BadgerBlitz.com's Wisconsin player draft: Round 2

This summer, the Badgers will be divided.

That is, they'll be separated into three imaginary teams, set against each other by a BadgerBlitz.com.com Wisconsin player draft, a daily selection in which separate groups of 23 are assembled.

Over the next four weeks, BadgerBlitz.com reporters Jon McNamara, John Veldhuis and Jessi Schoville will draft Badgers, picking players one-by-one and placing them on their respective teams, trying to assemble the best 11 on offense and defense, plus one reserve.

Then, in late July, we'll decide — based on BadgerBlitz.com.com staff and member feedback — which team would win.

Who will be selected when? How will the teams develop? What reasoning will be used?

And most importantly, do you agree with the picks? Be sure to discuss in the Badgers' Den.

Ready for Round 2?

We used a snake draft format, which means I was back on the clock right away after picking Corey Clement in the first round. Since I went with an offensive player right away it seemed prudent to go with a defensive player for some balance. But with Biegel already taken and some depth remaining at inside linebacker, I decided to go with Sojourn Shelton, the most experienced member of Wisconsin's defensive backfield.

Shelton has had his ups and downs during his career with the Badgers, but he had a strong junior season and played well during spring camp. I wouldn't say he's a lock-down cornerback, but he's a solid Big Ten player and it's not a bad idea to build from the outside of a defense to the inside if a difference-making pass rusher isn't there. Plus, as the only returning starter on the back end of Wisconsin's defense, I felt the drop off between him and Derrick Tindal or Natrell Jamerson was steeper than the drop off between the remaining pass rushers or a few members of the defensive line.

There were a few other players I considered here, but I wanted to make sure my team's pass defense had an anchor, and Shelton seemed like the best player to fit that bill.

Heading into Round 2 of the draft I was looking at the offensive side of the ball. Had Ryan Ramczyk been available he would have been an easy pick, but with the franchise tackle off the board, I was looking to secure a playmaker.

In normal draft circumstances, the clear-cut decision would be to begin building your offense around either a tackle or quarterback, but with Ramczyk and Corey Clement off the board and little to no difference in quarterbacking aptitude, I decided to lock up the top talent at the receiver position by nabbing Rob Wheelwright early.

At 6-foot-3 and weighing in at 202 pounds, Wheelwright is a prototypical wide receiver with proven ability. With his size, Wheelwright still manages a sub-4.5 second 40-time, which will serve him well come draft day and at the next level.

Had Clement been available it would have been a tough call. He could be the best back in the conference this year, and some are already saying he will be the first back taken in the 2017 NFL draft. But he still makes me nervous and the talent on the bench is just so deep. You could go all the way down to the bottom of the depth chart and end up with a quality back.

But John took him No. 3, making my decision for me.

Like Clement, Wheelwright is coming off injury, which could be viewed as a risk this early in the draft. Typically, I would be inclined to agree that injuries are too big a risk in most circumstances, but I think a broken fibula is less of a gamble than a hamstring, ligament damage, or something like sports hernia surgery. Let’s also not forget he returned for the Holiday Bowl at the end of the season and while he may not have lit up the scoreboard, he did manage four receptions for 47 yards against the USC defense.

I feel Wheelwright can open up the game in a multitude of ways for my team. He will stretch the defense and keep it honest, which should help my run game and elevate the play of whichever quarterback ends up leading my offense.

Since I went offense in Round 1, I gave a long look at Wisconsin's defense, specifically the talented front seven. But using a Ted Tompson inspired philosophy, I went best player available and locked in on center Michael Deiter.

A 6-foot-6, 318-pound sophomore who could likely play any position on the offensive line, Deiter made seven starts at left guard and six starts at center, including the season's final five games in 2015. This spring, multi-year starter Dan Voltz, who suffered a torn ACL against Illinois, suggested to position coach Joe Rudolph that Deiter remain at center because of his natural command of the position.

"He has been at center all spring ball and he is really starting to shine at that position," Voltz, who has 27 starts at center under his belt, said this spring. "He's a natural and he's young. He's got three more seasons, so if coach wants to plug me in at guard to keep Michael at center I am all for it."

Locking up arguably the top two offensive linemen on the roster will allow me to focus elsewhere as the draft progresses.

Miss a round?

Round 1 |