Farrar to switch from safety to LB
Increase in size reason for move
MADISON - Arrington Farrar arrived at Wisconsin in 2015 a decorated safety from Atlanta.
Now, after two quiet seasons as a reserve defensive back and special teams contributor, Farrar has a new home at inside linebacker:
According to defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, the move was based on two sets of numbers.
UW has enough bodies at safety and Farrar has outgrown the position. Listed at 6 foot 2 and 195 pounds as a high school senior, Farrar is up to 225.
“He continues to grow,” Leonhard said after practice Thursday morning. “That is what he has developed into as a player. So rather than having the constant battle of fighting it, let’s see if that is the right way to go.”
Farrar doesn’t change direction quickly enough to cover ground at safety, but he can still move well enough to play linebacker, either on the inside or the outside.
“I see it as being very flexible,” Leonhard said. “Let’s see what he is comfortable with this spring and try to develop that role in the spring and summer and going into fall camp.”
Extra points: Safety D’Cota Dixon and cornerback Nick Nelson, who redshirted last season after transferring from Hawaii, spent the bulk of their spring break studying video. Nelson sent Dixon daily texts asking him to go watch video or work on drills inside the McClain Center. “You’ve got to eat, sleep and breathe football,” Nelson said . ...
Reserve linebacker Nick Thomas, who did not play last season after suffering a sports hernia, left practice Thursday after suffering an apparent left-knee injury . ...
Outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (left arm) is out indefinitely. ...
According to Leonhard, reserve safety Joe Ferguson is playing at a high level this spring. Ferguson, who will be a fifth-year senior in the fall, generally has been the third safety behind Dixon and Natrell Jamerson.