The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1265378
THE WOLVERINE 2020 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 131 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE Wisconsin bounced back in 2019 after a disappointing — by its standards — 2018 sea- son in which head coach Paul Chryst's team went 8-5. By winning the Big Ten West (for the third time in four seasons) and appearing in the Rose Bowl, the Badgers showed why they've been the class of their division in recent years. The question now is, can Wisconsin — one of the top models of consistency in all of col- lege football — sustain the success it had last year even after losing such integral pieces of the puzzle? It won't be easy to replace running back Jonathan Taylor, who eclipsed the 2,000-yard mark on the ground last year and scored 26 total touchdowns. During his three seasons in Madison, he racked up 6,174 rushing yards and 55 scores, and won the Doak Walker Award for the nation's best running back in each of his last two campaigns. The Badgers won't be able to have just one back be his replacement, it must be by com- mittee. Senior Garrett Groshek and redshirt sophomore Nakia Watson will tote the rock quite a bit, with younger rushers mixing in as well. The running back stable isn't what it was when Taylor was in the room, but it's a capable group, especially if the offensive line plays up to the Badgers' standard. The trenches were where Wisconsin bruised and battered Michigan's outmanned front seven en route to a 35-14 beatdown at Camp Ran- dall last September. It'll be a veteran group, even though just two starters return. Fifth-year senior left tackle Cole Van Lanen and redshirt junior right guard Logan Bruss (who is expected to slide inside from right tackle) remain while others fill in around them. That Wisconsin front line will likely be protecting senior quarterback Jack Coan, who is expected to fend off former Rivals.com four-star recruit Graham Mertz, a redshirt freshman, for the job, at least to begin the season. Coan surely benefited from having a strong run game to lean on last year but was productive. He threw for 2,727 yards and 18 touchdowns while completing 69.6 percent of his passes. He'll need several to break out as pass catchers, especially after the graduation of top receiver Quintez Cephus. On the other side of the ball, it will be just about the same group as a year ago for highly regarded defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, with nine returning starters. His unit gave up just 16.9 points per game, which ranked 10th nationally, and finished fourth in the land for total defense, allowing only 287.1 yards per game. The biggest loss is linebacker Zack Baun, who was all over the field in 2019, totaling 19.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks while becoming a first-team All-Big Ten performer. Fellow linebacker Chris Orr (14.0 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks in 2019) also graduated. Junior inside linebacker Jack Sanborn will become the heart and soul of Wisconsin's defense this fall, coming off of a breakout sea- son in which he notched 80 tackles, 9.0 stops for loss, 5.5 sacks and three interceptions. But the strength of the unit will be what is in front of and behind Sanborn — the defen- sive line and the secondary, both led by fifth- year seniors (four in total). Defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk (5.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks) and defensive tackle Garrett Rand (3.0 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack) will anchor a three-man starting group on the line, while safety Eric Burrell (12 passes broken up and three interceptions) and cornerback Caesar Williams (12 passes broken up and one in- terception) look to be steady on the back end. Outside of a late September to early Octo- ber stretch in which Wisconsin takes on U-M, Notre Dame and Minnesota, the Badgers have a schedule on the lighter end, and could be a College Football Playoff contender if they win at least two out of those three. At the very least, they're the favorites to win the West di- vision and once again appear in Indianapolis for a shot at the Big Ten crown. Notes Senior quarterback Jack Coan's completion percentage of 69.6 ranked seventh nationally in 2019 … The Badgers ran for 359 yards and punched in five rushing touchdowns against U-M last season … Redshirt junior tight end Jake Ferguson will be a top receiving target this fall after finishing second on the team in receiving yards (407) last season. ❑ Despite Key Departures, Badgers Are Still Big Ten West Favorites 2020 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2019 Result Sept. 4 Indiana — Sept. 12 Southern Illinois — Sept. 19 Appalachian State — Sept. 26 at Michigan W, 35-14 Oct. 3 vs. Notre Dame* — Oct. 10 Minnesota W, 38-17 Oct. 24 at Maryland — Oct. 31 Illinois L, 24-23 Nov. 7 Northwestern^ W, 24-15 Nov. 14 at Purdue W, 45-24 Nov. 21 Nebraska W, 37-21 Nov. 28 at Iowa W, 24-22 * at Lambeau Field; Green Bay, Wis. ^ at Wrigley Field; Chicago PLAYERS TO WATCH Offense: Cole Van Lanen, Sr., LT The 6-5, 306-pounder was tabbed first- team All-Big Ten in 2019 … Initially declared for the 2020 NFL Draft before eventually announcing a return for his se- nior season … Helped lead an offensive line that gave up just 20 sacks in 2019, which was the 23rd fewest in the country. Defense: Jack Sanborn, Jr., LB His 80 total tackles were the most on the team in 2019 … Also broke up six passes, forced one fumble and recovered one … One of 42 on the Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list to begin this season — the award is given to the top defensive player in college football. Redshirt junior tight end Jake Ferguson is the Badgers' top returning receiver, and has 863 re- ceiving yards and six touchdowns in his career. PHOTO COURTESY WISCONSIN ATHLETICS WISCONSIN BADGERS • SEPT. 26 • GAME 4 QUICK FACTS Al l -Ti m e S e r i e s : M i c h i g a n l e a d s 51-16-1 First Meeting: U-M 10, Wisconsin 6 (Oct. 15, 1892 at Ann Arbor) Last Meeting: Wisconsin 35, U-M 14 (Sept. 21, 2019 at Madison) Head Coach: Paul Chryst, 52-16 at Wisconsin (5th year) and 71-35 overall (8th year) 2019 In Review: 10-4, 7-2 Big Ten (1st West) Final 2019 Ranking: 11th in the Associated Press and 13th in the coaches' poll Returning Starters: 17 (6 offense, 9 defense, 2 spe - cialists) Last Bowl Appearance: 2019 (vs. Oregon in the Rose Bowl, L 28-27) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Jack Coan (2,727 yards, 18 TD, 5 INT) Rushing: Nakia Watson (331 yards, 2 TD) Receiving: Jake Ferguson (407 yards, 2 TD) Tackles: Jack Sanborn (80) Sacks: Jack Sanborn (5.5) Interceptions: Sanborn and Eric Burrell (3)