Wisconsin Football: Badgers in position to make College Football Playoff push

Defense

It is true there might be some growing pains in the Badgers’ defense at first, specifically at linebacker and secondary positions- but fortunately for the team they are returning two key veterans that will help make the new faces’ transitions all that much smoother.

Wisconsin will be without three starting secondary pieces, all of which who are pursuing their professional careers in the NFL. The lone returner is redshirt senior D’Cota Dixon in the safety position. Even with his veteran presence and proven success on the field, the Badgers will hope that his injury issues do not follow him into 2018. At the corner position, it is likely that sophomore Dontye Carriere-Williams will take on one of the starting roles, but the other side of that position is up for grabs, with a lot of young guys fighting for that opportunity.

At the linebacker position, which is key for this team due to the fact that they run a 3-4 scheme, returning starter T.J. Edwards is likely to be on every opposing team’s film study. Edwards was second on the team last season in total tackles and solo tackles and had two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble on his resume.

Joining him will be the team’s returning leader Ryan Connelly– who was first in total tackles, and fourth on the team in sacks. Despite these two leading the front, a person to keep an eye on is Andrew Van Ginkel– who came on at the end of the year and could prove to be another key piece in that ever-so-important linebacker core.