Spring football allows for head coach Paul Chryst to not have to worry about preparing for a game. Instead, it allows him to teach the game of football and continue to develop the players on Wisconsin’s roster as they prepare for the 2020 season. Chryst will have 15 practices to help his team improve and build on what they accomplished during the 2019 season.
In this Badgers Wire feature, we will break down the offensive line position for Wisconsin as it heads into spring practice.
Spring Offensive Line Roster
Dylan Barrett (freshman), Tyler Beach (redshirt junior), Logan Brown (redshirt freshman), Logan Bruss (redshirt junior), Michael Furtney (redshirt sophomore), Kayden Lyles (redshirt junior), Andrew Lyons (redshirt sophomore), Jack Nelson (freshman), Logan O’Brien (redshirt freshman), Cormac Sampson (redshirt sophomore), Josh Seltzner (redshirt junior), Blake Smithback (redshirt junior), Joe Tippmann (redshirt freshman), Cole Van Lanen (redshirt senior), and Aaron Vopal (redshirt junior)
What we know going into spring practice
This will be an important spring for Wisconsin’s offensive line as they will need to replace three starters as Jason Erdmann and David Moorman both have exhausted their eligibility and Rimington Award winner, Tyler Biadasz declared early for the NFL draft.
Wisconsin has options to replace Erdmann and Moorman at guard as the big one will be who replaces Biadasz at center?
One player who is expected to compete for the starting center position is Kayden Lyles but he will miss all of spring football because of an injury to his left and right leg.
No one was going to win the starting center position coming out of spring football but it does put Lyles behind. Lyles started four games at left guard a season ago and although the Badgers do a good job of cross-training their offensive lineman Lyles hasn’t played center in a game for Wisconsin.
With Lyles out for spring football it will allow for someone else to demonstrate their capabilities. That player could be Cormac Sampson who played tight end a season ago out of necessity or Michael Furtney.
Sampson came to Wisconsin as an athlete as he was projected to play either on the offensive line or defensive line for the Badgers. Sampson entering last season was listed as an offensive lineman but when injuries struck the tight end position they moved him over there as he played it in high school and he became an integral part of the Badgers offense as a blocking tight end.
Furtney appeared in all 14 games a season ago but his action mostly came on special teams. Furtney is also capable of play guard and he could ultimately win one of the guard positions but he could also receive a look at center to see what he’s capable of doing there.
What we hope to find out following spring practice
Spring practice will serve as offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Joe Rudolph’s first chance of trying different combinations along the offensive line to see who his best starting five are.
Wisconsin returns Cole Van Lanen and Logan Bruss who started at left and right tackle respectively a season ago and both will be starters again. Bruss has the flexibility to play guard as well too, which could open the door for a player like Tyler Beach or Logan Brown.
Brown a highly touted offensive lineman dealt with injuries a season ago but the former All-American is healthy now and it will be interesting to see how quickly he can shake off the rust. If he shows he’s capable and with Bruss’s flexibility those two could man the right side of the offensive line.
Josh Seltzner could ultimately win one of the guard positions as he started four games at right guard a season ago as the coaches are high on the former walk-on.
Wisconsin also had two of their offensive lineman from the 2020 recruiting class enroll early in Dylan Barrett and Jack Nelson. Barrett will compete for one of the guard positions and Nelson who participated in the All-American Bowl in San Antonio will compete with the tackles.
Although Rudolph will be missing Lyles over spring practice he’ll still get a good start to see who his best five offensive linemen are. He has two good starting pieces in Van Lanen and Bruss and thanks to Bruss’s versatility gives him options, which will allow him to narrow down the possible combinations once Wisconsin enters fall camp.