UW football: Shelton felt helpless in title game.
Sojourn Shelton felt powerless to help his teammates.
“It is like watching your brothers in a situation and you can’t help,” Wisconsin’s senior cornerback said.
Shelton was referring to UW’s 38-31 loss to Penn State in the Big Ten title game last Saturday.
UW played a 2-4-5 for most of the game and Penn State attacked reserve cornerbacks Lubern Figaro and Natrell Jamerson.
Figaro was beaten for touchdown passes of 33 yards by tight end Mike Gesicki and 40 yards by wide receiver Saeed Blacknall.
Jamerson was beaten by Blacknall for a 70yard score.
Shelton was targeted once in man-to-man coverage and allowed an 8yard reception by Chris Godwin on Penn State’s field-goal drive in the final quarter.
UW secondary coach Jim Leonhard told Shelton throughout the game to handle his assignments and avoid straying to help others.
“It was just tough,” Shelton said. “I know how hard everybody in this secondary group works.…For me to see them — I don’t want to say struggle — but just the 50-50 balls we normally make, just to see that and for me to want to be able to help.
“But I really can’t. I’m covering probably their best receiver on the team and I look and I see the ball is in the air and I couldn’t really help much on Saturday.”
NFL dreaming: UW coach Paul Chryst acknowledged after practice Friday that two underclassmen are seeking feedback from the NFL Draft Advisory Board before deciding whether to enter the 2017 draft.
Chryst declined to identify the players but the likely candidates are offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk and outside linebacker T.J. Watt. Both are redshirt juniors.
Ramczyk, who sat out last season after transferring from UW-Stevens Point, has been named to several AllAmerican teams. He could be a first-round pick. Watt, a consensus all-Big Ten performer who has suggested he will return to UW, leads the team in sacks (101⁄2), tackles for loss (141⁄2) and quarterback hurries (12).
“You want to help gather information so they can make an informed decision,” Chryst said. “Then if someone has all the information, they can make a decision that is best for them.
“We’re doing all the things you can to help them make the best decision for themselves.”
Youth movement: Friday was a developmental practice for young players who are not in the two-deep.
Freshman Cole Van Lanen and redshirt freshman Kevin Estes both worked at left tackle on the offensive line. Freshman Patrick Kasl was the No. 1 right tackle.
Chryst noted that cornerback Nick Nelson (Hawaii) and tailback Chris James (Pittsburgh), who are sitting out this season after transferring to UW, have adapted to their new home. Both are expected to be key contributors next season.