Moorman ready to start in his UW finale
PASADENA, Calif. – David Moorman can't fib.
When Wisconsin opened the season Aug. 30 at South Florida and Moorman wasn't in the starting lineup, he didn't expect his final college game would come as a starter in the Rose Bowl.
“All off-season I prepared myself to compete for the starting job,” Moorman said Monday during Rose Bowl media day. “And when I didn't win it in fall camp, I'm not going to lie. I was disappointed.
“But I thought, whatever I can do to help the team I am going to do it.”
The fifth-year senior kept working, got six starts at left guard during the regular season and is set to start at that position when UW faces Oregon at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
“To be in this moment is such a blessing," Moorman said. "I am honored that my coaches and teammates have put their faith in me and I am excited to have this last game to cap off my career.”
Moorman, from Northville (Michigan) High School, played a total of 11 games as a reserve before this season. He performed well in the spring and again in camp at multiple positions, however, and got his first start in Game 7 at Illinois.
“I think coming off the spring he definitely had a shot anywhere, honestly, whether it was guard or tackle,” center Tyler Biadasz said. “He's done a great job of being so versatile. He's been the guy that can go from center to guard to tackle.
“And he's done a great job this season of staying the course and really putting the team first. He was a backup center in fall camp. And then he's a guard, and all of a sudden he's a (jumbo) tight end and then a tackle and now back at guard.”
Moorman started six consecutive games at left guard, ending with the regular-season finale at Minnesota. Battling an ankle injury suffered in practice, Moorman lasted only one series against the Gophers before being replaced by Kayden Lyles.
Lyles started in the Big Ten title game but suffered a leg injury in practice and will miss the Rose Bowl.
“Kayden went in and did a great job at Minnesota,” Moorman said. “He played well against Ohio State, too.
“I am so happy to be here, back on the field 100% healthy. What this program teaches you is persistence. Just keep working and keep trying to get better.”
Sanborn’s dad would be proud
Sophomore linebacker Jack Sanborn grew up in Illinois watching Oregon football.
Why?
His late father, Paul, was an offensive lineman for the Ducks from 1980 through '82.
Jack Sanborn should be in the starting lineup Wednesday when the Badgers battle the Ducks. When the matchup was announced on Dec. 8, Sanborn received a call from his mother, Malinda.
“I said: ‘I can't believe it,'” Sanborn said.
His mother's response: “It was meant to happen.”
Jack Sanborn was 4 when his father died in 2005. He has photos of his father playing for the Ducks and the No. 79 jersey is in the family home in Illinois, he said Monday.
“I grew up watching Oregon,” he said. “They got me into college football. Then I came to Wisconsin because I wanted to win a Rose Bowl.
“To have the opportunity to do that against Oregon, life comes full circle.”
A.J. Taylor plans to coach, cheer
Senior wide receiver A.J. Taylor, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in the regular-season finale at Minnesota, joked Monday he still hopes to play in the Rose Bowl.
“I'm questionable,” said while navigating a scooter to keep weight off his right leg. “It is tough, of course. But at the end of the day I have to move on. I'm as good as I can be. But I definitely want to play. I think everybody knows that.”
Taylor, who finished the season with 23 catches for 267 yards and two touchdowns, plans to do a little coaching and a lot of cheering from the sideline.
“I can see coverages,” he said. “But I become a cheerleader, too. A big cheerleader, but an immobile cheerleader. I won't be moving around much.”