If there is one big theme of the 2016 season for the Wisconsin Badgers it has been injuries. There hasn’t been a position group that hasn’t been touched by them on either side of the football, and arguably no position has been harder hit than the offensive line.
Just as it appeared the Badgers were getting fully healthy, news broke upon the team arriving at Camp Randall that another starter will be missing for the contest with the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Right Tackle Jacob Maxwell was seen in a walking boot and wasn’t on the team bus as the Badgers arrived to the stadium on Saturday afternoon, according to Badger247.
That means it will be a big time stage and microscope for converted tight end David Edwards. He will make his first career start as the Badgers face a must-win situation in the Big Ten West division race.
It’s not as if Edwards isn’t experienced, playing plenty of snaps as the coaching staff looked to find the chemistry amongst five lineman that was successful earlier this season. He has played in all seven games so far this season actually.
But, with plenty of other position shuffling going on and concerns over the health of both left guards Jon Deitzen and Micah Kapoi, this is the last thing the offensive line needed.
No doubt it will be huge to see how responds to his first starting opportunity of his career, with the Badgers needing steady play from the offensive line in order to beat the Huskers.
Wisconsin had just gotten its run game going with a steady offensive line and a healthy Corey Clement back the last few weeks. That run game has racked up 403 yards over the last two weeks, a full third of the teams total production on the season so far.
Can Edwards seize the opportunity in front of him and make the coaches decision going forward a difficult one? We’ll certainly find out against a very good Huskers front seven.
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