Junior outside linebacker T.J. Watt (6-foot-5, 243 pounds) appears ready to embrace a larger role in the Badgers defense. The vocal leader will remain senior Vince Biegel (6-foot-4, 245 pounds), as his seniority and personality is a potent combination, but Watt has the physical skill set and work ethic to pick up where Joe Schobert left off.

Biegel is obviously aware of the type of player Schobert is and knows his shoes won’t be easy ones to fill, but Biegel seems to think Watt is on track to do just that.

“Joe is obviously a vital piece that we will have to replace this year and I think T.J. Watt is doing an excellent job of that.” Biegel said at Big Ten Media Days. “Filling shoes for guys like Michael Caputo and Joe Schobert is a hard thing to do, but we’ve had guys step up like T.J. Watt and Leo Musso, and I’m looking forward to what our future is on defense.”

Like Schobert, Watt and Biegel can be constantly seen with one another during team activities. Whether it is as partners in drills or just chatting football between stations, the two seem to have really gravitated to one another this offseason - a good sign for Wisconsin fans.