UW’s Deal looks to leave injuries behind
MADISON - Tailback Taiwan Deal was fit and confident last summer when Wisconsin opened preseason camp.
Entering his fourth year in the program, Deal was determined to obliterate the memories of a disappointing 2016 season.
Plagued by ankle problems, Deal was limited to six games and 164 yards in ’16.
However, after undergoing surgery on both ankles after the Cotton Bowl, Deal entered camp pain-free and confident he was good enough to earn a spot in the rotation. His execution through the first week of camp reflected that confidence, too.
But one play in the second week ended his comeback.
Deal absorbed a hit on his right ankle and knew immediately something was wrong. He was done for the day and eventually missed the rest of camp while he tried to rest and rehab in order to get healthy.
UW officials eventually discovered the force of the blow had loosened screws surgically inserted into the ankle after the Cotton Bowl. That resulted in a crack in the ankle and led to another surgery that ended his season before it started.
“It was just a small crack but I couldn’t play through it,” Deal said.
Deal, who will be a redshirt senior this fall, participated in winter workouts and has performed through UW’s first seven practices of the spring.
“I am good,” Deal said. “I’m glad it’s finally good and I’m healing.
“I just want to get through these 15 practices to see how I feel, continue to move forward through summer conditioning, make it through fall camp and play my last year out and try to do my best for the team.”
Deal, 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, is among four healthy scholarship tailbacks this spring.
Jonathan Taylor, who rushed for an FBS-record 1,977 yards as a freshman, is the leader of the unit.
Chris James hopes to contribute more than he did last season, when a knee injury limited him to nine games and 233 yards.
Sam Brodner, who will be a redshirt freshman in the fall, is trying to come back from a torn ACL suffered last spring.
Bradrick Shaw, who rushed for 365 yards and four touchdowns before suffering a season-ending knee injury at Minnesota, is being held out this spring.
The staff believes Nakia Watson could vie for playing time but the freshman from Texas won’t join the program until the summer.
Deal, who rushed for a total of 503 yards and six touchdowns in 10 games as a redshirt freshman in 2015, sounds like a player eager to do whatever it takes to contribute.
“Hopefully I can provide a different aspect of the running game,” said Deal, who is a more physical inside runner than Taylor. “And some special teams. I pretty much want to do whatever I can in my last year, have fun and see if I can go to the next level.”
Deal has been at UW long enough to see players transfer out, looking for a fresh start.
Asked if he ever contemplated looking for a new home, Deal quickly said no.
“I’m just determined to finish,” he said. “It’s something my dad instilled in me. Finish. Compete. I know I’m a good player and can compete on any level.
“The injuries set me back and I can’t control it. So I just continue to push forward and do my best.”
Deal said one of the ways he deals with stress is to fish.
“Being a student-athlete, there are a lot of things that can stress you out and mess guys up,” he said. “I just try to stay focused and I love to fish so I use fishing as my outlet to calm me down.”
Deal enjoys fishing so much he is a member of UW’s club fishing team.
“I can’t give away any of my spots,” he said. “I go a lot of places around here. I go up north … to western Wisconsin. Just someplace quiet, in the middle of nowhere.
“That helps me get away, relax and stay calm.”
Deal hopes that in his final season he can exchange the serenity he enjoys while fishing for the cacophony all players revel in on the football field.
“He’s got confidence back in the ankle, which is good to see,” UW offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph said. “I’m excited for him. I hope he puts it all together and stays healthy.”