Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema pushed back the start of spring practice so that the Badgers could get extra conditioning work over the winter.
Bielema said in his opening news conference Tuesday before spring practice began that his team has gotten in seven weeks of work — the same amount that his players typically have in the summer.
Bielema also joked it only took three questions before he was asked who would play quarterback.
Dustin Sherer, who will be a senior, is the leading candidate after taking over midseason last year. The Badgers finished a disappointing 7-6 last season and were routed by Florida State in the Champs Sports Bowl.
Wisconsin also has quarterbacks Scott Tolzien, Curt Phillips and Jon Budmayr on the roster, but only Tolzien has collegiate experience.
"The quarterback position is wide open,"
Bielema said. "Obviously Dustin will have the biggest amount of experience coming into (spring) practice."
Some of Wisconsin's biggest questions will be in the trenches this spring. The Badgers have only two returning starters on the offensive line and one on the defensive line.
Center John Moffitt and left tackle Gabe Carimi will be counted on and Josh Oglesby and Bill Nagy have experience.
There's less experience on defense after the departures of Matt Shaughnessy, Jason Chapman and Mike Newkirk. Those three started all 13 games last year and leave only O'Brien Schofield.
"O'Brien Schofield made great progress last year from game one to the bowl game, but he still isn't at the level we'd like to have him at every snap,"
Bielema said. "Everybody else is unproven. All the defensive tackles inside had taken a second seat behind Newkirk and Chappy."
But Bielema said it's time for certain guys to begin stepping up.
"It's one of the most exciting times as coaches because you see these guys work out individually, try to go through different drills, they compete, have certain weight gains, do certain things, but bottom line it comes down to how you play the game,"
Bielema said.
Bielema also said wide receiver Daven Jones, running back Bradie Ewing, defensive back Kevin Claxton and defensive lineman Tyler Westphal will miss all of spring practices because of recent surgeries.
Wide receiver Maurice Moore might be available toward the end of spring practice, while starting defensive back Jay Valai, who had surgery almost seven weeks ago, could be ready to go as soon as next week, Bielema said.
