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With four practices down and 10 to go before the Wisconsin Football Spring Game on April 28, the Badgers broke camp Thursday for spring break.

A 24-period practice -- the team's first of the spring in full pads -- served as a send-off for the players, who will take advantage of a week off as part of UW's spring break before returning to the field on April 10.

Photo Gallery: Practice No. 4

Today's links
* ESPN.com: Big Ten's top game
* SportingNews.com: Counting down best NCAA football/basketball schools
* Madison.com: Bielema not worried about O'Brien's transition to team
* JSOnline.com: Bielema thinks QB moves don't hurt UW's image
* FoxSportsWisconsin.com: Bielem gives Badgers a large spring break
* ESPNWisconsin.com: Been there, done that

Head coach Bret Bielema met with members of the media Thursday, prior to the Badgers' final practice session before spring break.

Bielema discussed his impressions from the first week of spring practice, as well as the addition of Maryland transfer QB Danny O'Brien.

The Badgers practice in full pads for the first time this spring on Thursday before breaking camp for spring break. They return to the field April 10, with an additional 10 practices leading into the Wisconsin Football Spring Game on April 28.

If you could build a team using the players that have suited up for the Badgers during Bret Bielema's six years at the helm of the Wisconsin program, who would you choose?

That was the question we posed during three weeks of voting by fans on the official Wisconsin Football Facebook page. The result is a list of the best to line up at each position during the Bielema era, as chosen by the fans -- the All-Bielema Team.

In the last five NFL drafts, a total of 16 UW players have been selected. That number will grow in a big way this year, with a school-record eight players invited to the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine -- the second most of any school in the nation.

Over the past six seasons, the Badgers have had finalists for the Heisman Trophy, Doak Walker Award, John Mackey Award, Rimington Trophy, Ted Hendricks Award, Manning Award and Lou Groza Award. In addition, Scott Tolzien won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, J.J. Watt won the Lott IMPACT trophy, and Gabe Carimi and Joe Thomas both won the Outland Trophy.

Leads to some tough choices, huh?

Tough enough, in fact, that a number of players who have gone on to play in the NFL didn't even sniff inclusion on the All-Bielema Team.

Garrett Graham was a distant third in the voting at tight end, while other pros -- like FB Chris Pressley, LT Carimi, RG Kraig Urbik and QB Scott Tolzien -- didn't make the cut, either.

With that in mind, here's the All-Bielema Team, which was originally released in the March 15 issue of Varsity magazine:

OFFENSE

Quarterback
* Russell Wilson (2011)

Running Back
* Montee Ball (2009-11)

Fullback
* Bradie Ewing (2008-11)

Tight End
* Travis Beckum (2006-08)

Wide Reciever
* Nick Toon (2008-11)
* Jared Abbrederis (2010-11)

Left Tackle
* Joe Thomas (2006)

Left Guard
* John Moffitt (2007-10)

Center
* Peter Konz (2009-11)

Right Guard
* Kevin Zeitler (2009-11)

Right Tackle
* Josh Oglesby (2008-11)


DEFENSE

Defensive End
* J.J. Watt (2009-10)

Defensive Tackle
* Nick Hayden (2006-07)

Defensive Tackle
* Patrick Butrym (2008-11)

Defensive End
* O'Brien Schofield (2007-09)

Outside Linebacker
* Mike Taylor (2009-11)

Middle Linebacker
* Chris Borland (2009, 2011)

Outside Linebacker
* Jonathan Casillas (2006-08)

Corner Back
* Jack Ikegwuonu (2006-07)
* Antonio Fenelus (2008-11)

Strong Safety
* Jay Valai (2007-10)

Free Safety
* Aaron Henry (2007, 2009-11)


SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker
* Taylor Mehlhaff (2006-07)

Punter
* Brad Nortman (2008-11)

Returns
* David Gilreath (2007-10)

A big weekend for the Wisconsin women's track and field team has translated into a big jump in the rankings.

The Badgers moved all the way to No. 16 in this week's edition of the national rankings compiled by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, which were released Tuesday.

UW leapt 13 spots from its No. 29 ranking last week largely on the strength of junior Taylor Smith's school-record effort in the weight throw. Smith, named Big Ten co-Field Athlete of the Week on Monday, launched a throw of 69 feet, 10 3/4 inches to win the event at Saturday's UW-Platteville Invitational.

The mark vaulted Smith to No. 5 nationally in the event and automatically secured her a spot in next month's NCAA indoor championships.

Because the USTFCCCA's rankings are based solely on athletes' national rankings, Smith's toss buoyed the Badgers.

Also supporting Wisconsin's rank is senior Monika Jakutyte, who ranks in a tie for fourth place nationally in the high jump with the clearance of 6 feet she recorded on Feb. 3.

In addition, senior and three-time All-American Dorcas Akinniyi is currently ranked No. 8 in the pentathlon after scoring 3,991 points on Feb. 3.

The Badgers' other top-25 ranked athletes include the trio of Smith (18th, 53-7 3/4), freshman Kelsey Card (17th, 53-6 1/2) and sophomore Jasmine Boyer (T-26th, 52-2 3/4) in the shot put.

Additionally, senior Caitlin Comfort is ranked 18th in the 5000 meters (16:07.90), while junior Jessica Flax stacks up No. 25 in the pentathlon (3,789 points).

Men slip out of rankings
On the men's side, the Badgers slipped out of the rankings after moving up to No. 17 last week. That's despite the effort of sophomore Dan Block, who threw 61-7 1/2 in the shot put to move up to the No. 10 spot nationally over the weekend.

Sophomore Japheth Cato, who is No. 3 in the heptathlon with his Big Ten-record total of 5,939 points, is UW's other top-10 ranked athlete.

The Badgers also picked up top-25 performances from sophomore Alex Hatz in the mile (13th, 3:58.68) and junior Maverick Darling in the 3000 meters (22nd, 7:54.70) over the weekend.

The UWBadgers.com Gameday Blog provided live coverage of Wisconsin's 6-2 win over St. Cloud State on Feb. 11, 2012. An archived version of the blog is below.