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Jim Leonhard facing adversity with loss of Jack Cichy

By Taylor Johnson

MADISON, WI - SEPTEMBER 19: General view of action between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Troy Trojans during the first quarter of the college football game at Camp Randall Stadium on September 19, 2015 in Madison, Wisconsin. The Badgers defeated the Trojans 28-3. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
MADISON, WI - SEPTEMBER 19: General view of action between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Troy Trojans during the first quarter of the college football game at Camp Randall Stadium on September 19, 2015 in Madison, Wisconsin. The Badgers defeated the Trojans 28-3. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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On Thursday news came out star lineback Jack Cichy would be lost for the season due to an ACL tear. First year defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard faces his first big test in his new position trying to fill the spot and having his squad still perform as one of the best in the country.

Jim Leonhard certainly had some challenges coming into his new position of defensive coordinator with the Wisconsin Badgers, especially with little coaching experience. He now faces a huge challenge after the news of star linebacker Jack Cichy tearing his ACL and being lost for the season.

Related Story: Wisconsin loses star linebacker Jack Cichy to ACL tear

Cichy was to be the leader of the defensive group heading into the 2017 season. Now he faces the uncertainty of what the future may hold. He knows he will play football again, whether the NCAA grants a medical redshirt so he can play at Wisconsin one more year or at the next level.

But what faces Leonhard right now is replacing Cichy. Injuries to any star player at any group is tough to deal with. With Wisconsin, however, they are deep enough at the linebacker position that they should have some talented players to step in.

First in line would be Chris Orr who lost his season last year to knee injury as well. He was along side T.J. Edwards taking first-team reps during practice on Thursday. Ryan Connelly would also be another viable option for Leonhard. But he’s currently out with a leg injury.

This will also provide younger guys to step up and learn quickly to fill the void. Arrington Farrar, Griffin Grady, and Mike Maskalunas are three guys that head coach Paul Chryst mentioned who will have a great opportunity ahead of them.

"They’ve got to take advantage of that. We don’t know when Ryan will be back. Certainly not a season-(ending) type of an injury, but as far as camp. So those will be great opportunities for that group."

For Leonhard, this will be an opportunity on how to deal with adversity losing a star player. It’s the biggest challenge he has been faced with in his short coaching career. But he has Coach Chryst to lean on. And he has one of the deepest, most-talented group in the program.