O-line can’t wait, Defense turns the page

Badgers prepare for Friday's opener

August 27, 2019 10:37 PM

Kevin Lewis,

Posted: August 27, 2019 10:37 PM

Updated: August 31, 2021 12:29 PM

by Kevin Lewis

Jim Leonhard enters his third season as Badgers defensive coordinator.
The Badgers had to replace four of five starting o-linemen from last season.
Tyler Biadasz is the lone returning starter for the Wisconsin offensive line.

Madison — The Wisconsin football team had to replace four of five starters on the offensive line this season. Center Tyler Biadasz is the lone returner, but Cole Van Lanen, Jason Erdmann, Josh Seltzner, and Logan Bruss all have game experience.

“I really love this team. We’ve connected a lot throughout this camp,” Biadasz said with a huge grin at media day. “That was truly big for us, just to connect. We’re very grateful that we get to play with each other, and we’re really excited. I can’t express that enough. We’re excited to play.”

Defensively, the Badgers dropped from fourth overall in 2017 to 38th overall in 2018. Jim Leonhard’s entering his fourth season on the coaching staff- his third as defensive coordinator. He says he likes this group because of their willingness to move on from last season.

“You get excited if you’re coaches when you see players take that attitude of growth, and just trying to take the next step,” Leonhard said Tuesday. “They’re becoming good leaders in our room because of that attitude. Because of how they’ve looked back from last year. They’re hungry to turn the page and show the new version of who they are.”

#19 Wisconsin opens at South Florida Friday night at 6 P.M. The game will air on ESPN.