Several untested players are set to start or play key reserve roles on UW's defense

MADISON – Jim Leonhard’s task of replacing seven starters on Wisconsin’s defense is far from complete and is set to continue through preseason camp this summer.

Yet now that UW has concluded spring practice, Leonhard has a sharper vision of which players will be candidates to take over for the departed veterans along the line, at outside linebacker and in the secondary.

“In the spring you’re just trying to find as many guys you think are physically and mentally ready to help out,” Leonhard said. “That is all we’re trying to evaluate: ‘Who has got a chance to help you in the fall?’ 

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“And obviously there are some guys that with a big summer might get there. They’re close.

“But I think we’ve got a pretty good idea now of who we can start to game plan for. ... I think we definitely have a bigger picture than at the beginning of the spring.”

Here is a look at the potential starters and key reserves next season based on UW’s spring practices, which concluded Friday evening.

Defensive line

UW appears to have five viable options at this point. 

Nose tackle Olive Sagapolu, the most experienced member of the unit, will anchor a three-man front. He hopes improvement as a pass-rusher will allow him to get more work when UW deploys a 2-4-5 in obvious passing situations or against spread teams.

Garrett Rand and Isaiahh Loudermilk should be the starting ends. Rand is more comfortable on the edge after playing nose tackle his first two seasons. Loudermilk showed promise as a redshirt freshman last season but his development was hampered by knee injuries. Loudermilk was held out of practice Thursday and Friday with a left leg injury.

The top reserves are Aaron Vopal at end and freshman Bryson Williams at nose tackle. Freshman Isaiah Mullens, who was listed at 6 foot 6 and 280 pounds on signing day and is set to join the team this summer, appears physically ready to get work at end.

Linebacker

When outside linebackers T.J. Watt and Vince Biegel left for the NFL after the 2016 season, UW was able to insert seniors Garret Dooley and Leon Jacobs into the starting lineup.

The Badgers won’t be as fortunate in ’18. 

Andrew Van Ginkel, who gradually developed into a playmaker against the run and pass last season, is set to start at one spot. But his partner on the outside is to be determined and whoever wins the job will lack significant experience.

Zack Baun, who missed the 2017 season because of a broken left foot, missed the final six practices this spring after tweaking the same foot. The injury doesn’t appear to be serious and Baun should be ready for summer workouts. However, the standout from Brown Deer High School needs all the work he can get. 

Menasha's Tyler Johnson, who joined the program as a walk-on, made a handful of big plays in part-time duty last season. He could start or be the top reserve this season. 

After that, the staff has a pool of players who are complete unknowns. That group includes Arrington Farrar, Noah Burks, Christian Bell and Izayah Green-May.

The inside positions should be set with T.J. Edwards, Ryan Connelly and Chris Orr filling the top three slots. 

Secondary

With safety D’Cota Dixon (shoulder) out all spring and cornerback Dontye Carriere-Williams (hernia) limited for most of the spring, Leonhard evaluated just about every defensive back on the roster and experimented with multiple combinations.

It appears that the top four safeties will be Dixon, Scott Nelson, Patrick Johnson and Eric Burrell. 

Cornerbacks Madison Cone, Faion Hicks and Caesar Williams made plays throughout the spring and appear to be in good position to battle for playing time along with Carriere-Williams.

Offensive line

Michael Deiter, David Edwards and Jon Dietzen should be fully recovered from off-season surgery/injuries in time for camp. 

Their absence in the spring allowed Joe Rudolph, UW’s offensive coordinator/line coach, to give plenty of work to the many talented but inexperienced young linemen on the roster. 

Left tackle Cole Van Lanen and right tackle Patrick Kasl probably gained the most with Deiter and Edwards watching from the sideline.

Rudolph will start the best five linemen, which means Deiter likely will move inside after playing left tackle last season. 

One possible starting five would feature Van Lanen at left tackle, Deiter at left guard, Tyler Biadasz at center, Beau Benzschawel at right guard and Edwards at right tackle. 

If Rudolph doesn’t believe Van Lanen is ready to start, he could move Edwards to left tackle and insert Kasl at right tackle. Or, he could use Kasl at left tackle and keep Edwards on the right side. 

Edwards practiced at left tackle for most of last spring before missing the final week because of an ankle injury. He then started every game at right tackle. Kasl replaced an injured Edwards with 10 minutes, 45 seconds left in the third quarter of the Orange Bowl and played well in the 34-24 victory.

No matter which five players start, it is clear UW has developed quality depth across the board. 

Wide receiver

With Danny Davis (abdominal) out all spring, Quintez Cephus (leg) out for most of the spring and Kendric Pryor (leg) missing several practices, freshmen Aron Cruickshank and Taj Mustapha got extra work.

Both players have the physical tools needed to contribute, but Cruickshank appears to be further along and will get a long look in camp. 

UW is set at the position with Cephus, Davis, Pryor and A.J. Taylor back from last season, but Cruickshank’s mix of speed, quickness and toughness give him a chance to play immediately.

Tight end

The absence of Zander Neuville (knee) has given tight ends coach Mickey Turner time to evaluate several young prospects. 

The most promising member of that group is Jake Ferguson, who will be a redshirt freshman in the fall. 

Ferguson has a long way to go to become a consistent blocker, but his receiving skills are obvious to anyone who has watched practice this spring. The standout from Madison Memorial High School will see the field next season.

Turner wants fourth-year junior Kyle Penniston, who performed well this spring, to be more consistent overall next season. Neuville, who is expected to be ready for summer workouts, will be needed for his blocking and leadership. 

Running back

Jonathan Taylor wants to be a factor as a receiver next season and worked diligently on that part of his game this spring. However, it must be noted Taylor doesn’t appear to catch the ball cleanly or consistently. He has time to continue improving in that area but it is something to monitor.

Taiwan Deal was performing at a high level until suffering a hamstring injury on April 12. Chris James closed the spring sidelined because of an ankle injury and Bradrick Shaw (knee) probably won’t be ready for the opener. 

Deal could find a spot in the rotation if he can avoid injury and the staff loves incoming freshman Nakia Watson.

Alec Ingold is set to replace Austin Ramesh at fullback. Coy Wanner, a 6-3, 240-pounder who played quarterback at Green Bay Preble High School, appears capable of backing up Ingold. 

Quarterback

Alex Hornibrook, who has 23 starts on his UW résumé, is the clear No. 1. Hornibrook’s outstanding play in the Orange Bowl boosted his confidence and he believes he should play that well every game. Under the tutelage of assistant coach Jon Budmayr, Hornibrook has worked hard in the off-season on improving his footwork in and out of the pocket. 

Jack Coan, who played in six games last season, should again be the No. 2 quarterback. After getting less work than freshman Danny Vanden Boom during the spring, Kare’ Lyles announced via Twitter on Friday night he had decided to leave the program. Lyles, who will be a redshirt sophomore, played behind Coan last season. 

Specialists

UW has experience at kicker (Rafael Gaglianone) and punter (Anthony Lotti), two outstanding kickoff specialists (Zach Hintze and P.J. Rosowski) and a dependable snapper (Adam Bay).

Perhaps the No. 1 goal of the staff will be to bolster the return game. The competition to handle punt and kickoff returns will be held in camp, but Cruickshank is one player to watch.