Wisconsin once again had a successful season, finishing 2013 with a 9-4 record, but had some tough losses. However, none was worse than the Arizona State clock-debacle. That, along with a couple close losses to Penn State and Ohio State, could have given the Badgers a huge opportunity to play in the B1G title game.
Entering 2014, though they lost big names like James White, Jared Abbrederis and Chris Borland, the Badgers are favored to win the new B1G West division, as they are no longer in the same division as Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, and Penn State. The team will be led by a potent rushing attack and a talented secondary.
Top Newcomers
Jaden Gault, Offensive Tackle-- Gault fits Wisconsin power running game. He plays with a ton of power and aggressiveness. Obviously, he won’t play right away, but he fits in Wisconsin’s scheme moving forward.
D.J. Gillens, Quarterback-- Gillens is a dual-threat quarterback with quick feet and a strong arm. He’s far more dynamic than any quarterback Wisconsin has had in recent years. Gary Anderson does like dual threat players, since he recruited Chuckie Keeton during his time at Utah State.
Top Returning Players
Melvin Gordon, Running Back-- Gordon is one of the top backs in the country. Last season, he averaged an incredible 7.8 yards per carry while rushing for over 1,600 yards and 12 touchdowns. He’s fun to watch and hard to tackle, as whenever he carries the ball, he always seems to end up either out of bounds or in the endzone.
Sojourn Shelton, Cornerback-- Shelton may be small at 5’9”, 172, but he is a ball hawk. He led the team in 2013 with four interceptions and five more passes deflected. He plays physical against bigger receivers and has smooth hips to turn and run.
Positional Breakdown
Quarterback: Stave is the definition of an average quarterback. He doesn’t stand out in any way, but he gets the job done. He is efficient, completing over 60-percent of his passes in 2013, and throwing for 22 touchdowns.
Running Back: Even with James White gone, Wisconsin is incredibly deep at running back. Melvin Gordon is one of the best in the country, and Corey Clement is incredibly talented and will see plenty of snaps this season.
Wide Receiver: Jared Abbrederis moved upstate to Green Bay, so the Badgers will look to replace his production. The team’s current receivers on the roster are very inexperienced, as the leading returning pass catcher Jordan Fredrick only had 10 receptions last season.
Tight End: Jacob Pedersen was the team’s second leading receiver last season, but he’s moved on to the NFL.
Offensive Line: With four returning offensive linemen and 75 total career starts, this is the most experienced unit on the Badgers.
Defensive Line: Warren Herring, one of the team’s sack leaders from last season, will assume Beau Allen’s role at nose tackle. Redshirt freshman Chikwe Obasih will start at one defensive end role and senior Konrad Zagzebski will man the other role.
Linebacker: The heart of the defense from last season, Chris Borland, has moved on, as well as the rest of the linebacking core from last season. The only returning starter, Derek Landisch, will take over as the leader of the front seven. The unit as a whole is much smaller than what many would expect in the B1G, as the heaviest linebacker is only 233 pounds. They could be pushed around in the power running game most of the conference leans on.
Cornerback: Only a handful of starters return on defense, but two of them are at cornerback. Shelton returns as the top cover guy, and Darius Hillary will line up across from him.
Safety: Michael Caputo returns in the secondary, and A.J. Jordan takes over and Leo Musso is projected to take over for Dezmen Southward.
Special Teams: Jack Russell will resume his kicking duties, though after only making nine of his 13 attempts last season, may be pushed by Kyle French if he struggles early. Drew Meyer also returns as the team’s punter.
Biggest Strength
Per usual, Wisconsin’s biggest strength will be their running game. Melvin Gordon and Corey Clement make up a dynamic duo behind an experienced offensive line, that will keep Wisconsin near the top of the rushing ranks, like how they finished eighth nationally in 2013.
Biggest Weakness
While Wisconsin’s running game will be their biggest strength, their passing offense will continue to be average. Stave is not overly impressive, and the Badgers lost their top four pass-catchers from last season, so there will be plenty of inexperience across the board.
Wisconsin’s linebackers could be a weak point. While very athletic and talented, they are very small compared to the size of the offensive linemen throughout the conference. In a league that relies heavily on the running game, the Badgers’ linebackers could get washed out throughout the season.