Its the day before a holiday, and I'm pretty much the only one in my office. That means I'm looking at football stuff. So I decided to take a look at Wisconsin's probable Depth Chart. This could change of course due to injury or other players surprising in Fall Camp, but there are a few things to gauge here:
1. Wisconsin always has one of the OLDEST depth charts in the country. They redshirt almost everyone, and encounter very little turnover. That means they can rely on a lot of older and experienced players. These guys can also allow them to compete longer with younger more talented players. A 19 year-old top 100 player will likely always run circles around a less talented player, but if that less talented dude is a 23 year-old man, he's probably going to get hit hard, right in the balls.
2. Wisconsin benefits IMMENSELY from their own "200 mile radius." Wisconsin is a much bigger state from a population standpoint, and Madison lays virtually half way between two massive US cities in Chicago and Minneapolis. Its no wonder Sean Callahan was told by a coach at the FNL that he saw a lot MORE "local talent" at Wisconsin's camp event than he saw in Lincoln. The population difference is substantial.
3. Wisconsin doesn't need to throw the ball much, and it shows with their overall WR talent. Its arguably the least talented unit in the Big Ten, and that's with Jazz Peavy, a pretty good player.
OFFENSE:
WR – Quintez Cephus – 5 career starts, only 4 catches in 2016 – 3rd year player – FROM GEORGIA
WR – Jazz Peavy – 14 career Starts, 63 catches for 903 Yards, 5 TD’s – 5th year player – FROM WISCONSIN
TE – Troy Fumagali – 20 career starts, 89 catches for 1080 yards, only 3 TD’s, 5th year player- FROM CHICAGO AREA
LT – David Edwards – 7 career starts, (all at RT) 3rd year player, signed as a 3-Star tight end – 6’7 325 – FROM CHICAGO AREA
LG – Jon Dietzen – 8 career starts – 3rd year in program, former 4-Star – 6’6 340- From Wisconsin
C- Michael Dieter – 27 career starts – Rimington watch list, easily top center in the Big Ten – 6’6 330 – 5th year – From WISCONSIN
RG- Beau Benzschawel – 20 career starts, 2nd Team Big Ten, 6’6 316 – 4th year in program – FROM WISCONSIN
RT – Patrick Kasl – 0 starts, redshirted in 2016 – 3 star in HS, only Power 5 offer beside Wisc, was Vanderbilt. – FROM MINNESOTA
QB – Alex Hornibrook – 9 Career Starts – has only 9 career TD passes. – 4th year in program. – From Philly.
FB – Austin Ramesh – 9 career starts, 3 career TD’s, primarily a blocker – from WISCONSIN
RB – Bradrick Shaw- 1 career start, 457 yards and 5 Td’s as a Freshman. –Big time recruit – 3rd year player. From Hoover, AL
-10 offensive players with starting experience.
- 8 starters come from within 200 miles of Madison, WI.
- Offensive line averages 6’6 321
- Oddly enough, Wisconsin scored 44 offensive TD’s last season, only return 12 TD’s return from a year ago. That's odd because they return A TON OF experience. Fumagali, Peavy, and Shaw will be their offense. Look for AJ Taylor, a sophomore from KC Rockhurst to also see some time at WR. PITT RB transfer, Chris James should also see a lot of time. He was a former 4-Star and racked up almost 700 yards in two seasons at PITT.
DEFENSE:
DE- Conor Sheey – 19 career Starts – All Big Ten HM – 4 Star recruit FROM WISCONSIN – 5th year in program.
NG – Olive Sagapolu – 9 career starts, although missed 8 games due to injury in 2016. Former All- World DT out of Mater Dei HS in California, 3rd year in Program
DE- Chikwe Obisah – 31 Career Starts – HM All Big Ten – Former 4-Star, 5th year in program, from WISCONSIN
OLB – Garret Dooley – 2 career starts, but played in 25 career games. Former 4-Star from the Chicago area, 5th year in program. Had career high 7 tackles and 1 sack vs. Nebraska in 2016, because of course he did.
ILB – Jack Cichy – 11 Career Starts, LOTT Trophy Watch List, All Big Ten HM, Holiday Bowl MVP – Had 15 tackles and 4 tackles for loss vs. Ohio State in 2016. – From WISCONSIN, 5th year player
ILB – TJ Edwards – 25 career starts in 26 career games – One of the few Badgers to start as a freshman. Freshman AA, Cotton Bowl MVP, HM ALL BIG TEN. – 3 Star recruit out of the CHICAGO AREA, 4th year player.
OLB – Zack Baun – 0 Starts. 15 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss as a back up in 2016. Was a 3-Star HS QB recruit with some MAC QB offers. Had over 7000 total yards and 90 TD’s as a HS QB. FROM WISCONSIN, 3rd year player.
CB – Derek Tindal – 21 Career Starts, HM All Big Ten, former 3-Star out of South FLORIDA. 5th year player
SS – D’Cota Dixon – 14 Career Starts, 3rd Team All Big Ten, 3-Star out of Florida, 5th year player, actually a Medical Redshirt player
FS – Natrel Jamerson – 2 Career starts (both as a CB in 2015) – 3 Star out of FL, 4th year player, least experienced starter on defense, but only NON Redshirt.
CB – Lubern Figaro – 11 career Starts, ( all at Safety) – lightly recruited 2 –Star out HS, started as a true freshman in week one vs. BAMA – from Massachusetts. 4th year player
Players of NOTE:
1. Wisconsin always has one of the OLDEST depth charts in the country. They redshirt almost everyone, and encounter very little turnover. That means they can rely on a lot of older and experienced players. These guys can also allow them to compete longer with younger more talented players. A 19 year-old top 100 player will likely always run circles around a less talented player, but if that less talented dude is a 23 year-old man, he's probably going to get hit hard, right in the balls.
2. Wisconsin benefits IMMENSELY from their own "200 mile radius." Wisconsin is a much bigger state from a population standpoint, and Madison lays virtually half way between two massive US cities in Chicago and Minneapolis. Its no wonder Sean Callahan was told by a coach at the FNL that he saw a lot MORE "local talent" at Wisconsin's camp event than he saw in Lincoln. The population difference is substantial.
3. Wisconsin doesn't need to throw the ball much, and it shows with their overall WR talent. Its arguably the least talented unit in the Big Ten, and that's with Jazz Peavy, a pretty good player.
OFFENSE:
WR – Quintez Cephus – 5 career starts, only 4 catches in 2016 – 3rd year player – FROM GEORGIA
WR – Jazz Peavy – 14 career Starts, 63 catches for 903 Yards, 5 TD’s – 5th year player – FROM WISCONSIN
TE – Troy Fumagali – 20 career starts, 89 catches for 1080 yards, only 3 TD’s, 5th year player- FROM CHICAGO AREA
LT – David Edwards – 7 career starts, (all at RT) 3rd year player, signed as a 3-Star tight end – 6’7 325 – FROM CHICAGO AREA
LG – Jon Dietzen – 8 career starts – 3rd year in program, former 4-Star – 6’6 340- From Wisconsin
C- Michael Dieter – 27 career starts – Rimington watch list, easily top center in the Big Ten – 6’6 330 – 5th year – From WISCONSIN
RG- Beau Benzschawel – 20 career starts, 2nd Team Big Ten, 6’6 316 – 4th year in program – FROM WISCONSIN
RT – Patrick Kasl – 0 starts, redshirted in 2016 – 3 star in HS, only Power 5 offer beside Wisc, was Vanderbilt. – FROM MINNESOTA
QB – Alex Hornibrook – 9 Career Starts – has only 9 career TD passes. – 4th year in program. – From Philly.
FB – Austin Ramesh – 9 career starts, 3 career TD’s, primarily a blocker – from WISCONSIN
RB – Bradrick Shaw- 1 career start, 457 yards and 5 Td’s as a Freshman. –Big time recruit – 3rd year player. From Hoover, AL
-10 offensive players with starting experience.
- 8 starters come from within 200 miles of Madison, WI.
- Offensive line averages 6’6 321
- Oddly enough, Wisconsin scored 44 offensive TD’s last season, only return 12 TD’s return from a year ago. That's odd because they return A TON OF experience. Fumagali, Peavy, and Shaw will be their offense. Look for AJ Taylor, a sophomore from KC Rockhurst to also see some time at WR. PITT RB transfer, Chris James should also see a lot of time. He was a former 4-Star and racked up almost 700 yards in two seasons at PITT.
DEFENSE:
DE- Conor Sheey – 19 career Starts – All Big Ten HM – 4 Star recruit FROM WISCONSIN – 5th year in program.
NG – Olive Sagapolu – 9 career starts, although missed 8 games due to injury in 2016. Former All- World DT out of Mater Dei HS in California, 3rd year in Program
DE- Chikwe Obisah – 31 Career Starts – HM All Big Ten – Former 4-Star, 5th year in program, from WISCONSIN
OLB – Garret Dooley – 2 career starts, but played in 25 career games. Former 4-Star from the Chicago area, 5th year in program. Had career high 7 tackles and 1 sack vs. Nebraska in 2016, because of course he did.
ILB – Jack Cichy – 11 Career Starts, LOTT Trophy Watch List, All Big Ten HM, Holiday Bowl MVP – Had 15 tackles and 4 tackles for loss vs. Ohio State in 2016. – From WISCONSIN, 5th year player
ILB – TJ Edwards – 25 career starts in 26 career games – One of the few Badgers to start as a freshman. Freshman AA, Cotton Bowl MVP, HM ALL BIG TEN. – 3 Star recruit out of the CHICAGO AREA, 4th year player.
OLB – Zack Baun – 0 Starts. 15 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss as a back up in 2016. Was a 3-Star HS QB recruit with some MAC QB offers. Had over 7000 total yards and 90 TD’s as a HS QB. FROM WISCONSIN, 3rd year player.
CB – Derek Tindal – 21 Career Starts, HM All Big Ten, former 3-Star out of South FLORIDA. 5th year player
SS – D’Cota Dixon – 14 Career Starts, 3rd Team All Big Ten, 3-Star out of Florida, 5th year player, actually a Medical Redshirt player
FS – Natrel Jamerson – 2 Career starts (both as a CB in 2015) – 3 Star out of FL, 4th year player, least experienced starter on defense, but only NON Redshirt.
CB – Lubern Figaro – 11 career Starts, ( all at Safety) – lightly recruited 2 –Star out HS, started as a true freshman in week one vs. BAMA – from Massachusetts. 4th year player
Players of NOTE:
- OLB Andrew Van Ginkel – the 4-Star stud from IWCC might be the starter by week 2 or 3. Huskers wanted him bad. 2nd string right now.
- Nick Thomas – ILB from IMG Academy visited the Huskers. If you remember he was originally from Concordia, KS, about 90 minutes South of Lincoln. He will be 2nd string this season, and the Huskers might have had a better shot had Riley and staff been around for a while prior to his last season at IMG. The kid grew up down the road, and Bo wasn’t even communicating with him or his family.
- Isaiah Loudermilk – This 6’7 296 DE in the 3-4 was never really on Nebraska’s radar for the class of 2016 despite growing up in a small town in Kansas. He chose Wisconsin over Oklahoma. Again, I don’t think Bo ever even contacted the kid. He’s second string now at Wisconsin. Perhaps the Huskers never had a chance. This kid’s dad played basketball at CREIGHTON.
- Garrett Rand – This 4-Star kid allegedly WANTED a Husker offer… not sure why it didn’t materialize. I could be wrong here, but I thought I remember comments about him being a Husker fan. Needless to say, he’s now #2 on the Wisconsin depth chart in only his Redshirt Freshmen season.
-6 defensive Starters are from 200 miles around Madison.
- Every defensive starter has been in the program at least 3 seasons, and 8 of them have been there for 4+ years.
14 total starters at Wisconsin went to high school within a 4 hour drive of Madison.
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