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Madison - Offensive lineman Casey Dehn is not expected to return to the Wisconsin football team in 2012, a source close to Dehn said Tuesday.

Dehn, a redshirt junior from Owatonna, Minn., closed spring practice as UW's No. 1 right tackle. He was positioned to compete for that job or the No. 1 right guard position in camp, which opens Aug. 6.

Dehn, 6 feet 6 inches and 334 pounds, played in five of UW's first six games last season but left the team because of academic issues. After realizing he missed football and his teammates, Dehn returned to the program for winter conditioning and earned a spot on the spring roster.

However, it appears the academic issues returned.

Dehn could not be reached for comment.

UW coach Bret Bielema is set to meet with reporters Thursday in Chicago on the first day of the Big Ten preseason meetings.

With Dehn not expected back, the likely No. 1 tackle is Rob Havenstein, a redshirt sophomore from Mount Airy, Md. Havenstein, 6-8 and 343, missed spring practice while recovering from shoulder surgery.

Redshirt freshman Tyler Marz, 6-7 and 319, was the No. 2 right tackle in the spring and could fill that role.

The picture at right guard is less clear, however,

Walk-on Robert Burge was the No. 1 right guard in the spring but did not excel and at 6-7 and 320 doesn't move well.

Backup Kyle Costigan, from Muskego High School, was switched to the offensive line from defensive tackle before the start of spring practice.

Costigan, 6-4 and 305, was raw but showed mobility and tenacity throughout the spring.

Other possible candidates:

Redshirt freshman Ray Ball, who was the No. 2 left guard in the spring and is 6-7 and 326; Zac Matthias, a 6-5, 318-pound redshirt junior who has been slowed by back problems; and redshirt sophomore Dallas Lewallen, who is 6-6 and 307 but missed all except two games last season and all of spring because of knee problems.

Freshman Dan Voltz, who participated in spring practice, appears capable of playing center or guard. However, offensive line coach Mike Markuson said in the spring he would prefer to keep Voltz at center.

Dehn, who started one game and played in 12 overall in 2010, acknowledged in the spring he needed to be more dedicated in the classroom.

"I had some issues with academics previously," he said. "But I'm going to class now and doing everything I need to be doing.

"I have class-checkers for every class. I check in with people each week to make sure I'm on top of my stuff.

"That is fine with me. Anything I have to do to prove that I am getting it done."

Although Bielema welcomed Dehn back, he insisted Dehn wasn't guaranteed a roster spot.

"He's on a path that he knows he's got to stay on for him to stay here and be a part of what we're going to do," Bielema said.