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EARLY
BIRD 2008 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2007 |
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WISCONSIN
BADGERS |
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OFFENSE
- 9 |
------RETURNING
STARTERS------ |
DEFENSE
- 10 |
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KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Tyler Donovan-QB, Luke Swan-WR, Paul Hubbard-WR,
Andy Crooks-TE, Marcus Coleman-C, Taylor Mehlhaff-K |
DEFENSE:
Nick
Hayden-DT, Ben Strickland-CB, Ken DeBauche-P |
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Running
Back / Tight End |
P.J. Hill
looks to get back into the Heisman
Race…if he can stay healthy.
TE Travis Beckum is a two-time
All-American and the team's
leading receiver (73 receptions
in ‘07). |
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Quarterback
/ Special Teams |
All this
team needs is a productive QB
under center. Is Kansas State-transfer
Allan Evridge going to deliver
in his senior year? The Badgers
lose their kicker and punter
– both were All-Big Ten
selections during their Madison
careers. |
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RB
P.J. Hill |
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CB
Jack Ikegwuonu |
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*
DEPTH CHARTS were only designed as a simplistic
gauge for listing players that departed and
players that received the most playing experience
(consistent starters). NationalChamps.net
recognizes the importance of missing personnel
data not listed such as redshirts, transfers,
injuries, incoming recruits, back ups and
alternates. Their coverage will begin with
our full 2008 Preseason Preview due out this
coming spring. |
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WISCONSIN
2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Allan
Evridge-Sr |
.. |
FB |
Chris
Pressley-Sr |
Bill
Rentmeester-Sr |
RB |
P.J.
Hill-Jr |
Zach
Brown-So |
WR |
Kyle
Jefferson-So |
.. |
WR |
Marcus
Randle El-Sr |
.. |
TE |
Travis
Beckum-Sr |
Garrett
Graham-Jr / Mickey Turner-Jr |
OT |
Gabe
Carimi-So |
.. |
OG |
Andy
Kemp-Sr |
John
Moffitt-So |
C |
.. |
.. |
OG |
Kraig
Urbik-Sr |
.. |
OT |
Eric
Vandenhuevel-Sr |
.. |
K |
.. |
.. |
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WISCONSIN
2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Mike
Newkirk-Sr |
Kirk
DeCremer-So |
DT |
Jason
Chapman-Sr |
.. |
DT |
.. |
.. |
DE |
Matt
Shaughnessy-Sr |
.. |
SLB |
DeAndre
Levy-Sr |
.. |
MLB |
Elijah
Hodge-Jr |
Culmer
St. Jean-So |
WLB |
Jonathan
Casillas-Sr |
.. |
CB |
Allen
Langford-Sr |
Aaron
Henry-So |
CB |
Jack
Ikegwuonu-Sr |
.. |
SS |
Aubrey
Pleasant-Jr |
.. |
FS |
Shane
Carter-Jr |
.. |
P |
.. |
.. |
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QUICK
ANALYSIS |
This
past season should have been a banner year
for Wisconsin with all of the veterans they
had returning from a team that went 12-1
the year prior. Well, a nine-win regular
season was pretty good, but still a disappointment.
Now the Badgers still have the same veterans
back at almost every position for yet another
year, except at QB. Tyler Donovan has moved
on, which now means senior KSU-transfer
Allan Evridge will get a shot calling the
signals. Wisconsin has become synonymous
with ‘Running Back University’,
and now junior P.J. Hill looks to build
off of his sensational freshman season of
two years ago. His output was not the same
last fall once hurt, but he still managed
to put up over 1000 yards through ten games.
Backup Zack Brown did a solid job filling
in, and now the Badgers are set with depth
once again in the backfield, which includes
at the all-important FB position. All-American
TE Travis Beckum will lead a talented class
of pass catchers, and the OL should be improved
with four starters returning. The same continuity
holds true for the defense - everybody is
back except for DT Nick Hayden. After their
marginal performance in ’07, placing
a team like this in the preseason rankings
can be difficult - they were given a top
five billing last August but failed to live
up to the hype. But with so much experience
returning once again, coach Bret Bilema's
third year will again be loaded with big
expectations. As already mentioned, all
this team needs is a quality performance
out of their next field general. All the
pieces of the puzzle are in place for a
run at this ever-toughening league crown.
They will hit a rough five game stretch
against top rated conference foes starting
the last weekend of September. If they survive,
this team could be playing after New Years
Day (BCS bound).
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WISCONSIN
2008 SCHEDULE
8-30
AKRON
9-6 MARSHALL
9-13 at Fresno State
9-27 at Michigan
10-4 OHIO STATE
10-11 PENN STATE
10-18 at Iowa
10-25 ILLINOIS
11-1 at Michigan State
11-8 at Indiana
11-15 MINNESOTA
TBA 1 non-conference opponent
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