Quick — without looking it up, name just two of the three defensive tackles listed at No. 1 on Wisconsin’s depth chart.

Couldn’t do it?

Don’t start to doubt your fanhood, because you certainly are not alone.

And don’t worry about hurting the D-tackles feelings either — they are senior Dan Moore, senior Jeff Stehle and sophomore Patrick Butrym, by the way — they don’t take on double-teams every day for the glamour of it.

“Unless you have an incredible athlete like [LSU’s] Glenn Dorsey — guys like that will get noticed every once in a while — I wouldn’t think so,” Butrym said of fan accolades. “You take on so many double-teams. A lot of your job is to occupy blockers. There are plays for us to be made sometimes, but I would say the average fan doesn’t really understand. I even had to explain to my parents what a defensive tackle does.”

“A lot of times the fans probably aren’t looking at the middle of the line. It wasn’t until I started playing D-tackle that I actually started watching it,” Stehle added. “So I am going to assume the average fan doesn’t even know what we are doing.”

The defensive tackle position involves collisions on every play, mangled fingers and a lot of time spent at the bottom of piles. So why volunteer for what would appear to be a thankless job? Defensive line coach Charles Partridge — a former defensive linemen at Drake — provides a pretty succinct answer.

“Kids that are in that position love the sport,” Partridge said. “They are tough guys that are out here to play for their team and play for their school. That is really all the gratification that they need. It is a position of pride. It is a position that they are truly honored to be a part of.”

Though defensive tackles rarely finish with big stats — the three have combined for nine tackles in two games this season — their value can be determined if teammates are making plays. According to Butrym and Stehle, a successful play consists of taking on two blockers and maintaining your gap.

“Our role is very important,” Moore added with a laugh. “We have to take pride in taking on that double-team, fighting the piggyback block and fighting for your gap because that allows other guys around us to make plays. It is a team game, and we get our joy from that success.”

With strength, technique and sheer toughness among the main attributes for an interior defensive lineman, the trio’s skills are put to the test going up against Wisconsin’s massive offensive line every day. With UW’s starting five weighing in at an average of 320 pounds, the defensive tackles are unlikely to meet another line of the same size.

“Our offense runs such a power game that it really makes you a tougher player,” Butrym said. “Our offensive linemen are generally pretty big so when you go against other offensive lines — I wouldn’t say it is easy — but you are physically prepared for what the team is going to bring, and it makes you just a better player.”

“They are going against some future NFLers,” Partridge added. “Most of them are certainly some of the best in the Big Ten. Going up against that competition every day makes all the difference in the world.”

Unlike last year when starting seniors Mike Newkirk and Jason Chapman hardly ever came off the field, Partridge makes sure he keeps a rotation going during the game to keep them fresh. With the Badgers needing defensive stands in the fourth quarter and two overtimes already this season, the strategy has paid off.

“I can’t imagine playing just two guys that whole time,” Stehle said. “I don’t know how [Newkirk and Chapman] did it last year.”

Besides keeping blockers off the linebackers on running plays, the D-tackles have one job with the pass rush — take on a double-team and crash the pocket.

“Our coach says you have to be a little bit off to be a D-lineman because we do the same thing every play,” Moore said. “It is pretty much like a car crash every play. You are one inch away from the ball, fighting against 300-pound guys. You definitely have to love what you do.”

At a position of such little fanfare, defensive tackles must have a gritty, workmanlike attitude to succeed. According to Partridge, this is the attitude Wisconsin must have for the entire program.

“Hopefully the [defensive tackle] has the mindset that this program has been built on,” Partridge said. “Since coach Alvarez turned this program around, that has really been the foundation of this program. We must play like that to win.”