Spring practice is in the books, and that means we can begin to assess what transpired over the course of those 15 practice sessions. Some position battles have been solidified, while others will remain in flux until fall camp opens this August.
This week on the Big Ten blog, we'll be taking a look at each team and what we've learned. Up first: Wisconsin.
1. Wisconsin's QB race is far from over.
Nobody thought coach Paul Chryst would decide on a starting quarterback for 2016 by the end of spring. But the decision could prove to be even tougher than anticipated. Fifth-year senior Bart Houston appeared to be the strongest candidate for the job early in spring, particularly based on his 15 games of college experience. Meanwhile, redshirt freshman Alex Hornibrook struggled to limit turnovers through the first few weeks of spring practice.
But Hornibrook really turned it on over the final couple of weeks, and his spring game performance showed just how much he has grown in a short period of time. Hornibrook completed 4-of-8 passes for 138 yards with two touchdowns. Three of his completions went for at least 35 yards, and he demonstrated great touch on his deep passes. Houston was 7-of-13 for 73 yards and didn't have a singular "wow" moment. With fall camp beginning in August, and the season opener Sept. 3 against an incredibly talented LSU team, the coaching staff would love to determine its QB situation sooner rather than later.
2. The running game should return to form.
Last year was an anomaly when it comes to the Badgers' rushing attack. Star tailback Corey Clement suffered a sports-hernia injury in the season opener, while backups Dare Ogunbowale and Taiwan Deal were unexpectedly elevated to bigger roles. And the offensive line was so inexperienced that it started four redshirt freshmen in one game. As a result, Wisconsin finished without a 1,000-yard rusher for the first time in 11 years and ranked 94th nationally in rushing yards per game.
This season, there is a renewed optimism around the program. Clement opted to return for his senior season and is now fully healthy. Ogunbowale provides versatility and is the best pass catcher in the backfield. Deal is a punishing tailback that has garnered effusive praise from running-backs coach John Settle, who called him "a totally different player" compared to a year ago. Settle believes his running backs have a chance to be "scary," and with a more mature offensive line, he could be right. Ryan Ramczyk, a Division III transfer, is already penciled in as the starting left tackle. Michael Deiter can play center or guard, and senior Dan Voltz's return from an ACL injury could bolster the line even more. Expect to see old-school Wisconsin football on the ground in the fall.
3. The linebacker unit could be special.
Wisconsin lost Big Ten linebacker of the year Joe Schobert, who was selected Saturday with the first pick in the fourth round of the NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns. Most teams would prepare for a drop-off in production, but the Badgers truly believe they can be equally effective in their linebacker group. T.J. Watt has been tasked with replacing Schobert -- a decision made before spring practice even began. He'll pair with Vince Biegel to form a solid pass-rushing duo. There was some thought Jack Cichy could have filled in for Schobert, but coaches opted to keep him inside. That means there are three players -- Cichy, T.J. Edwards and Chris Orr -- vying for two starting inside-linebacker spots. All three will see significant time. It's no wonder, then, why our Big Ten blog picked Wisconsin as having the best linebackers in the league earlier this spring.
There are still unanswered questions about what, exactly, the defense will look like under new coordinator Justin Wilcox -- though players insist there are far more similarities than differences when compared to the previous scheme. Plus, Wisconsin will be replacing three starters in the secondary. But with such a strong linebacker group, the Badgers have a good place to build their defense around in 2016.