EARLY BIRD 2008 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2007
WISCONSIN BADGERS
OFFENSE - 9
------RETURNING STARTERS------
DEFENSE - 10
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
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).

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.

RB P.J. Hill
 
CB Jack Ikegwuonu
 
* 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.
 
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 .. ..
 
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 .. ..
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).

 

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