Two more UW tight ends are injured
MADISON – At the rate Wisconsin is losing tight ends, assistant coach Mickey Turner might have to hold open tryouts before UW’s Aug. 30 opener at South Florida.
Redshirt sophomore Jake Ferguson and freshman Hayden Rucci are the latest casualties, although Ferguson’s injury is believed to be much less severe. Both were held out Wednesday because of left arm injuries.
Ferguson was not at practice but could return soon. Rucci, by contrast, had his left arm in a sling and his return date is uncertain.
Those injuries, coupled with the losses of Gabe Lloyd (season-ending leg surgery) and Luke Benzschawel (right knee) left Turner with three healthy players – freshman Clay Cundiff, redshirt freshman Jack Eschenbach and Seth Currens
Currens recently moved to tight end from inside linebacker.
Benzschawel attended practice Monday.
He was on crutches and was wearing a brace on his right knee.
With Turner’s numbers dwindling, redshirt freshman Cormac Sampson got work at tight end.
Sampson, 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds, was a decorated tight end at Eau Claire Memorial High School but was switched to the offensive line after arriving at Wisconsin
Zander Neuville, who recently was granted a sixth year of eligibility, is working back into football shape but isn’t expected to begin practicing until after the end of camp.
The staff is being cautious with Neuville, who suffered season-ending knee injuries in 2017 and ’18, and wants to have him available for the bulk of the regular season.
Thumbs-up for new threads
UW officials this week revealed the Badgers are to wear throwback uniforms for their Sept. 28 home game against Northwestern to celebrate the 150th anniversary of college football.
The pants are light brown; the jerseys are red with white lettering and numerals on the front and back. The letters UW are above the numbers on the front of the jerseys. The traditional Motion ‘W’ is replaced on the helmets by UW. The shoes are black with white laces. “Thumbs up,” senior wide receiver A.J. Taylor said. “High up. Those are nice.”
The players learned about the new uniforms only hours before UW officials revealed them publicly via Twitter.
Although the skill-position players love the uniforms, redshirt sophomore guard Josh Seltzner said the linemen are indifferent.
“It’s cool, the 150th anniversary of college football,” he said. "But we’re just ready to play a game.”
Jake Ferguson's arm injury does not appear to be particularly severe and he could return to practice soon.
When C.J. Goetz signed with UW in Dec. 2017, he was a touted outside linebacker at Catholic Memorial High School.
An all-state linebacker as a junior and senior, Goetz was quickly moved to defensive end during his freshman season.
One problem: He carried only 238 pounds on his 6-foot-3 frame and would have to gain weight.
With UW deeper at end and thinner at outside linebacker this season, Goetz is back at his original position. Goetz, who weighs 241 pounds, as been working with the third unit in camp.
“He flashes tremendous strength, pass-rush ability,” defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard said. “He was one of those kind of tweener bodies. We weren’t sure how he was going to mature and grow. We feel outside linebacker is going to be the best position for him.
“We think with the right development we can find him a role sooner than later. I think the move has been good for him.
“It’s new. It’s a little big for him right now but we’re definitely excited about his ability.”
Extra points
❚ Fifth-year senior nose tackle Gunnar Roberge had his right arm in a sling Wednesday and is out indefinitely. Freshman Keeanu Benton of Janesville Craig High School likely will be the No. 2 nose tackle behind Bryson Williams.
❚ Cornerback Faion Hicks (right knee) remains out. Hicks was wearing a protective sleeve on his right knee Wednesday.