Today is the first story in the series of Big 10 team previews for the 2011 season featuring the Leaders and Legends division. I will be touching on one team from the Big 10 conference in each article, as I break down who is returning, who left, their 2011 schedule and some key reasons to a team’s chances of success this season….Today I will be previewing the Wisconsin Badgers from the Leaders division.
Wisconsin Badgers 2011 Prediction
I have the Badgers winning the National Championship, so to say they’re also winning the Leaders division and Big 10 Conference Title is obvious. Wisconsin is a run-heavy school, built around big, solid and fundamental offensive lineman. The Badgers focus on running backs, tight ends and defense. This may be the first season in team history they have the quarterback situation secured with a top-notch talent. Russell Wilson’s transferring this summer from NC State to Madison has stirred up a great deal of excitement in the Badger community. He is the decisive factor in my decision to pick the Badgers as National Champs in ’11.
Offense
Montae Ball and James White combined to run for over 2,000 yards and score 32 touchdowns last season. With the loss of John Clay to the NFL, it is indeed White and Ball’s backfield. All three Badger backs ran for over 1,000 yards last season, and had at least 15 touchdowns each. Those numbers in themselves are unprecedented for three backs in the Big 10. This isn’t a team in the MAC or Sun Belt Conference either, no offense to schools in those conferences, but this is the Big 10. Montae Ball has lost weight this off-season to make him more elusive, as well as, being able to withstand the grind of the college football season. Whereas, James White has put on weight to make himself a little more powerful, enabling his body to be stronger for later in the season, where he wore down in 2010. The addition of Russell Wilson is really what makes these two backs even more dangerous this season. Wilson can run and throw the ball, as his three years of North Carolina State’s statistics indicate. Wilson is able to keep plays alive with his agility, but also mend a broken play by running with the ball. He may be the first difference maker the Badgers have ever had at the quarterback position. The key loss of specialist David Gilreath will hurt the Wisconsin special teams a bit. Gilreath was an extremely talented returner and wide receiver too. However, with the emergence of Nick Toon last season, the wide receiver position is beyond solid with depth in Madison.
Defense
Linebacker Chris Borland is returning to the fold this season after an injury plagued 2010. After a sensation 2010 season, defensive back Antonio Fenelus is back, as well. Fenelus was a defensive ball-hawk last season, as he solidified an athletic Wisconsin defense. He led the team in interceptions (4) and pass defenses (11), while he was tied for second on the team in fumble recoveries (2). The loss of J.J. Watt to the NFL will prove to be the biggest loss of the off-season. Watt was a game changer at the defensive end position, however Brendan Kelly is a force on the edge if he can remain healthy. Kelly has played just 11 games over his last three seasons, but has showed good signs early this past spring, for the Badgers.
Recruits
Since Barry Alvarez was running the show in Madison, the Badgers have prided themselves on not recruiting the best prospects, but recruiting some of the hardest working ones with huge upside. The type of upside that will enable them to grow physically and mentally as football players over time. Bret Bielema is no different from his predecessor, as he looks to recruit players who have the ability to grow each season. They may not be the four or five-star recruits that other big time schools get, but by the end of their Badger careers, they certainly play like four or five-star athletes.
“We don’t recruit any prima donnas or kids with attitudes. I’m proud that the past two Big 10 freshman of the year have been Badgers.” -Brett Bielema (Chris Mahr, Sports Illustrated)
This year the Badgers top recruit is freshman linebacker Jake Keefer from Baldwin-Woodville High. In high school, Keefer recorded 424 total tackles and 214 solo tackles in his high school career. He was the first recruit in the Wisconsin Badgers 2011 recruiting class. The outside linebacker was also a U.S. Army All-American as a senior.
Schedule
September: UNLV, Oregon State, Northern Illinois (@ Soldier Field), South Dakota
October: Nebraska, Indiana, @ Michigan State, @ Ohio State
November: Purdue, @ Minnesota, @ Illinois, Penn State
It really seems like the Wisconsin season will come down to the two-week stretch in late October when they travel to East Lansing and Columbus for two pivotal match-ups with possible division elites. If the Badgers can take one of two, or both games, their season would be a lock for a BCS game. If this team stays healthy, they may go undefeated with Russell Wilson reminding people of Cam Newton a year earlier when he led his Auburn team on an improbable run. Don’t be surprsised, when this Badger team takes the rest of the nation by surprise. You’ve been warned.
