Defensive pair have healthy outlook
MADISON – Garrett Rand appeared at peace as he sat on a folding chair, in the middle of Camp Randall Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
No cast or walking boot on his right foot because of an Achilles injury that cost him all of the 2018 season.
A few yards away, fellow Wisconsin defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk was clowning with teammates. Absent was the knee brace that Loudermilk was wearing at this time last year in the wake of post-spring surgery. He is slimmer, down about 15 pounds from last season, in an attempt to ease the stress on his knees and ankles.
Both redshirt juniors are healthy and eager to open camp Thursday.
“Last year I was sitting in the bleachers just soaking up the sun,” Rand said during the team's annual media day. “It was a hard time for me just to accept that it happened.”
Loudermilk was in a similar position last summer.
“I'm excited for both of us,” Loudermilk said. “Both of us sitting out fall camp wasn't fun. This year, both of us being here for camp, it is pretty exciting. We're both ready.”
The injuries to Rand and Loudermilk forced defensive line coach Inoke Breckterfield and defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard to adjust on the fly.
Offensive lineman Kayden Lyles was moved to defensive end. He started seven games and played in 12 of 13 games. Matt Henningsen, a redshirt freshman at the time, became a starter. He started seven games and played
in all 13.
Loudermilk underwent surgery on his left knee in May and missed the opener against Western Kentucky. He was back in the rotation in Week 2 against New Mexico and was slowly rounding into form when he suffered an ugly left-ankle injury in the fifth game against Nebraska.
That injury forced Loudermilk to miss the next three games – at Michigan, at home against Illinois and at Northwestern.
UW lost two of the three games and struggled to stop the run.
Michigan rushed 48 times for 320 yards (6.7-yard average) and three touchdowns in a 38-13 victory.
Defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk enjoys UW football media day on Wednesday.
Northwestern rushed 49 times for 182 yards (3.7-yard average) and three touchdowns in a 31-17 victory. Northwestern’s per-carry average wasn’t impressive but tailback Isaiah Bowser (34 carries, 117 yards, one TD) hurt UW at crucial times and the Wildcats went on to finish last in the Big Ten in rushing at just 114.9 yards per game.
With Rand out all season and Loudermilk never fully healthy, UW finished fifth in the Big Ten in rushing yards allowed at 155.4 per game.
The return of Rand and Loudermilk should help lower those numbers.
Henningsen led the linemen in tackles with 32. Nose tackle Olive Sagapolu was next with 23 despite missing the final five games after suffering an arm injury. Loudermilk was third among the linemen with 15 stops.
“Everybody hopes for a healthy season,” Loudermilk said. “But I’ve taken this offseason to try to strengthen the stuff that was bugging me last season and I feel like I have.
“I’m excited. I am feeling extremely healthy right now.”
Loudermilk topped off at 310 pounds last season. He is down to 292 now.
“I really used this offseason to try to cut that weight,” he said. “I feel if I am lighter I’ll be healthier and a little more mobile, which is what I’m trying to accomplish.”
Rand, 6-foot-2 and 279, insists the season-ending injury he suffered last summer has been evicted from his head.
“It doesn’t even bother me,” he said. “It feels brand new so I don’t even think twice about it.”
Rand and Loudermilk weren’t the only ones smiling Wednesday. So, too, was Breckterfield.
“It’s always good to get healthy,” he said. “They are different.
“I’m looking for both of them to step up. This will be the fourth year in the program for both of them. It will be fun to watch them.”