The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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136 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY RYAN TICE Last season, in Paul Chryst's first year lead‑ ing his alma mater, Wisconsin had to replace star running back Melvin Gordon, who rushed for 2,587 yards in 2014. Corey Clement, who had rushed for 547 yards and seven touchdowns behind Gordon and fel‑ low NFL Draft pick James White as a true freshman and then gained 1,068 yards from scrim‑ mage and 11 touchdowns in 2014, appeared ready to step into the top spot. Injuries and later disci‑ plinary reasons derailed Clement's opportunity — he played in just four games while rushing for 221 yards and five scores — but the Wisconsin running back factory kept churning. Former walk‑on cornerback Dare Ogun‑ bowale became the featured runner and ripped off 819 yards and seven scores, while adding 299 yards and another touchdown through the air. With both he and Clement in their senior campaigns, the Badgers boast a pair of proven 200‑pound runners. And that's not all — in total, they return four of last year's top five ground gainers after the group combined for 1,674 rushing yards and 25 scores. Redshirt sophomore Taiwan Deal (503 rushing yards and six touchdowns) and sophomore fullback Alec Ingold (131 yards and six scores) round out the rushing stable. The Wisconsin offensive line will also pres‑ ent its usual array of big, road‑grading bodies up front with four returning starters, led by All‑ America candidate Dan Voltz at center. The experience in the ground attack should help the team improve on last year's 3.8 yards per carry average — the program's lowest since 2004, which was also the last time they went without a single 1,000‑yard rusher. The biggest offensive loss comes in the form of star wideout Alex Er‑ ickson — who flirted with a 1,000‑yard receiv‑ ing campaign, a rare feat at Wisconsin — but the next four leading pass catchers return. Solid, but not spectacular, quar‑ terback Joel Stave also needs to be replaced. Ogunbowale actually paced the team in recep‑ tions during 2015, but senior wide receiver Rob‑ ert Wheelwright gained 416 yards and had a team‑best four receiving touchdowns on his 32 grabs. In addition, 6‑6 redshirt junior tight end Troy Fumagalli is a big target coming off of a 28‑catch, 313‑yard campaign. Redshirt junior wideout Jazz Peavy will also be looking to help fill the void out wide after his first meaningful action resulted in 20 catches for 268 yards. UW's ground‑oriented formula doesn't work without a strong defense, and they have six returning starters on that side of the ball. Last year, the Badgers led the nation in scor‑ ing defense (13.7 points allowed per game) and ranked second in total defense (268.5 yards given up per contest), but duplicating that effort could be a tall order following the departure of defensive coordinator Dave Aranda (who took the same job at LSU, the team that opens UW's 2016 slate). Fifth‑year senior linebacker Vince Biegel — who notched 66 tackles, 14 stops for loss and eight sacks last year — will lead the unit. The 6‑4, 242‑pounder is a future pro with 33.5 career tackles for loss and 16 sacks. Fellow starting linebackers T.J. Edwards and Chris Orr, both sophomores, also return to the Badgers' strongest position group, while reserve Jack Cichy was productive off the bench, ranking third on the squad with five sacks. That trio combined for 190 tack‑ les, including 16.5 for loss, in 2015. Two starters are back up front, while the sec‑ ondary boasts just one. Chances are, though, Wisconsin's biggest roadblock to the Big Ten Championship Game is not personnel loss — it's the schedule. In addition to the season‑ opening showdown with LSU, a brutal stretch to start Big Ten play — at Michigan State, at Michigan, home against Ohio State and at Iowa in a five‑week period (those four teams went a combined 46‑8 last season) — looms. The expected frontrunners for the West both play Michigan, but Wisconsin draws MSU and OSU in its other two crossover games, while Iowa travels to Penn State and Rutgers (not to mention getting Michigan and Wisconsin at home) — which makes the Hawkeyes the favorite for a December date in Indianapolis. Despite the ambitious slate, the Badgers are almost a sure thing to extend their streak of seven or more wins — which dates back to 2002 — another season. Notes Six of the Badgers' Big Ten games were decided by 11 points or less in 2015; they went 4-2 in those contests … Their bowl game was also a close one — a two-point vic- tory over USC … The program has produced at least one 1,000-yard rusher in 20 of the last 23 seasons … Expected starting quarterback Bart Houston, a senior, has 51 career pass attempts. ❏ Defense And Ground Game Should Keep Badgers In West Division Contention GAME 5 • WISCONSIN • OCT. 1 2016 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2015 Result Sept. 3 vs. LSU* — Sept. 10 Akron — Sept. 17 Georgia State — Sept. 24 at Michigan State — Oct. 1 at Michigan — Oct. 15 Ohio State — Oct. 22 at Iowa L, 10-6 Oct. 29 Nebraska W, 23-21 Nov. 5 at Northwestern L, 13-7 Nov. 12 Illinois W, 24-13 Nov. 19 at Purdue W, 24-7 Nov. 26 Minnesota W, 31-21 * at Green Bay, Wis. QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: U-M leads 49-14-1 First Meeting: U-M 10, UW 6 (Oct. 15, 1892, at Madi- son, Wis.) Last Meeting: UW 48, U-M 28 (Nov. 20, 2010, at Ann Arbor) Head Coach: Paul Chryst, 10-3 at UW (2nd year) and 29-22 (5th year) Off./Def. Systems: Multiple/3-4 2015 In Review: 10-3 overall, 6-2 Big Ten ( T-2nd West) Final 2015 Ranking: No. 21 in Associated Press and coaches' polls Returning Starters: 13 (6 offense, 6 defense, 1 specialist) Last Bowl Appearance: 2015 (Holiday, vs. USC, W 23-21) Big Ten Conference Championships (last): 14 (2012) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Bart Houston (281 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT) Rushing: Dare Ogunbowale (819 yards, 7 TD) Receiving: Robert Wheelwright (416 yards, 4 TD) Tackles: T.J. Edwards (84) Sacks: Vince Biegel (8) Interceptions: Leo Musso (2) PLAYERS TO WATCH Offense: Dare Ogunbowale, 5th-Sr., RB — After the former walk-on switched from cornerback and ran for 193 yards in 2014, the 5-11, 201-pounder broke out last fall … He led the team with 819 rushing yards and eight touch - downs, while ranking second with 36 catches for 299 yards. Defense: T.J. Edwards, R-So., LB — Debuted with a team-best 84 tackles in 2015 … Notched 6.5 tackles for loss, four passes broken up, two quarter - back hurries and a forced fumble … Opened the year with 12 tackles against eventual national cham- pion Alabama and set a career high with 16 stops against Purdue. Linebacker Vince Biegel returned to Wisconsin for his fifth year despite be- ing told he would be selected between the third and fifth rounds of this year's NFL Draft. PHOTO BY DAVID STLUKA/COURTESY WISCONSIN ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS