Wisconsin Football: Projected 2-deep depth chart for 2017
The Wisconsin football team is just a few weeks from kicking off their 2017 season on Sept. 1. What will the depth chart look like come opening day?
Week one of preseason training camps have come and gone and things are heating up with position battles for every team. The same is true for the Wisconsin Badgers, who will have many holes to fill from a year ago with more than enough qualified players to fill the gaps. While some positions may be solidified already, many spots are up for grabs as we inch closer to week one and the season opener versus Utah State.
Head coach Paul Chryst will have a couple players in from his Pittsburgh days ready to make an immediate impact, while the return of some key players will hold a veteran presence for a wave of young guys who will likely step in and be ready to contribute on a much higher responsibility.
There are big expectations clouding over Madison this year, fresh off a Cotton Bowl victory and a near Big Ten championship and College Football Playoff berth. As the month of September is vast approaching, we take a look at the Badgers and their projected two-deep depth chart heading into the 2017 college football season.
Offensive Line
Starting tackles: David Edwards (LT), Patrick Kasl (RT)
Backups: David Moorman, Jason Maxwell
Perhaps the biggest question mark of the Badgers’ offense this year comes at the tackle position. A very young and inexperienced core of players, Wisconsin enters the preseason training camp with a wide open race on the offensive line.
Redshirt sophomore David Edwards holds a strong likelihood to grab one of the spots, whereas young guys Patrick Kasl and David Moorman will likely battle for the additional tackle position. Junior big guy Jason Maxwell provides a solid choice as someone with experience if the others cannot gear up for the season opener.
Starting center: Michael Deiter
Backup: Brett Connors
Michael Deiter enters the 2017 as one of the scarce veteran players on the offensive line, much less the entire offense. Deiter was named a 2017 captain by his teammates and coaches and will be a huge foundation for quarterback Alex Hornibrook and company this season.
Brett Connors will likely be the backup at the center position, but do not be surprised if he ends up vying for another offensive line position as he has the capability to be place almost anywhere.
Starting guards: Jon Dietzen (LG), Beau Benzschawel (RG)
Backups: Micah Kapoi, David Moorman
While the tackle positions have a lot of uncertainties heading into the 2017 season, the guard spots are less in question as Jon Dietzen and Beau Benzschawel are almost a guarantee when it comes to these spots.
Micah Kapoi is an interesting name to watch out for, though, as the junior was used heavily at the end of last season- specifically the Big Ten Championship and could fill in somewhere on the offensive line on and off throughout the season.