There is a lot of uncertainty with the Wisconsin football team this year, especially regarding the depth chart. Who emerges as the clear starters for Luke Fickell? The transfer portal and Wisconsin's woeful last few seasons have only added to the uncertainty. There are literally position battles all over the roster. It's hard to find one single room that is clear and certain. Even the quarterback, it's hard to know exactly who's getting second and third team reps.
With all that said, here are the top-5 position battles to pay attention to in fall camp.
1. Offensive Line
This may be the battle that everyone is closely watching, even if it's not the one that is the most wide open. For this room, it is the make-or-break position group for the season. If the offensive line can't block, throw in the towel, and let's help Fickell pack up his house. That won't be the case, as Eric Mateos is not only the right guy to lead the room, but he has a bunch of monsters in the room. Players who are ready to compete and prove they are the right guys to carry the torch of OL-U.
Last month, we put out an article with the starting line prediction for week 1. Not much of the thinking has changed since then, and won't until fall camp.
2. Wide receiver
The wide receiver room is wild to look at. It's full of talent, but it's all basically unfulfilled talent to this point. It's a room with a lot of former 4-star players who have yet to reach that ceiling. There's also a few players that immediately jump to mind: Eugene Hilton Jr., Tyrell Henry, Chris Brooks Jr. Because each were part of the team last year.
Though Fickell went out and added talent from the portal in Malachi Coleman, Jaylon Domingeaux, Zion Kearney, and Shamar Rigby. The top of the depth chart is legit an open competition, and the receivers who get the opening snaps will come from whoever emerges in fall camp.
3. Corner
The cornerback room may actually be the most open competition of all the rooms. While Fickell went out and grabbed a couple of former starters, it's hard to predict exactly how it will all shake out. It's also a young position group that may need some guidance as they settle into Big Ten experience. Look for Javan Robinson and Eric Fletcher Jr. to be the players that emerge, but don't sleep on Bryce West and Cai Bates.
4. Edge
There are 12 OLBs listed on the roster, and besides maybe two or three, they are all names Wisconsin fans are keeping an eye on to explode this season. Is this the year Tyreese Fearbry or Sebastian Cheeks finally gets it going? Or what about true sophomore Nicolas Clayton, who had limited playing time as a true freshman. Justus Boone from the SEC may end up being a factor, or it could even be the freakish athlete Liam Danitz. Keep an eye on this position battle.
5. Tight End
You know you are a die-hard Wisconsin fan if you can name even a single tight end on the roster this year. That's not a great thing. It's partly because the most likely candidates for the starting tight ends are transfers. Jacob Harris and Ryan Schwendeman are the expected starters for Fickell, but there's also Grant Stec and Niziyi Davis who could emerge. Don't sleep on true freshman Jack Sievers either.
Other battles are for backup or rotational depth, or maybe a final spot. Think of the linebacker position that has two sure starters, Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano. The third spot is a bit up for grabs with a few good choices like Jon Jon Kamara, Taylor Schaefer, and Aaron Witt.
There's also the battle for the backup running back behind Abu Sama III. That really could go almost any direction. It's hard to know who ends up getting the second and third most reps behind Sama. However, at the end of the day, the above five position battles are the biggest ones to watch in fall camp.
Add us as a preferred source on Google