Badgers have three candidates for the No. 4 spot at inside linebacker

MADISON – Despite the loss of fifth-year senior Jack Cichy, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in camp, Wisconsin should enter the 2017 season with three experienced inside linebackers.

Redshirt junior T.J. Edwards has started 25 games and played in 26.

Redshirt junior Ryan Connelly has started eight games and played in 26.  

Sophomore Chris Orr has started seven games and played in 11.

But who will be ready to contribute in case a member of that trio goes down?

The top three candidates appear to be junior Arrington Farrar, redshirt freshman Mike Maskalunas and sophomore Griffin Grady.

Maskalunas, a walk-on from Long Grove, Ill., played on the scout last season. 

Grady played mostly on special teams last season and recorded a total of four tackles but missed time in camp because of illness.

Farrar was a reserve safety last season and was moved to linebacker in the spring.

Farrar, 6-foot-2 and 237 pounds, was a touted recruit from Atlanta. 

“He has accepted to it,” inside linebackers coach Bob Bostad said of the position change. “You could go through a period of time where a guy doesn’t believe in that change. But I think he jumped right in.”

Nevertheless, Farrar still isn’t completely comfortable playing a new position and closer to the line of scrimmage. 

“Sometimes he feels great and sees it and is very reactive,” defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard said. “And there are other times … he kind of gets hung up. 

“Every rep for him is great because it is a learning experience.”

Toiling anonymously: The play of left tackle Michael Deiter, who moved outside after starting a combined 27 games at center/left guard in his first two seasons, has been scrutinized from the first day of camp.

Meanwhile, right tackle David Edwards has continued working to anchor that side of the line.

The redshirt sophomore moved to tackle from tight end in the spring of 2016 and started the final seven games last season at right tackle.

UW offensive coordinator/line coach Joe Rudolph believes Edwards (6-7 and 315) will be better this season.

“The thing that is remarkable to me is where he’s at right now compared to where he was a year ago,” Rudolph said. “That is surprising to me. 

“He works on it. He spends a lot of time studying the game and working on little things.”