UW’s depth at tight end takes a hit
Benzschawel re-injures knee during practice
MADISON – Wisconsin tight ends coach Mickey Turner is running out of healthy bodies.
“You take it in stride,” Turner said quietly after losing another tight end to injury on Monday. “Hope for the best and plan for the worst.”
Redshirt junior Luke Benzschawel, who has battled through injuries to his right knee since 2017, re-injured the knee during practice.
Belzschawel, UW's No. 2 tight end behind Jake Ferguson, has been practicing with a protective wrap on his right leg.
He was helped off the field by the
training staff, eventually taken off the field on a cart and was using crutches after practice.
With Benzschawel out, the reserve tight ends are freshmen Hayden Rucci and Clay Cundiff and Jack Eschenbach, a redshirt freshman walk-on from Downers Grove, Illinois, who played wide receiver in high school.
Zander Neuville, who suffered season-ending knee injuries in 2017 and ‘18, recently learned he had been granted a sixth year of eligibility. He is working into football shape, however, and isn't expected to start practicing with the team until after camp ends on Aug. 23.
Head coach Paul Chryst recently told reporters the strength staff and coaches will be cautious with Neuville, who last practiced in October.
Turner was already without three players who could have helped the team this season.
Kyle Penniston, who started 21 games and played in 39 at UW from 2016 through last season, joined Rutgers as a graduate transfer.
Gabe Lloyd is expected to miss the 2019 season after undergoing leg surgery.
Redshirt sophomore Coy Wanner, who showed promise last year in practice, remains out indefinitely because of an ankle injury suffered during spring practice.
“We've been planning for the offense to be a little more versatile this year,” Turner said, “so you don't feel like you have to can anything right now. But if it goes a couple steps more, we have some (options) that we've been prepping.”
Ferguson, by far the team's best tight end before the injuries to Lloyd and Benzschawel, played in all 13 games last season. He finished second on the team in catches (36), receiving yards (456) and touchdown catches (four).
Asked if he planned to be extra cautious with Ferguson given the lack of
depth at the position, Turner smiled.
“I've been pretty smart with him so far,” Turner said. “I don't feel like he is banged up. I've already protected him a little bit.
“He is still getting good reps, good work. So I think I can keep him on a similar plan. It is about getting the other guys to pick up the slack.”
Sophomore fullback John Chenal, 6foot-2 and 252 pounds, has been serving as a tight end in certain formations in camp.
“He can so some stuff closer to the line,” Turner said. “We've gotten him in some bunch sets. He may not be as tall as a typical tight end but he is just as strong. He can move people.”
Turner offered a mini-scouting report on Rucci, Cundiff and Eschenbach.
Rucci, 6-4 and 250, is a better blocker than a receiver.
“He is still getting used to the pass game,” Turner said. “He hasn't run the routes the way that we do, because we're pretty detailed in our route running.”
Cundiff, 6-3 and 251, is a solid blocker and receiver.
“Clay is a good mix,” Turner said. “He is pretty good in the pass game. He knows how to get in and out of his breaks. He is pretty good in the run game. He understands football. He gets things pretty easily when you teach them.”
Eschenbach, 6-6 and 224, is a project.
“He has great speed and is long,” Turner said, “but he is still trying to gain weight. It is more molding him into a tight end. The other two are tight ends. It is about teaching them how to play at the college level.”
How hard will Turner push Rucci, Cundiff and Eschenbach to get them ready?
“You just hammer them,” Turner said. “The strides they have made these two weeks is more than I've seen most incoming freshmen make in terms of playing the game and knowing the playbook. But it doesn't mean they are anywhere close to being there yet.”