Wisconsin Football: Predicting the Depth Chart Heading into Fall Camp

Wisconsin has won double-digit games three years in a row and has appeared in the BCS Rose bowl the last two seasons. I'm sure the Badgers would love to take that next step and possibly compete for a national championship.

In order to do so, Wisconsin will have to replace a lot, as they only return five starters on the offensive side of the ball, but they do have pieces to build around. Montee Ball is returning for his senior year, as well as six starters on defense. This is a team talented enough to return to the Big Ten Championship and defend last year’s title.

With college football just weeks away from kicking off, here is what the 2012 Wisconsin Badgers depth chart should look like.

Quarterback

Starter: Danny O’Brien, Junior

Backup: Joel Stave, Freshman

The quarterback position is far from settled, but O'Brien has to be the favorite going into fall camp. He is a transfer from Maryland, who should be much better off with more talent around him. In two seasons at Maryland, O'Brien threw for over 4,000 yards and 29 touchdowns.

Running Back

Starter: Montee Ball, Senior

Backup: James White, Junior

Do we really need to talk about Ball? The guy who rushed for over 1,900 yards really needs no introduction. I just hope that he is fully recovered from his recent incident by the time the season kicks off.

Receivers

Starter: Jared Abbrederis, Junior

Backup: Isaiah Williams, Sophomore

Abbrederis is arguably the best receiver in the Big Ten, as he led the Badgers last season with 933 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. He is also a big factor on special teams.

Starter: Jeff Duckworth, Junior 

Backup: Chase Hammond, Sophomore

Duckworth caught 15 passes last season for 230 yards. With the lack of experience at the position, bigger things will be expected from the junior receiver in 2012. 

Starter: Jacob Pedersen, Junior 

Backup: Brian Wozniak, Junior

Pedersen will look to once again be a big factor in the passing game. The 6'4" tight end caught 30 passes last year for 356 yards and eight touchdowns.

Offensive Line

Left Tackle

Starter: Ricky Wagner, Senior

Backup: Jonathan Coon, Sophomore

Wagner has spent one season at right tackle and played all of last season on the left side. The Outland Trophy candidate will continue to protect the blindside of the quarterback in 2012.

Left Guard

Starter: Ryan Groy, Junior

Backup: Ray Ball, Freshman

Groy is a versatile player who has played nearly every position on the offensive line. He started four games last season, including playing left guard during the Big Ten Championship Game. 

Center

Starter: Travis Frederick, Junior

Backup: Dan Voltz, Freshman

Frederick made the second-team All-Big Ten last season, playing both the center and left guard position. Heading into 2012, he is a candidate for both the Rimington Trophy and Outland Trophy.

Right Guard

Starter: Robert Burge, Senior

Backup: Kyle Costigan, Junior

Burge played in 13 games last season, but spent most of his time on special teams. He will likely earn a starting role with the Badgers in 2012, who need to replace three starters on this unit.

Right Tackle

Starter: Rob Havenstein, Sophomore

Backup: Tyler Marz, Freshman

Havenstein only started one game last season, but saw a lot of playing time at right tackle. This is the position he will hold down in 2012.

Defensive Line

Starter: Brendan Kelly, Senior

Backup: Tyler Dippel, Junior

Kelly played in every game last season and started in four. He finished the year with 35 tackles and three sacks.

Starter: Beau Allen, Junior 

Backup: Warren Herring, Junior

Allen has played in every game since he stepped on campus. He finished second on the team last season with four sacks.

Starter: Ethan Hemer, Junior 

Backup: Bryce Gilbert, Sophomore

Hemer is a former walk-on, who started every game last season at the defensive tackle position. He finished the year with 34 tackles and one sack.

Starter: David Gilbert, Junior 

Backup: Pat Muldoon, Junior

Gilbert is an experienced lineman who missed the majority of the 2011 season with a foot injury. He has been rehabbing throughout the offseason and is expected to be back on the field for the Badgers in 2012.

Linebackers

Starter: A.J. Fenton, Junior

Backup: Ethan Armstrong, Junior

Fenton played in 13 games last season, spending the majority of the time on special teams coverage.

Starter: Chris Borland, Junior 

Backup: Marcus Trotter, Sophomore

Borland was a third-team All-American, finishing second on the team with 143 tackles and 19 tackles for loss. 

Starter: Mike Taylor, Senior 

Backup: Conor O'Neill, Junior

Taylor led the Badgers in tackles with 150 and received first-team All-Big Ten honors.

Defensive Backs

Cornerback

Starter: Marcus Cromartie, Senior

Backup: Peniel Jean, Sophomore

Cromartie started 13 games last season at cornerback, finishing with 47 tackles and three pass deflections. 

Safety

Starter: Shelton Johnson, Senior

Backup: Michael Trotter, Sophomore

Johnson has played in 26 games over the last two seasons and finished fourth on the team in tackles with 54. 

Safety

Starter: Dezmen Southward, Junior

Backup: Michael Caputo, Freshman

Southward will be expected to grow up quickly at the safety position. He has played in 27 games throughout his career, but only started three.

Cornerback

Starter: Devin Smith, Senior

Backup: Devin Gaulden, Sophomore

Smith will once again be the starting corner for Wisconsin after missing the majority of the 2011 season with a foot injury. When healthy, he has the potential to be one of the better players at his position in this entire conference.

Specialists

Kicker

Starter:  Kyle French, Sophomore

Backup: Jack Russell, Freshman

Replacing Philip Welch won't be easy, but French does have a little bit of experience kicking for the Badgers. Last season, he made three of his five field-goal attempts, and 26 of his 27 extra points.

Punter

Starter: Drew Meyer, Freshman

Backup: Kyle French, Sophomore

Meyer is a redshirt freshman walk-on, who looked like a solid candidate for the punting position in the spring. He averaged a little over 40 yards per punt during his high school days.