new defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Justin Wilcox.
This position will give Badgers fans one of the truest “position battles” to watch in the spring game. It just so happens that is a battle with three high-level players duking it out. A rare treat indeed.
Running Back
Speaking of treats…the Badgers faithful in attendance are likely to get one at running back as well. Even with Corey Clement likely to see little to no touches in the spring game, it appears as though two potential stars for the future will be on full display.
The biggest question is if sophomore Taiwan Deal has actually become the No. 2 back behind Clement or not. He’s really changed up his body and done some nice work in understanding what it will take to be a success at UW. It has resulted in a strong showing, as Deal is more powerful and more apt to breaking off big runs this spring.
Another intriguing player for the future has been the biggest surprise addition to the 2015 class, Bradrick Shaw. He may be fourth on the depth chart, but it appears as if running backs coach John Settle loves the potential of this kid.
Over the last few weeks, Shaw has seen his carries increase in practice. No doubt that is a sign of not only potential, but production from the youngster.
We’re likely to see plenty of carries from both of these younger backs on Saturday, and given the fact that Clement and Ogunbowale are gone after this year, it is vital to know the program will be in good hands.
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