Sagapolu, Van Lanen are out; Hornibrook questionable
MADISON – Injuries continue to whittle away at Wisconsin’s depth.
UW (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) will be without senior nose tackle Olive Sagapolu (right arm) and redshirt sophomore offensive tackle Cole Van Lanen (foot) Saturday against visiting Rutgers.
Both players were injured last week in UW’s 31-17 loss to Northwestern.
In addition, five potential starters are questionable for the game.
They are: quarterback Alex Hornibrook, who did not play last week because of a concussion; safeties D’Cota Dixon (right ankle) and Scott Nelson (right leg); cornerback Deron Harrell (right leg); and defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk (left ankle).
Loudermilk, who suffered the injury against Nebraska, had been listed as out in previous weeks.
According to UW coach Paul Chryst, Hornibrook remains in the concussion protocol.
“He is able to do more than before,” Chryst said, “and as the week goes on we’ll know more.”
Chryst confirmed what the Journal Sentinel reported last week, that it remains unclear when Hornibrook suffered the concussion.
Hornibrook completed 13 of 22 passes for 188 yards, with three touchdowns and two interceptions, in a 49-20 victory over Illinois. He did not exhibit any symptoms during the game and afterward appeared lucid when meeting with reporters.
Hornibrook, according to Chryst, approached the team’s training staff last Monday and was put in the protocol.
Hornibrook suffered a concussion in the 2016 regular-season finale against Minnesota. He was eventually cleared and returned to practice and was ready to play in the Big Ten title game against Penn State but his symptoms returned late in the week and he was held out of the game.
Jack Coan started and went the distance against Northwestern and finished 20 of 31 for 158 yards. He had one touchdown pass but lost a fumble that led to a Northwestern touchdown.
Sagapolu has helped bring along several young linemen this season and has recorded two sacks, 41⁄2 tackles for loss, an interception, a fumble recovery and 23 tackles. He leads the linemen in total tackles, sacks and tackles for loss.
Freshman Bryson Williams took over at nose tackle after Sagapolu was injured at Northwestern and is the likely replacement this week. He has five tackles in eight games.
“I have loved and appreciated his approach,” Chryst said of Williams. “I think he is getting better each week.
“Just because now you have the opportunity to start doesn’t mean you should expect a ton more. You’ve just got to keep getting better.
“He is one you feel good about in the sense that, where he is now compared to two months ago, he knows a little bit more to help himself get better.
“We don’t want him or need him to be something he’s not. And he works at it. He doesn’t have to do it alone. He has to do his part.”
The return of Loudermilk could take pressure off Williams and the other linemen.
Loudermilk missed the opener while recovering from off-season surgery on his left knee. He made his debut against New Mexico and then started the next three games, against BYU, Iowa and Nebraska. He suffered a sprained left ankle in the victory over Nebraska and has missed the last three games.
Loudermilk, who has a total of six tackles, hasn’t been wearing a protective boot on his left foot for more than a week.
UW has several options to replace Van Lanen, who has been splitting time with starter Jon Dietzen.
Redshirt freshman Logan Bruss, who finished the Northwestern game at left tackle, could share time with Dietzen. Or offensive line coach Joe Rudolph could move left guard Michael Deiter to left tackle, the position he played last season, and insert Jason Erdmann at left guard.
“They know I can always kick out and play there,” Deiter said. “But Jon can play enough and Logan can go in and play, too.
“So it is pretty much up to Rudy. Obviously, I’m good with whatever. Throw me in and I’ll play.
“But I don’t think we’ll need it. I think Logan can play and I think Jon can play more if he has to.”