Wisconsin's Rivals.com Era Mock Draft, Part 4

With the Wisconsin Badgers already starting to celebrate 100 years of Camp Randall Stadium this fall, BadgerBlitz.com decided to take a look back in to the past.

Jon McNamara, Jonathan Mills and I set out to draft the best team of current and former UW players - going all the way back to 2002, the start of the Rivals.com era.

Considering the recent success of Wisconsin football, we had plenty of great players to choose from. We ended up drafting 23 players each - a starter at each offensive and defensive position on the field and one kicker.

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Rounds 1-4 | Rounds 5-7 | Rounds 8 - 11 |

McNamara: A multi-year starter at Wisconsin, DeAndre Levy, a rare City Conference standout who played for the Badgers, finished his career with over 200 tackles and 21 sacks. He'll fit great opposite T.J. Watt at outside linebacker.

Veldhuis: Nick Toon capitalized on the hype he brought with him to Madison - not only as a highly ranked recruit, but as a legacy player. He wasn't a game breaker, but he's a great weapon to add to a team that already has the quarterback position covered.

Mills: Experienced offensive lineman Ricky Wagner is my next selection. In total, Wagner made 36 starts at right and left tackle in three seasons. Although his speed is relative, I am confident Wagner can create open holes for my running backs and contribute to my offensive scheme.

Mills: Next, I will snag linebacker Jack Cichy, a 2016 All-Big Ten Honorable mention and 2015 Holiday Bowl Defensive MVP, as my next pick. Notably, Cichy played in all 13 games when the Badger defense was ranked first in scoring defense and second in total defense. Injuries aside, Cichy is effective when healthy and should insert smoothly into my defense.

Veldhuis: Caputo is a great example of a player who really blossomed in the right scheme. His versatility made him a special player for the Badgers - he could play in coverage and rush the passer, which allowed then-defensive coordinator Dave Aranda to mix and match where he could bring pressure from.

McNamara: I need a No. 1 receiver and Alex Erickson is the best on the board. The former walk-on finished his career ranked 10th in school history with 1,877 receiving yards and sixth all-time with 141 career receptions. In his final season, Erickson caught 77 passes - second in school history - and he was named first-team All-Big Ten.

McNamara: Michael Deiter will be my final piece on the offensive line, and I couldn't be happier with the group. Deiter proved this spring he's capable of playing just about every spot on the line and he could have a decision to make at the end of the 2017 season if he performs well.

Veldhuis: Costigan was a warrior for the Badgers - his injuries prevented him from moving on to the NFL, but he was a dominant blocker for the Badgers when he was on the field. He'll be a great fit for the interior of my offensive line.

Mills: Another versatile player I had to add to my roster is wide receiver Tanner McEvoy. Originally, McEvoy played as quarterback, switched to wide receiver and eventually settled in at safety. His rushing numbers are equally impressive and he finished with 72 carries for 706 yards as a quarterback. Although I will play him as wide receiver, it is relieving to know he can succeed in multiple key positions.

Mills: When my starting RB rests, P.J. Hill takes over. From 2006-2008, Hill accumulated 3,942 yards with 42 TD’s. He is one of two players in program history to rush for 1,000 yards in their first three seasons. In a similar fashion, he ranks 10th all-time at Wisconsin with an average of 5.1 yards per carry. I was lucky one of the school’s top rushers was still available late in the draft.

Veldhuis: The top-tier options at cornerback are already gone, but I think Devin Smith is a serviceable option for me to grab to start to fill that position. The Badgers missed having him on the field in 2011 when he played in just two games, but he made the most of his senior season with 4 INTs and 17 pass breakups overall.

McNamara: John Clay battled weight issues during his career at Wisconsin, but he's still one of the most talented backs to play for the Badgers during the Rivals.com era. In 2009, Clay led the Big Ten and ranked eighth in the country with 1,517 rushing yards, and 18 rushing touchdowns also led the Big Ten and tied for seventh in the nation.