Badgers QB Wolf shows he can provide some relief
MADISON – Like any competitor, Wisconsin’s Chase Wolf longs to be a starter.
Yet don’t let that desire obscure the fact the redshirt sophomore quarterback is comfortable coming on in relief, a trait he learned at Saint Xavier High School in Cincinnati.
Consider Wolf ’s critical contributions in UW’s 20-17 overtime victory over Minnesota last week.
Wolf hadn’t played since the Oct. 23 opener against Illinois. He rushed one time for 1 yard in that game.
Against Minnesota, he replaced Graham Mertz on UW’s first offensive series of the second half. Wolf ran for 2 yards on first down and for 9 yards on
second down, though the second run was wiped out by a holding call.
Mertz returned to the huddle, Wolf to the sideline.
Until the next series.
Mertz scrambled for a 7-yard gain to the Minnesota 4 but absorbed a blow to the head and left the game.
Enter Wolf, with UW facing a 10-7 deficit and third and goal.
“He comes in and it's third down in the red zone,” UW coach Paul Chryst said. “And…made a play.”
Wolf, whose only pass at UW came last season against Central Michigan, rolled left and, with linebacker James Morgan in his face, fired a strike to Jack Dunn for the go-ahead touchdown.
“I didn't feel like there was any pressure on me,” Wolf said. “I just felt like I was going to go and do my job.”
His final numbers were modest: 4 for 5 for 15 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. He completed two passes, for a combined 4 yards, on a short field-goal drive in the fourth quarter.
The one throw he wanted back came on UW's final series in regulation.
UW drove from its 16 to the Minnesota 40, thanks in part to consecutive runs of 9 and 10 yards by Garrett Groshek.
Wolf then faked a hand-off to Groshek
on first down and had two receivers in the route. Chimere Dike was open on the right side at the 20, but Wolf never looked that way. Instead, he threw deep down the left side to Devin Chandler.
The ball was short and to the inside, however, and Coney Durr had an easy interception in the end zone with 1 minute 19 seconds left.
“The last couple drives before that we ran a very similar play over and over so we wanted to take advantage of that,” Wolf explained. “We threw play-action with the same type of run action. I just wanted to give him a shot, but I underthrew it. I'm still pissed off about it, but we won.”
Because of Mertz's apparent head injury, it is unclear whether he will be ready to start against Wake Forest on Wednesday in the Duke's Mayo Bowl. If Mertz isn't cleared, Wolf will get the call.
“I can't say enough good things about what he did,” Dunn said. “Really incredibly proud of his contribution.
“We have full confidence in him. All you can ask for out of anyone is having someone that is selfless and willing to put the team first. That is Chase Wolf.
“It just goes to show the preparation that he puts in to be ready for that type of situation. To come in in that scenario and throw a touchdown…it's impressive.”
Wolf flourished in a backup role as a junior in high school in 2016 before taking over as the starter in his final season.
He played behind Sean Clifford, who
has been Penn State's No. 1 quarterback for the last two seasons. With Clifford injured in 2016, Wolf had to take over and he passed for 1,391 yards and 16 scores to help Saint Xavier into the playoffs.
Clifford returned and helped Saint Xavier win a state title, and Wolf then took over in '17 and passed for 2,532 yards and 27 touchdowns.
“I always picture myself as someone who will step up to the plate whenever (needed),” Wolf said. “I did that in high school.”
He did the same to help UW defeat Minnesota.
“We've talked about this so much,” Chryst said, ”but every time you get to play, those are valuable reps. And these certainly (were), when the game is in the balance.
“You appreciate a guy that is ready to come in. Chase is a guy that – and his teammates know this – he'll do whatever he can for this team.
“It was fun to see.”
UW announces departure of several key starters
Although the NCAA earlier this year gave seniors the option of returning in 2021, Wisconsin appears set to lose four defensive starters and several other key players after the Duke's Mayo Bowl.
UW officials revealed Wednesday on Twitter that defensive ends Isaiahh Loudermilk and Garrett Rand, cornerback Caesar Williams, fullback Mason
Stokke, offensive tackle Cole Van Lanen, tailback Garrett Groshek and safety Eric Burrell will not return next season.
All are winter graduates. Burrell obtained his master's degree.
Those graduates who plan to return next season are safety Collin Wilder, safety Scott Nelson, wide receiver Jack Dunn, defensive end Matt Henningsen, linebacker Mike Makalunas and reserve safety Tyler Mais.
The departures of Rand and Loudermilk mean the defensive staff will have to replace two multiyear starters who have anchored the front in 2020.
Loudermilk has 13 tackles, including two sacks, in six games this season. Rand, outstanding against the run, has 10 tackles.
Williams is tied for the team lead among the cornerbacks in tackles with nine. He has two passes broken up.
Burrell has one interception and 18 tackles, the No. 4 mark on the team.
Groshek contributes as a runner, receiver and pass-blocker. He is second on the team in rushing with 259 yards and third on the team in catches with 19, for 105 yards.
Stokke has been an outstanding blocker all season. He has 18 carries for 44 yards and has seven catches for 44 yards and two touchdowns.
Van Lanen was UW's No. 1 left tackle the last two seasons. He missed the Minnesota game with an apparent leg injury and his status for the bowl game is uncertain.