Wisconsin Football: 5 reasons why Badgers will stink in 2017

4. Several high-profile defensive departure could affect unit in 2017

At the same time that the offense is still trying to get past the training-wheels stage of its development, Wisconsin needs to reboot at several key positions on the defense. The biggest loss is T.J. Watt, the outside linebacker and team leader in sacks last year. Watt was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Vince Biegel, another outside linebacker, was a fourth-round selection of the Green Bay Packers.

Sojourn Shelton, the Badgers cornerback who tied for second on the team in interceptions last year, is now an Arizona Cardinal after signing as an undrafted free agent. Leo Musso, a starting safety on the top Power Five secondary in the nation last year, is another graduated player who currently remains unsigned. The Badgers at least have all six of their two-deep on the defensive line back from 2016.

But new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard has his hands full rebuilding the linebacking corps and the secondary. There are several players on the roster who are going to be thrown into the fire and asked to take on bigger roles this season. The offense isn’t likely to give a ton of relief on the scoreboard. Thus, for the Badgers to have any shot at the Big Ten, the defense will have to remain among the best in college football. That’s a lot to ask of a rebuilding unit.