Wisconsin Badgers beat writer Jesse Temple will be analyzing the 30 most important players to the Badgers' success in the 2015 season. Check back each weekday to see the latest player on the list.
Note: This is not a list of the team's 30 best players or a series about past success, but rather which of them means the most to how Wisconsin will fare this year. Criteria such as depth at that player's position, general expectations and overall importance of that player having a good season are all highly considered. The list does not include incoming freshmen because their potential impact is unknown at this time.
No. 17 -- Dan Voltz, center
Why he's No. 17
Voltz and left tackle Tyler Marz will be the only two returning starters on Wisconsin's offensive line. That makes Voltz's role as a leader on the team even more important. He is coming off a season in which he started all 14 games at center and helped the Badgers post a school-record rushing performance in which UW averaged 320.1 yards per game to rank No. 3 nationally.
In his career, Voltz has played in 25 games with 20 starts. Given the offensive line's shortage on experience and depth, his health will be vital in 2015.
Expectations for 2015
Voltz has experienced his share of injuries in his brief college career. He missed two games in 2013 and then dealt with an ankle issue late in the 2014 season. Voltz was knocked out of the Big Ten championship game early and then suffered a broken bone in his left leg during the team's Outback Bowl victory against Auburn. This spring, he was sidelined again with an ankle sprain.
With the departure of Rob Havenstein, Kyle Costigan and Dallas Lewallen, there isn't much experience left up front. But Voltz brings a stabilizing force to the line, and he has a proven track record of success (though running back Melvin Gordon deserves plenty of credit, too). Last season, Wisconsin averaged 6.91 yards per carry, the fourth-best mark in FBS history, and posted the nation's two most prolific rushing performances of the season. UW tallied a school-record 644 yards against Bowling Green and 581 yards against Nebraska. Voltz was part of a line that helped Gordon become a Heisman Trophy finalist and an eventual first-round NFL Draft pick.
Wisconsin doesn't have the same type of player at tailback this year, though Corey Clement will be an excellent starter. But Voltz will be among those helping to create holes and keep quarterback Joel Stave upright.
What would they do without him?
Without Voltz, the offensive line would look much the way it did during the team's spring game, when Voltz was sidelined with an ankle injury. Michael Deiter has proven to be quite versatile and would likely slide over from right guard to play center. Walker Williams could then move into the starting rotation at right guard, with Tyler Marz at left tackle, Ray Ball at left guard and Hayden Biegel at right tackle.
Still, the line did not have much continuity during the spring, and Voltz's reappearance in the starting group will go a long way toward solving that issue.
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