Predicting the Badgers depth chart for 2018 season opener

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Yes, we’re almost to the start of the 2018 season. In fact, come Monday, we’ll know pretty well exactly how the Badgers will line up to face Western Kentucky in the season opener.

We also have been provided key pieces of news over the past two days, with expected starting wide receivers Quintez Cephus and Danny Davis suspended.

Davis will be back following the second game, pending any other information coming to light in the Cephus sexual assault cases.

But, this is all about the opener and how the Badgers will line up. So, let’s take a look at how the depth chart may look when it is released prior to the game.

Offense

Quarterback:


Alex Hornbrook; Jack Coan

Any questions as to Hornibrook’s status as a starter were put to rest quickly this offseason — due in large part to his performance against Miami (FL) in the Orange Bowl. Fall camp was about the backup spot, and Coan rebounded from a so-so spring to easily take claim of the second spot on the roster. UW has to feel it is in good hands with its QB situation overall.

Running Back:


Jonathan Taylor; Taiwan Deal

If there was a surprise this fall, it was the fact that veteran running back Taiwan Deal looked like a new man. Following so many ankle problems, many wondered if he still had it in him to be a big part of the offense. He looked great in camp and running back coach John Settle made it clear that by the end of the open part of camp, Deal was in line for the primary backup role behind Taylor. Speaking of Taylor, he added a much better pass-catching game to his skill set and that has to be terrifying to opponents.

Wide Receiver:


WR1: A.J. Taylor, Jack Dunn
WR2: Kendric Pryor; Adam Krumholtz

With the two biggest stars out of the mix for the opener, you can expect veteran (and underrated performer) A.J. Taylor to take on a bigger role than maybe he was prior to the suspensions. But, UW also will see Kendric Pryor step up, which is something he did a lot of in fall camp.

Don’t sleep on the players behind those two either, as both Dunn and Krumholtz have done good things in fall camp as well. There is plenty of quality production available from this group, just not the star power that was there with Cephus and Davis in the mix.

What will be interesting is what role true freshman Aron Cruickshank will play. Position coach Ted Gilmore has stated Cruickshank has earned a role, but wants to bring him along slowly. Will that plan be sped up (pun intended with Cruickshank) now that they are down a few more bodies in the opening weeks? My guess is we won’t see him in the two-deep but in speciality situations early on this season.

Tight End:


TE1: Kyle Penniston; Jake Ferugson
TE2: Zander Nueville, Luke Benzschawel

It appears as if Penniston will get the first crack as the primary pass-catching tight end this season. But, don’t be surprised to see Jake Ferguson’s talent push the coaching staff to play him more as the season goes along. It’s pretty much steady as she goes at a premium position for the Badgers.

Offensive Line:


LT: Jon Dietzen; Cole Van Lanen
LG: Michael Dieter; Micah Kapoi
C: Tyler Biadsz; Micah Kapoi
RG: Beau Benzschawel; Jason Erdmann
RT: David Edwards; Logan Bruss

Fall camp saw just one real battle along the offensive line, and that came between veteran Jon Dietzen and former U.S. Army All-American Cole Van Lanen. It appears as if offseason hip surgery has allowed Dietzen to get more flexible and helped him win this position battle early on. However, don’t expect this battle to be done just yet. I fully expect both to get snaps with the first team in the opener and the evaluation to continue throughout non-conference play.

Defense

Sagapolu.jpg

MADISON, WI – NOVEMBER 11: Wisconsin Nose Tackle Olive Sagapolu (99) sacks Iowa Hawkeye Quarterback Nate Stanley (4) just inches from the end zone during a Big Ten football game between the University of Wisconsin Badgers and the the University of Iowa Hawkeyes on November 11, 2017, at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, WI. (Photo by Lawrence Iles/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Defensive Line:


DE: Matt Henningsen; Aaron Vopal
NT: Olive Sagapolu; Bryson Williams
DE: Kayden Lyles; David Pfaff

There were a lot of questions to answer in fall camp at defensive line. Few of them actually got answered though, and about the only thing that seems set is nose tackle and Isaiahh Loudermilk not being ready to go for the season opener. As such, I expect we’ll see the rising walk-on Matt Henningsen and converted offensive lineman Kayden Lyles to take on the starting roles. What will be interesting to see will be which names appear just behind him on the list, because there’s been a whole lot of inconsistency from everyone in fall camp.

Linebacker:


OLB: Zack Baun; Tyler Johnson
ILB: T.J. Edwards; Mason Stokke
ILB: Ryan Connelly; Chris Orr
OLB: Andrew Van Ginkel; Christian Bell

Coming in to fall camp, a big question was depth and quality at outside linebacker. Coming out of fall camp, the bigger question seems to be how to find snaps for all those who flashed in camp. Both expected starters Andrew Van Ginkel and Zack Baun were great all camp long and could form a really difficult duo. Alabama transfer Christian Bell also appears in line for a ton of snaps, while there is a lot of potential on the outside in names like Tyler Johnson, Noah Burks and Izayah Green-May as well. It’s the usual suspects on the inside as well.

Secondary


CB: Donyte Carriere-Williams; Deron Harrell
S: D’Cota Dixon; Patrick Johnson
S: Scott Nelson; Eric Burrell
CB: Faion Hicks; Madison Cone

Fall camp showed us that the safety position is loaded to bare, but it also showed us that there is more depth and competition at cornerback than originally thought. We’re guessing that Dontye Carriere-Williams gets the nod in the opener, but he was clearly behind Deron Harrell and Faion Hicks in terms of consistency in camp. So, don’t be surprised to see that cornerback spot flipped on us. Hicks was a revelation in camp and true freshman Donte Burton and sophomore Caesar Williams made late impressions in camp as well and likely are in the mix for that slot cornerback role.

Specialists


K: Collin Larsh; Zach Hintze
P: Anthony Lotti; P.J. Roskowski
PR: Aron Cruickshank; Jack Dunn
KR: Jack Dunn; Cade Green

There weren’t a ton of surprises in fall camp, outside of the fact that Rafael Gaglianone had hip and leg issues creep up thanks to ongoing back issues. He was shut down for a large part of fall camp in the hopes of being ready for the season. We’ll see if his name appears on the depth chart for Week 1, but I expect that won’t happen and we’ll see who won the battle for that role between Larsh and Hintze.

As for the returning gigs, it is almost impossible to know what the coaching staff is thinking at kick returner since every wide receiver is moving up a level for the first few weeks at least. But, there’s also no way you don’t get the speedy Cruickshank on the field with the punt return unit.

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