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Sherer may get Badger QB job

MADISON — Dustin Sherer’s used to being in a quarterback battle, since it’s become an annual rite of spring around the University of Wisconsin football team’s practices.

“I’m five years into it,” Sherer said, grinning and shaking his head. “That’s all right. The competition brings the best out of everybody, and I just don’t worry about it, I go play and do my own thing.”

While backups Scott Tolzien, Curt Phillips and Jon Budmayr have all made decent progress during the past 14 spring practices, UW coach Bret Bielema has hinted that Sherer will be his guy for the 2009 season.

Fans will be able to come to Camp Randall Stadium and see for themselves Saturday afternoon during UW’s annual Spring Game. The free-admission event is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will feature the cardinal-clad No. 1 unit scrimmaging against the No. 2 unit in white jerseys.

Sherer, who will lead the Cardinal team, said he learned from the 2008 battle which he lost to Allan Evridge.

“I caught myself watching what the other guys were doing, when I was fighting for the job, and that killed me,” Sherer said. “It put too much pressure on my shoulders and I didn’t play well. I learned from that. You try to do your best individually, and it’ll all fall into place.”

Phillips, a highly-touted product from Kingsport, Tenn., brings a running threat to UW’s offense that Sherer does not, which the Badgers are considering utilizing to some degree.

“The more you see it, the more it makes sense,” Bielema said when asked about creating a spread package involving Phillips. “Curt is definitely more advanced than all the other quarterbacks in his ability to make plays with his legs … he’s just feeling more and more confident. He just has to be more consistent and more accurate when he’s doing it.”

John Clay will also get reps in the spring as the unquestioned starter at tailback, but with a dinged-up ankle will likely yield a large amount of carries to reserves Zach Brown and Erik Smith.

Perhaps the most intriguing player that fans will get to know Saturday is Nick Toon, who with a remade body and a full skill set has skyrocketed to the top of the wide receiver food chain.

“Spring’s definitely helped me out,” Toon said when asked if he’s ready to be UW’s No. 1 receiving threat. “I felt real good at the end of the season, but I’m ready to be that guy.”

On the defensive side, those in attendance at Camp Randall will get a look at many new faces on the front seven, with five linebackers and defensive linemen gone to graduation. J.J. Watt, Culmer St. Jean, Brandon Kelly and Jeff Stehle are just a few of the Badgers hoping to remake a front seven along with mainstays Jaevery McFadden and O’Brien Schofield.

The new defensive leaders are in the secondary, as several players with dozens of career starts to their names are returning. Big plays have been the Achilles’ heel the past couple of seasons, and the defensive backs intend on changing that.

“Every year we have that (leadership) mentality, but the last two years, we probably haven’t played like it,” cornerback Aaron Henry said. “We’re the last line of resort, so we have to be on the back end and we have to have it right.”

Though many players simply view the spring game as just another practice, the idea of showcasing their product to thousands of fans isn’t lost on them either.

“It’s going to be a good preview of what this year’s going to be about,” Clay said. “It’s just showing the fans and everybody what’s going to happen in 2009.”