Walk-on tradition is alive and well at UW
Fumagalli, Connelly among those who’ve become key contributors
MADISON - Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez can’t help but gush when he talks about the performance of Paul Chryst’s football team this season.
One critical piece of the team’s success that gets Alvarez’s juices flowing is the contributions of walkons and former walk-ons.
“All you have to do is take a look at this year’s team,” he said, “and see how many walk-ons are really good players and strong contributors. If you don’t have those guys, there is a huge drop-off and there is a different type of team.”
The list of former walk-ons who have contributed includes tight end Troy Fumagalli, inside linebacker Ryan Connelly, tight end Zander Neuville and safety Joe Ferguson.
The list of current walk-ons who have contributed includes reserve offensive lineman Jason Erdmann, linebacker Tyler Johnson and kickers Zach Hintze and P.J. Rosowski.
Fumagalli leads UW in receptions (38) and is second in receiving yards (471). He is a finalist for the Mackey Award, given to the top tight end in the nation.
Connelly leads UW in solo tackles (45) and total tackles (71) and is second on the team in tackles for loss (10).
His play has been critical because UW lost Jack Cichy, a former walk-on, in camp to a knee injury.
“I don’t know if there was any pressure but guys needed to step up,” inside linebacker T.J. Edwards said. “I think Ryan Connelly, Chris Orr and myself have done a good job bringing the leadership to this defense as well as another of other guys.
“It is a very hard thing to do when you lose a guy (Cichy) like that, but we’ve responded very well.”
Neuville, from Waupaca High School, has played a key role in blocking for UW’s rushing attack but suffered a knee injury in the regular-season finale against Minnesota and is out for the remainder of the season.
Ferguson, from Madison Memorial High School, has gotten extensive playing time with starter D’Cota Dixon batting a right-leg injury. Ferguson has contributed four interceptions, tied for the team lead with Edwards, and two fumble recoveries.
Erdmann, from Slinger High School, has filled in at left guard and center. He is one of the stronger linemen on the roster, and his teammates say he excels at pulling and blocking in space.
Johnson, from Menasha High School, has developed into a legitimate fourth option at outside linebacker. He has two forced fumbles.
Rosowski, from Stoughton High School, and Hintze, from St. Mary’s Spring High School in Fond du Lac, have handled kickoffs the last two seasons.
Rosowski recorded touchbacks on 51 of 79 kickoffs (64.6%) last season and 4 of 9 in the opener this season before suffering a severe quadriceps injury in practice. Hintze has filled in and has 45 touchbacks on 67 kicks (67.2%).
UW ranks No. 2 nationally in scoring defense (12.0 ppg.) and is first nationally in total defense (236.9 ypg.) and rushing defense (80.5 ypg.).
The first-year coordinator is Jim Leonhard, a former walk-on at UW who developed into an All-American safety. Leonhard is a finalist for the Broyles Award, given to the nation’s top assistant coach.
“Obviously, it means a lot to me,” Leonhard said when asked about the contributions this season from current and former walk-ons. “That was the route I took. And just to see that tradition continuing and guys stepping up and making plays and earning the opportunities to get on the field … that is special being a former walk-on. It’s going to be an important part of our program for a long time.”
Leonhard also noted, as Alvarez has for years, that walk-ons can erase misses in recruiting.
“Not every player that you think is going to be great ends up being great,” Leonhard said. “Anytime you can get walk-ons to fill those voids and in a lot of cases become some of your better players, it makes the coaches look smart when really they’re not.”