Ramczyk won’t look too far ahead
Lineman focused on bowl, not NFL
— Wisconsin’s Ryan Ramczyk needs a personal assistant to track the postseason honors he has received in the last month.
The redshirt junior offensive tackle was named firstteam All-American by The Associated Press, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Focus and USA Today.
He was also a secondteam pick on the Walter Camp All-American team.
“It is awesome,” Ramczyk said. “It is pretty exciting.”
That seven-word response is as garrulous as the 6-foot-6, 314-pound Ramczyk gets when talking about individual accomplishments.
“I wouldn’t say I expected it but it was definitely a goal of mine,” he said. “I wanted to come in here and compete with the best and try to be the best me.”
The next challenge for Ramczyk is helping No. 8 UW (10-3) defeat No. 14 Western Michigan (13-0) in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 2 in Arlington, Texas.
Sometime in the next month, Ramczyk also will have to decide whether to enter the 2017 National Football League draft or return to UW for his final season.
The deadline for underclassmen to declare is Jan. 18.
Ramczyk is projected as a potential first-round pick but is expected to receive a draft grade from the NFL Advisory Board. UW’s staff plans to get feedback from other sources.
“I think you try to give him all the information that is out there,” said Joe Rudolph, UW’s offensive coordinator/line coach. “And you try to explain that sometimes different people you speak to have a dog in the fight.
“And you try to get as much as you can from scouts, general managers and owners and O-Line coaches so he can really get a feel where he projects.
“And then I think you try to explain the positives and the negatives for an O-Lineman and the positives and negatives for him as an individual.
“I think the communication has been terrific and he’s
got a great head on his shoulders. Mom and Dad are right there with him, believe that he will make the best decision.”
Ramczyk’s rise over the last year has been remarkable.
He sat out last season after transferring from UW-Stevens Point. He was an all-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference performer as a sophomore with the Pointers and has been even better with UW, with 13 starts at left tackle.
“I thought the big thing
with Ryan was you saw some things he did naturally, athleticism he was blessed with,” Rudolph said. “Then it was just teaching the offense and once you get down the basics then it becomes communication and awareness. And I think those are the areas where he has made the most growth.
“He is seeing more of the game. He is more confident and more comfortable. Obviously, I love how he has worked all year.”
Ramczyk was reticent when asked about entering the draft or returning to UW.
His focus is on Game No. 14 this season.
“I’ve been talking to my family and Coach
(Paul) Chryst and Coach Rudolph about it,” he said, referring to the option of turning pro. “But right now it is just focusing on the bowl game and winning that game.”
Ramczyk insisted that won’t be difficult.
“You can’t look at everything,” he said. “You’ll get so (overwhelmed) and just shut down if you try to take everything in and try to process everything that is going on. It has been good for me to just focus on the task at hand.
“I can’t believe it is already… we’re working on the bowl game. It went really fast.
“It has been a fantastic year. I just love playing with these guys.”