Spring football is a time for improvement, increased reps, and exposure to the playbook. Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst has stressed this idea throughout the Badgers’ spring football season, beginning in early March and finishing this weekend with the annual spring football game.

While this game will not fill the student section at Camp Randall Stadium, it gives Badger football fans and the team a chance to see the players in action, performing for a crowd.

The spring football game, set for this Saturday April 23 at 12:00 PM at Camp Randall Stadium, may not determine all the starters for the 2016-2017, but it will give players the opportunity to increase reps and showcase their playing ability.

Spring football has not been free of mistakes for the 2016-2017 football team, but that is what Coach Chryst says spring football is all about.

“I appreciate the energy and the sense of purpose the guys are coming out with,” Chryst said after last Saturday’s practice at Camp Randall. “Obviously it’s not all clean, but there’s some great learning going on.”

Come Saturday, the biggest competition to watch for will be that of starting quarterback. Chryst already said Saturday at practice that he does not plan to name his starting quarterback until closer to the start of the 2016-2017 season.

“We didn’t want the focus to be about that [naming the starters],” Chryst said in the Big Ten Spring Football Teleconference on Wednesday April 13th. “The biggest thing is consistency and can you lead the team.”

Fifth year senior Bart Houston and redshirt freshman Alex Hornibrook have been splitting reps throughout spring football. In the previous two weeks, both quarterbacks have seen their ups-and-downs, most notably with the amount of interceptions during practice.

While Hornibrook performed well during practice, two weeks prior, on April 9th, with two touchdowns for 242 yards and zero interceptions, according to the unofficial stats from Wisconsin State Journal reporter Jason Galloway, Houston excelled at practice this week, completing 10 of 13 passes for 141 yards and three touchdowns.

Houston undoubtedly has more experience than his competitor. Houston played in the October 24th game versus Illinois last season after starting quarterback Joel Stave went down early in the game. The Wisconsin Badgers went on to win that game with Houston completing 27 of 33 passes for 232 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

That being said, Hornibrook, who was originally committed to Pittsburgh before Chryst became Wisconsin’s new head coach, has been performing well throughout camp and is still fighting for the starting position. Despite having a practice riddled with interceptions (5) early in April, Hornibrook pushed past his mistakes, having a disputably better day than Houston on April 9th.

Saturday gives the two quarterbacks a chance to perform in front of a crowd and, as always, gain more reps.

“I’m not concerned about who the starters are in spring,” Chryst said after practice Saturday. “But you are working on that to put yourself in position to get a lot of reps.”

Wisconsin’s defense also has been fun to watch during spring football. Senior outside linebacker Vince Biegel has seen a lot of improvements from his defensive players under the new leadership of defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox.

“We are right on track for where we need to be,” Biegel said in the Big Ten Teleconference. “[Under Wilcox] you will see a lot of the same defense, same scheme, same structure, different verbiage.”

The defensive line has remained solid throughout the season with little changes being made into the 2016-2017 season. The linebacking corps under the leadership of Biegel have also been performing well despite the loss of key player Joe Schobert to the NFL draft.

“[Schobert] was a huge reason for our success last football season,” Biegel said.

Schobert’s successor, T.J. Watt, however, has proven his spot on the linebacking corps at outside linebacker.

“He’s just a phenomenal player,” Biegel said. “He brings a lot for the game, has a great love for the game.”

This Saturday expect the defense to be fighting for turnovers. As Biegel said, “Turnovers are always an important part of our defense. Coach Wilcox has only heightened that awareness and that value of getting the turnovers.”

Other players to watch for Saturday including the running and fullbacks. Running back Corey Clement, who sat out most of the 2015-2016 season, took the first team reps last Saturday ahead of running back Dare Ogunbowale.

Of Clement, Chryst said, “He’s starting to have his confidence back.”

Expect Clement to take a lot of the snaps this Saturday and into the 2016-2017 season. Also watch for Leon Jacobs and Alec Ingold, Wisconsin’s new fullbacks converted from linebackers. With former fullback Derek Watt looking to the NFL, adjustments had to be made to replace him.

As Biegel said in the Big Ten Teleconference, “The best is yet to come here at the University of Wisconsin.”

The spring football game will be at Noon on Saturday April 23 at Camp Randall Stadium. Tickets are $5 dollars a piece and all proceeds go to the University of Wisconsin Division of Diversity, Equity & Education Achievement.  BTN (Big Ten Network) will also be broadcasting the game.