The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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136 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY RYAN TICE Wisconsin might open 2017 — and prove to be — the fourth-best team in the Big Ten, but they are a clear favorite in the West Division entering the fall. The Badgers have gone 32-9 over the past three years with a pair of West Di- vision titles, and in their lone down year (2012) during the past five seasons they finished 8-6 but found a way to win the conference title. Paul Chryst enters his third year in charge with a 21-6 mark in Madison. The hallmarks that led to that success should continue for the Badgers. The defense returns seven start- ers, which will counterbalance the unit's third defensive coordinator in as many years. Former UW standout Jim Leonhard takes over after debuting as the team's defensive backs coach a year ago, and he's routinely defied the odds — he was a walk-on turned three-time All-American and an undrafted free agent turned 10-year NFL veteran. Senior safety D'Cota Dixon appears poised to break out under his mentor, follow- ing a year in which he posted 60 tackles and four interceptions. Classmate Derrick Tindal is also back after pulling down three intercep- tions and breaking up 11 passes a year ago. Like usual, though, the front seven anchors the unit after ranking in the nation's top 10 for rushing defense (98.8 yards per game allowed, third in the country), scoring defense (15.6 points given up per game, fourth), total defense (301.4 yards surrendered per game, seventh) and turnover margin (+0.86 per game, ninth). Redshirt junior linebacker T.J. Edwards has led the squad in tackles for the last two years, and he emerged as more of a play- maker in 2016 by logging 8.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and three interceptions. Filling out the middle will be a pair of up- perclassmen returning from injury — fifth- year senior Jack Cichy, who tied for fourth on the team with 60 stops (seven for loss) de- spite missing seven games, and junior Chris Orr, who started the season opener before a season-ending injury. Senior outside linebacker Garret Dooley could emerge as the 3-4 alignment's top pass rusher. Last year, he had 40 tackles, 6.5 tack- les for loss and 3.5 sacks despite starting just two games while backing up NFL Draft picks T.J. Watt and Vince Biegel, who combined for 21.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks. Not surprisingly, the Badgers are simi- larly loaded at running back, despite the loss of last year's top two ground gainers, who racked up 1,881 yards and 20 touchdowns. Redshirt sophomore Bradrick Shaw leads the returners after debuting with 457 yards and five touchdowns on 88 tries (5.2-yard average). Redshirt junior Chris James is eli- gible after transferring from Pittsburgh and sitting out, while classmate Taiwan Deal rushed for 503 yards and six scores in 2015. The backfield also boasts two of the coun- try's best fullbacks in Austin Ramesh (6-1. 251), a fifth-year senior, and Alec Ingold (6-2, 241), a junior. The duo combined for seven touchdowns last year, and ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. lists Ramesh as the No. 3 senior fullback in the land and Ingold as the No. 4 underclassman at the position. They'll have plenty of room to run behind the beefy road-graders Wisconsin tradition- ally trots out; four are returning starters. With quarterback Alex Hornibrook back after nine starts in 2016, improvements are expected from the passing game in his red- shirt sophomore season. He never threw for more than one score in a game and eclipsed 200 passing yards just once. Senior tight end Troy Fumagalli paced the team with 47 catches last year (for 580 yards and two touchdowns) and is one of the nation's best at his position. Meanwhile, fifth-year senior wideout Jazz Peavy led the way with 635 receiving yards and five scor- ing grabs on his 43 catches. Wisconsin appears to be in position to extend its streak of double-digit win seasons and represent the West Division in Indianap- olis once again. The question is can they win the conference for the first time since 2012. Notes The Badgers squared off with six top-10 teams last year, but their opponents' winning percentage for this fall ranks 94th out of 130 (.500) and U-M is the only foe that finished 2016 ranked … Senior kicker Rafael Gaglianone is 44 of 57 in his career, but suffered a season-ending back injury last year. ❏ Defending West Champion Badgers Open 2017 As Division Favorite 2017 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2016 Result Sept. 1 Utah State — Sept. 9 Florida Atlantic — Sept. 16 at BYU — Sept. 30 Northwestern W, 21-7 Oct. 7 at Nebraska W, 23-17 (OT) Oct. 14 Purdue W, 49-20 Oct. 21 Maryland — Oct. 28 at Illinois W, 48-3 Nov. 4 at Indiana — Nov. 11 Iowa W, 17-9 Nov. 18 Michigan L, 14-7 Nov. 25 at Minnesota W, 31-17 PLAYERS TO WATCH Offense: Jazz Peavy, 5th‑Sr., WR — The 6-0, 185-pounder emerged as a play-making re - ceiver, rusher and returner after totaling just 20 catches prior to 2016 … Peavy rushed 21 times for 318 yards (15.1-yard average) and a score, while he finished second with 43 catches that gained a team-high 635 yards and five touchdowns. Defense: Jack Cichy, 5th‑Sr., LB — If he had not gotten hurt, the 6-2, 233-pounder was on pace to tally 120 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, three sacks and four forced fumbles in 2016 … The tackle total would've ranked third in the Big Ten, while his tackles for loss would've tied for eighth … Racked up 15 stops, 11 solo tackles and a career-best 3.5 tackles for loss against Ohio State … In his career, he has logged 121 stops, 15 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. Troy Fumagalli has 1,080 career receiving yards and was ranked as the nation's No. 2 senior tight end by ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. heading into the 2017 campaign. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL GAME 11 • WISCONSIN BADGERS • NOV. 18 QUICK FACTS All‑Time Series: U-M leads 50-14-1 First Meeting: U-M 10, UW 6 (Oct. 15, 1892, at Madison, Wis.) Last Meeting: U-M 14, UW 7 (Oct. 1, 2016, at Ann Arbor) Head Coach: Paul Chryst, 21-6 at UW (3rd year) and 40-25 (6th year) 2016 In Review: 11-3 overall, 7-2 Big Ten (1st West) Final 2016 Ranking: No. 9 in Associated Press and coaches' polls Returning Starters: 17 (8 offense, 7 defense, 2 spe - cialists) Last Bowl Appearance: 2016 (Cotton, vs. Western Michigan, W, 24-16) Big Ten Conference Championships (last): 14 (2012) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Alex Hornibrook (1,262 yards, 9 TD, 7 INT) Rushing: Bradrick Shaw (457 yards, 5 TD) Receiving: Jazz Peavy (635 yards, 5 TD) Tackles: T.J. Edwards (89) Sacks: Garret Dooley and Alec James (3.5) Interceptions: D'Cota Dixon (4)