NCAA Football Preview - Wisconsin Badgers
2007 SEASON IN REVIEW: The Wisconsin Badgers put together a 9-4 campaign in 2007, marking the fourth straight season they've won at least nine games. However, it was a step back from their 12 wins in 2006. The Badgers made it to another January bowl, however they were upended by 12th-ranked Tennessee (21-17) in the Outback Bowl.
Wisconsin climbed to a No. 5 ranking after a 5-0 start. but the euphoria dissipated with back-to-back road losses at Illinois (31-26) and at Penn State (38-7) in October. The Badgers responded from those setbacks by winning four of their final five games, with the only loss coming against top-ranked Ohio State. However, the turnaround ceased on New Year's Day, with Wisconsin turning the ball over on its final drive against the Vols. With that, the Badgers' season which started so promising, ended in disappointment.
2008 ANALYSIS:
OFFENSE: Fifth-year senior Allan Evridge and redshirt junior Dustin Sherer are battling it out to replace Tyler Donovan at quarterback. Evridge, a six-game starter for Kansas State in 2005, has a leg up in terms of experience.
"I don't know when we're going to name a starter,"
head coach Bret Bielema said at media day. "I do know 10 days out from our opener against Akron we'll release a two-deep (depth chart) and have our starter identified by then. If it happens before then, it happens. I'm not in a hurry. I'm anxious to watch those guys compete."
Whoever wins the job will be throwing to a largely unproven group of wideouts, headed by Kyle Jefferson, who caught 26 passes for 412 yards and two touchdowns after becoming a starter at midseason. However, the tight end tandem of Travis Beckum (75 catches, 982 yards, six TDs) and Garrett Graham (30 catches, 328 yards, four TDs) will help offset the youth on the outside.
Recently, running back Lance Smith (429 yards, three TDs) was kicked off the team after getting expelled from a first-offenders program, which he was taking part in after getting charged with battery last summer. However, the backfield is one area the Badgers can afford to lose a guy. Talented tailback P.J. Hill was going to get the majority of the work anyway, after a 1,200- yard, 14-touchdown season. Throw in Zach Brown (568 yards, five TDs) and highly-touted freshman John Clay and the ground game will be a real strength in 2008.
The offensive line is very strong as well and returns four starters, three of whom have been on the top unit together for the past three seasons. The unit is headlined by Second-Team All-Big Ten guard Kraig Urbik (6-6, 330).
DEFENSE: Safety Shane Carter is back after leading the Big Ten with seven interceptions last season. However, injuries have become a major theme for the defense in the offseason. Defensive end Matt Shaughnessy, who earned defensive MVP honors after picking up five sacks and 18 tackles for loss in 2007, broke his leg in the spring. The defensive line's other three returnees also dealt with injuries in the offseason, but all are expected to be ready for the opener. Starting linebackers Jonathan Casillas, DeAndre Levy and Elijah Hodge are all back, although sophomore Culmer St. John is pushing Hodge at middle linebacker. Carter will eventually be joined in the secondary by senior Allen Langford (33 tackles, one INT) and sophomore Aaron Henry (38 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one INT) at the cornerback positions, although both cover guys are recovering from knee injuries suffered last year.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Redshirt freshman Philip Welch is the leading candidate to replace kicker Taylor Mehlhaff, who was the first kicker selected in the 2008 NFL Draft. Welch was a Second-Team All-American kicker in high school. Brad DeBauche is a candidate to become the punter, replacing his older brother Ken. David Gilreath is an explosive returner, and will handle both kick and punt return duties.
OUTLOOK: With 17 starters returning, Wisconsin is poised for big things in 2008. The Badgers have a 14-game home winning streak, second-longest in the nation. They will welcome Ohio State and Penn State to Camp Randall Stadium during back-to-back weeks in early-October, and Illinois comes to town at the end of the month. If they can get through the Illinois game in decent shape, the Badgers have four very winnable games to end their schedule. The quarterback position will be critical to the team's success. If one of the candidates emerges to have a solid season, Wisconsin could make some serious noise in the Big Ten.
