Homestead’s Pfaff helping fill void at defensive end for UW

MADISON – David Pfaff’s college résumé before this season was a brief read:

The graduate of Homestead High School redshirted in 2015, did not play in 2016 and played in five games last season, with zero tackles recorded.

A 6-foot-2, 284-pound defensive end, Pfaff has taken advantage of UW’s need for fresh bodies on the defensive line this season.

Pfaff has played in seven games and has recorded 11 tackles.

“He has done a good job for us in what we’ve asked him to do,” defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard said Wednesday. “He is a high-energy kid. He can make plays and he is going to win a lot with effort.

“You have to take that into account. You have to give a guy like that reps. He is going to help everybody around him because he is just going to play hard.”

UW was set last season at defensive end with three seniors – Alec James, Conor Sheehy and Chikwe Obasih – and reserves Isaiahh Loudermilk and Billy Hirschfeld.

Hirschfeld left the program after nine games last season to focus on school. Loudermilk started this season on the injured list after undergoing knee surgery in May and has missed a total of four games because of injuries. Garrett Rand, set to move to end from nose tackle, was lost for the season in June because of an Achilles’ injury.

Pfaff has been a viable option to help give starting ends Matt Henningsen and Kayden Lyles a break.

“It is great to have the trust of the coaches,” said Pfaff, who had three tackles last week against Rutgers. “We had three great seniors and they did a great job locking it down. I learned a lot from them.

“It is good to get out there finally and have a chance to prove myself and to show people what I can bring to the table.

“Just work hard. This is a game you love to play. I have a blast out there.”

From the infirmary

Safety Scott Nelson and cornerback Deron Harrell could return to the lineup this week at Penn State.

Nelson has missed the last three games since suffering a right-hamstring injury at Michigan.

Harrell has missed the last two games because of an ankle injury.

“They’ve both been able to work in some team situations this week, which they hadn’t been able to do prior to this,” Leonhard said.

Nelson has started five games and played in six games overall. He is seventh on the team in tackles with 25.

Harrell has started four games and played in seven games overall. He has eight tackles and one pass broken up.

“Having them available for Saturday I think would be big for this defense,” Leonhard said.