UW’s Sagapolu moves to head of defensive line
MADISON – Practice had already ended Thursday morning inside the McClain Center but Olive Sagapolu wasn’t finished working.
Wisconsin’s starting nose tackle, who will be a senior and the team’s most experienced defensive lineman next season, spent an extra 30 minutes working with several younger players on a variety of techniques designed to defeat blockers.
Sagapolu worked first with reserve nose tackles Bryson Williams and Gunnar Roberge and later with end Isaiahh
Loudermilk.
“I’m trying to make sure everyone is on the same page,” said Sagapolu, who has started 19 games and played in 36 at UW. “I may be a nose (tackle) but I still know some things that go on at the end position.
“So I try to ensure that the young guys know what’s going on … make sure they know where the blocks are going to come (from), how to play those blocks.”
Sagapolu is filling the role of playercoach to help line coach Inoke Breckterfield because UW must replace three ends — Conor Sheehy, Alec James and Chikwe Obasih.
That trio left UW with a combined 90 starts and 157 games played.
“Those were the guys that were the leaders of the group,” Sagapolu said. “They’ve been here for four years — five years even. Now it is my turn to step up and have my voice be heard.”
Sagapolu’s willingness to mentor is important because the projected starting ends — Garrett Rand and Loudermilk — will be in their first season as starters.
Rand, who played nose tackle in his first two seasons, has 28 games on his UW resume.
Loudermilk, who will be a redshirt sophomore, played in 11 games last season. He missed three games and was limited in several others because of minor knee injuries.
Sagapolu hasn’t been shy about informing his linemates when he is heading over to the practice field to get in extra work.
“On weekends or any random day of the week he’ll text us,” Rand said. “He does a really good job of helping other guys.”
Sagapolu added: “I am just letting guys know that I’m here. I’m not forcing it on anybody. If I want to be a great player I’ve got to do what great players do. That is the work that goes unseen.”
Sagapolu hopes opponents see more — and less of him — in 2018. Confused?
Sagapolu explained he hopes to develop into a player capable of playing every down if needed.
To that end, he has lost 14 pounds since the end of last season. Sagapolu played at 348 pounds last season and is down to 334 now. His target weight is 330.
To shed those pounds he has done extra cardio work and changed his diet, though he still allows himself to savor foods that aren’t healthy.
“I still eat,” he said, grinning. “Yesterday went to Culver’s.”
You won’t find protein shakes at Culver’s, but the menu does include Concrete Mixers, with Oreo cookies optional.
“Oreos I heard are vegan,” Sagapolu said with a smile. “So they’re pretty healthy.
“I could eat Oreos every day of the week. … If I eat bad that means I’ve got to eat good for the next couple days.”