The Badgers kick off fall camp on Wednesday and Thursday, and it will be the first real chance to see this newly formed team in action. Depth chart projections are hard on a normal basis but much harder on a team half-full of transfers and a roster intentionally built around competition for starting positions. Yet, with only days before camp, here's the best projection of a starting Week 1 depth chart.
There will be a lot of position battles; keep an eye on the offensive line, the wide receivers, corners, defensive line, and even some of the linebackers. Shoot, that's like most of the roster. Well, that's the nature of a 4-win team that turned into aggressive buyers in the transfer portal. Here goes nothing on this depth chart projection.
Offense depth chart before spring camp
Quarterback
QB1: Colton Joseph
QB2: Deuce Adams
QB3: Ryan Hopkins
QB4: Carter Smith
INJ/Return: Danny O'Neil
Hopkins may end up being QB;, keep an eye on that because everything out of spring ball was high on Hopkins.
Running back
RB 1: Abu Sama III
RB 2: Darrion Dupree
RB 3: Bryan Jackson II
Depth: Nate Palmer and JuJu Pope
Walk-on: Harrison Bortolotti and Mason Lane
It gets really interesting at RB3 and under. JuJu Pope is a JUCO player and a former top recruit, who knows how he will slide into this loaded room.
Full back
Starter: Tyler Jansey
Backup: McCoy Smith
Wide Receiver
Starters: Eugene Hilton Jr., Jaylon Domingeaux, Chris Brooks Jr., Tyrell Henry
Backups: Shamar Rigby, Zion Kearney, Malachi Coleman
Depth: Eli Adams, Keeyshawn Tabuteau, Dorsett Stecker, Zion Legree, Kash Brock, Jackson McGohan
Walk-on: Langdon Nordgaard, Mason Kelly
This is maybe the toughest room to figure out, it's full of talent but only the cream will rise to the top.
Tight End
Starters: Jacob Harris, Grant Stec
Backups: Nizyi Davis, Ryan Schwendeman, Jack Sievers
Depth: Emmett Bork, Treve Stoffel, Aydon Fickell
Offensive Line
LT
Starter: PJ Wilkins
Backup: Lucas Simmons
LG:
Starter: Colin Cubberly
Backup: Stylz Blackmon
C:
Starter: Austin Kawecki
Backup: Ryan Cory
RG:
Starter: Emerson Mandell
Backup: Black Cherry
RT:
Starter: Kevin Heywood
Backup: Barrett Nelson
Other depth for the OL: Evan Brown, Cam Clark, Nolan Davenport, Hardy Watts, Peyton Lange, Logan Powell, Michael Roeske, Brady Bekkenhuis, Aiden Dirksen
The offensive line as a unit is vastly better on paper than anything that Wisconsin had last year. It's going to be a room loaded with competition and players fighting for the top spot, but Eric Mateos is only going to start his top dawgs.
Defense depth chart before spring camp
Defensive Line
DT:
Starter rotation: Hammond Russell IV, Junior Poyser, Charles Perkins
Backups: Dillan Johnson, Xavier Ukponu, Jacob Anderson, DeNigel Cooper
Depth: Nolan Vils, Djidjou Bah, Arthur Scott III
EDGE:
Starter rotation: Jayden Loftin, Sebastian Cheeks, Justus Boone, Liam Danitz
Backups: Nicolas Clayton, Tyreese Fearbry, Michael Garner, Sam Lateju, Jaylen Williams
Depth: Ashton Fickell, Yahya Gaad, Evan Van Dyn Hoven, Will McDonald
Linebacker
Starters: Mason Posa, Cooper Catalano, Jon Jon Kamara
Backups: Taylor Schaefer, Aaron Witt, Thomas Heiberger
Depth: Ben Wenzel, Landon Gauthier, Drew Braam
Cornerback
Starters: Javan Robinson, Bryce West, Cai Bates
Backups: Eric Fletcher Jr., Jai'mier Scott
Depth: Carsen Eloms, Donovan Dunmore
Safety
Starters: Marvin Burks Jr., Matthew Jung
Backups: Raphael Dunn, Matthew Traynor, Cairo Skanes, Carson Van Dinter
Depth: Luke Emmerich, Grant Dean, Kah'ni Watts, Will Mikonowicz
Kicker
Starter: Gavin Lahm
Backup: Brady Melum
Punter
Starter: Sean West
Backup: Ethan Tranel
Long Snapper
Starter: Andrew Goodman
Backup: James Roe
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