Wisconsin Football: Three questions facing Jim Leonhard

What will be done with the defensive line?

The Wisconsin defense has prided itself on its ability to maintain success despite losing productive players.  No other position group will test this idea as much as the defensive line will.  The Badgers lose three great defensive ends in Alec James, Chikwe Obasih, and Conor Sheehy.  Those three seniors provided impactful playing time since they were redshirt freshmen.  Replacing their production from a year ago will require creativity and some unproven players to step up.

Senior nose tackle Olive Sagapolu is the only certainty for Leonhard’s defensive line.  Jim Leonhard will have his hands full in deciding who and how the defensive line will be utilized.  Even before fall camp begins Leonhard will be without Garrett Rand, who suffered an Achilles injury that will sideline him for the upcoming season.  Rand was supposed to be penciled as a starter this year after playing out of position at nose tackle early in his career.

To make things worse, clear starter Isaiahh Loudermilk will most likely miss the start of fall camp and maybe even the first couple weeks of the season.  Loudermilk played meaningful snaps last year and made plenty of plays in the Orange Bowl.  His return before conference play will be critical to the success of the defense.  Both injuries will be monitored closely as the season approaches.

Candidates

Even with the injuries, there are bodies available to contribute.  How much can they contribute will be the question.  Redshirt juniors Kraig Howe and David Pfaff are the elders of this reserve group but have seen limited playing time in their careers.  Redshirt sophomore Keldric Preston has upside but still needs to put on some weight in order to play on the line.  Aaron Vopal, a redshirt freshman, impressed many during spring ball and was expected to play even before the injuries to Rand and Loudermilk.  Incoming freshman Isaiah Mullens has the size to play right away but who knows if he will be able to take on Big Ten offensive linemen this year.

Leonhard and defensive line coach Inoke Breckterfield will need to develop these guys quickly.  Leonhard will go to a nickel package (features only two down linemen) to counter spread offenses and to offset the uncertainty along the defensive line.  Rumors are circling that offensive lineman Kayden Lyles may switch to defense in order to help fill the void.  Nothing has been made official, however.