Season Review for the Badgers

It's that time of year where the casual fan like me ends the season, and when the NFL draft and college recruiting people take over.  As for me, I know the impact those things have on my teams, but I choose to not follow you until you commit to Wisconsin or get drafted by the Packers, and then do my research.  Anyways, the Badgers have had a great season, one much better than all of you predicted, and now it is time for me to grade the position groups on what they accomplished, and where they are heading into the future.  

As for the season as a whole, I'll give it a B+.  If you're confused about why just a B, I predicted the Badgers to go 10-2 in June, so my expectations were much higher than the average reporter.  They also won their bowl game against a team, that albeit was undefeated, that they should have defeated.  I give them the "plus" mark because I picked Iowa to win the West despite a 10-2 Wisconsin, and also because the Badgers made the Cotton Bowl instead of the Capital One Bowl or Outback Bowl.  Had they won the Big Ten, made the Rose Bowl or Playoff, the season would have been an A.  So now, here are the position grades, and where to look to in the future.

QUARTERBACKS C-
Anytime you have a duo of quarterbacks playing multiple meaningful games, it usually means there is a problem.  While the Badgers passers weren't the most turnover prone, they still made us fans reminisce about Joel Stave at times, which really is a problem.  Senior Bart Houston and freshman Alex Hornibrook both had there moments, and were both benched at some point in the season.  As far as what the future holds, Bart Houston is out the door, so right now we are waiting on the commitment of a graduate transfer quarterback out of Notre Dame, Malik Zaire.  Should he come to Wisconsin, the job is his.  Otherwise, Hornibrook is the favorite over to-be redshirt freshman Kare Lyles, but Hornibrook didn't do enough to guarantee himself a job.

RUNNING BACK/FULL BACKS B+
Once again, the running game was the majority of the offense, and Corey Clement had a much better year than last season.  He struggled early, but really came on strong late in the season.  Dare Ogunbowale, Bradrick Shaw and Taiwan Deal were all serviceable, but Shaw may have been who stood out the most.  With the graduations of Clement and Ogunbowale, Shaw tops the depth chart at this point, with Deal as a very good number two.  Transfer RB Chris James is also going to be in the mix.  As far as fullbacks go, Alec Ingold and Austin Ramesh both had good seasons, and both return next year.  Leon Jacobs moved back to linebacker after the injuries, and will graduate this spring as well.

WIDE RECEIVERS C+
The receivers were more of jet sweep ball carriers at times, and Jazz Peavy and Quintez Cephus were highly effective.  Peavy had a breakout season, and Robert Wheelwright was able to put up decent numbers.  Sometimes it's more of a matter of who throws you the football, so it's hard to accurately judge this position.  As far as the future goes, Wheelwright and Reggie Love are graduating, so Peavy is the number one receiver.  Once again, the race for a second threat is on, and the group of Cephus, George Rushing and AJ Taylor are in front.

TIGHT ENDS B
Troy Fumagalli was the best offensive threat that was not a running back, and his performance in the Cotton Bowl showed Badger fans who the real number one receiver might be next season.  Eric Steffes and Kyle Penniston were both good blockers as well, and both found the end zone as backups.  I'd say the future of the tight end in Wisconsin is as bright as ever, with Fumagalli and Penniston leading the way again.  Steffes graduates, so expect the frontrunners to replace him are sophomore Zander Neuville or Barry Alvarez's grandson, incoming recruit Jake Ferguson.

OFFENSIVE LINE B-
When Dan Voltz went down with his injury, it could have caused a lot of problems for the Badgers.  But this group stayed really consistent, and following the lead of the outstanding left tackle Ryan Ramczyk, this group did pretty well.  Unless Ramczyk goes pro, this group will be returning everybody for next season, and likely the year after as they are mostly freshman and sophomores.  If Ramczyk leaves, the battle will be lead by Jacob Maxwell and Brett Connors to take his place, and expect the foursome of LG Micah Kapoi, C Michael Dieter, RG Beau Benzschawel and RT David Edwards to be virtual locks at their positions.  OG Kayden Lyles is the only four star recruit at this point for the Badgers, so he might be in the mix too.

DEFENSIVE LINE A
It's always great when you return an entirety of an above average position group for the following season, and that's what will be happening for the Badgers in 2017.  Olive Sagapolu, Chikwe Obasih, Connor Sheehy and Alec James form a dangerous group of defensive linemen, and they should be the strength of the defense heading into next season.  They all battled injuries, but when they played, they had their moments too.  It also allowed guys like Garrett Rand and Billy Hirschfield experience, and expect them to have a bigger role next season too.

LINEBACKERS A+
Unfortunately for this group, the same can't be said about everybody returning.  Starting outside linebacker TJ Watt declared for the NFL Draft, and his opposite starter Vince Biegel graduates as well.  The good news is all of the inside linebackers return, including TJ Edwards, and some more return from injury like Chris Orr and Jack Cichy.  Leon Jacobs, who was moved back from fullback due to the injuries, graduates, but everybody else is back.  Expect Cichy to move outside, as he has experience there, and Orr and Edwards in the middle with Ryan Connelly as their main backup.  Outside of Garrett Dooley, the rest of the outside linebackers are freshmen, and he and Zack Baun are the favorites to start opposite Cichy.  

SECONDARY A-
D'Cota Dixon, Sojourn Shelton and Leo Musso were a very solid big three in the secondary, and all made numerous impact plays.  Unfortunately for us fans, Shelton and Musso are moving on, leaving Dixon alone as the unquestioned leader in the secondary.  Derrick Tindal returns as the other corner opposite Shelton, and the group of Natrell Jamerson, Titus Booker and Caesar Williams are going to be fighting to replace him.  The others should see plenty of action as well.  As far as safeties go, Dixon is one, and it will be a battle between Arrington Farrar, Joe Ferguson and Keelon Brookins for the other spot.  Farrar is the youngest and most experienced, so expect him to be the favorite.

Overall, this group was special this year, and the returnees have the ability to continue what this group started.  The Badgers will be in a much more advantageous position to start off next season as far as Playoff voting is concerned, and with an easier schedule, they should start out as no less than a top 15 team.  I'd say they'll probably be in a position between 8 and 11, and favored to once again, win the Big Ten West.