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News and notes – Levonne Rowan and Bret Bell opened
spring in competition for one corner spot, just as they did in the spring of
2003. Bell won that battle, but the shoulder he injured last fall flared up this
spring, giving Rowan an edge heading into fall….Scott Starks returned to his
starting spot at the other corner position….Ben Strickland and Chuckie Cowans
received the bulk of the reps with the second team….Jameson Davis and Johnny Sylvain, the third-team corners this spring, received few reps in scrimmage
situations.
Spring MVP – Levonne Rowan overcame a back injury
suffered during the indoor track season and had a strong spring. Rowan appeared
stronger this spring and was more physical. Always an exceptionally fast athlete
(Rowan is currently ranked No. 7 in the Big Ten in the 100 meters during the
outdoor track season), he did a better job this spring of using his speed and
having confidence in his abilities to track receivers. Rowan had a slight edge
over Bell for a starting corner spot from the beginning of spring workouts and
he took advantage of the added reps he received after Bell was relegated to the
sidelines.
Springing ahead – After a slow start, Scott Starks
quietly put together one of the best seasons of any corner in the Big Ten in
2003. In the spring, Starks picked up where he left off in December and played
at a very high level. He meticulously went about his tasks on the field, again
playing a very prominent role on Wisconsin’s defense. Starks did this a little
more loudly than usual, though, augmenting his fine-tuned coverage skills with
improved playmaking ability, including a few interceptions. He was more
aggressive than in the past but continued to take only calculated risks, rarely
taking himself out of the play.
Ben Strickland entered spring as the No. 7 corner and as a
player who was unlikely to ever play other than on special teams. That
assessment underwent massive revisions as soon as spring practices began.
Strickland quickly supplanted freshman Jameson Davis on the depth chart and
largely outplayed veteran Chuckie Cowans. He rotated in with the second defense
prior to Bell’s injury and was a fixture there afterwards. At a mere 5-foot-9,
Strickland needs to work on keeping receivers in front of him and being more
physical in tight coverage. Cowans (5-8) and Starks (5-10) should be good tutors
in this regard. What Strickland brings to the table is adequate athleticism,
good instincts and an aggressive demeanor. That combination helped him make a
lot of plays and solidify his position as at worst the team’s No. 5 corner and
potentially No. 4 heading into fall camp.
Seeing red – Jameson Davis has the talent, football
savvy and work ethic to thrive in the Big Ten. But not this year. The true
freshman looked lost at times and was well below the curve athletically, the
extra 20-25 pounds he has gained in the Wisconsin lifting regimen perhaps taking
away some of his quickness. Still, Davis flashed his considerable talent in
spots, including a solid performance in the spring game. There is no question
that he is a young player worth watching and getting excited about, but barring
huge strides by next fall it is almost a foregone conclusion that he will
redshirt.
Health and competitions? – The Rowan/Bell matchup
never materialized due to Bell’s recurring shoulder problem. He is expected to
return to full strength by fall camp, but the fact that he has not been able to
stay healthy raises questions. Starks and Rowan look solid as the starters, but
without Bell the team would face depth issues and potentially need to bring
along freshmen more quickly. Allen Langford, for one, is a player who has been
mentioned as one who will likely avoid a redshirt and contribute this fall.
A healthy Bell would be push Rowan for a starting job and
would be the favorite to earn nickel corner duties, though Roderick Rogers,
among others, will also push for that spot.
Cowans and Strickland could compete for a dime defensive
back spot in the fall and have an outside chance of competing for a job in the
nickel.
Spring football wrap
Part 1 - wide
receivers
Part 2 - defensive
ends
Part 3 - offensive
linemen
Part 4 - special
teams
Part 5 -
quarterbacks
Part 6 - running
backs
Part 7 - tight ends
Part 8 - safeties