TGIF everybody! Here are your Badger Bits for Friday, September 24th.
Seeing as it's Friday, there are a few reports out about which players will be sitting on Saturday due to injuries. Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel is reporting that both Nick Toon (turf toe) and Davild Gilreath (concussion) aren't likely to play on Saturday when the Badgers take on FCS foe Austin Peay.
Both Toon and Gilreath have been practicing with the team, with Gilreath donning the green "No Contact" jersey after being knocked out during a punt return against San Jose State. While neither of the players are likely to see the field on Saturday, both wide receivers should be ready to go when Wisconsin goes on the road to Michigan State on October 2nd.
Potrykus also reports that there have been changes made to the kick return coverage, which looked extreemly shaky against Arizona State. The special teams allowed returns of 97 and 95 yards last Saturday, one of them for a touchdown. Senior safety Jay Valai has been added to the unit, as well as some of the 50 or so players that volunteered for kick return duty.
More Badger Bits after the jump!
Tom Mulhern of Madison.com says that running back John Clay is ready to carry the team, and has been more productive on fewer carries so far this year.Andy Baggot from Madison.com says that Wisconsin is a different team, and not as good without star sophomore linebacker Chris Borland. Borland will miss the rest of the season due to a shoulder injury.
Madison.com also did 'Five Good Minutes with Blake Sorensen'. Sorenson will be stepping into a full time role at linebacker as a result of Borland's injury.
Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com has his predictions up for week 4 in the Big Ten. The man is 30-2 this year, so be sure to gaze into his crystal football for all your non-Wisconsin football predictions.
Shhhhhh.... don't look now, but the Wisconsin women's volleyball team is undefeated so far this year. The Badger women will be hosting Ohio State tonight at the field house in their Big Ten opener, and defending Big Ten champion Penn State on Sunday.
And finally, at the end of Jeff Portykus' article featured above, he mentions that Wisconsin defensive end Tyler Dippel will not be available Saturday. Dippel's grandmother recently passed away, and those of us at Bucky's 5th Quarter would like to extend our condolences to both Dippel and his family.
Badger football kicks off tomorrow at 11:00 AM on the Big Ten Network- be there or be square!