UW ends camp mostly healthy; here are 5 Badgers who blossomed
MADISON – Wisconsin closed preseason camp Tuesday, less than two weeks before the season opener against Penn State, and head coach Paul Chryst believes his team came through relatively healthy.
Three players are expected to miss the season, tight end Cole Davkoich (knee), long-snapper Duncan McKinley (knee) and freshman cornerback Al Ashford (arm/shoulder).
Dakovich and McKinley were injured before camp; Ashford went down Aug. 10, the fifth day of camp.
Chryst revealed that wide receiver Danny Davis (head) and kickoff specialist Jack Van Dyke (leg) should be ready for the opener.
“I think there was a lot of good that came out of camp,” he said. “That doesn’t just happen. You appreciate the work people put in.”
Here is a look at five players who capitalized on their opportunities in camp and likely positioned themselves for key roles during the 2021 season:
Joe Tippmann
A redshirt sophomore offensive lineman from Indiana, Tippmann didn’t do any full-contact work in the spring while recovering from surgery on his right shoulder.
He opened camp as the No. 2 center behind returning starter Kayden Lyles but after a terrific practice on Aug. 13 was moved up to the No. 1 unit by offensive line coach Joe Rudolph.
Tippmann remained on that unit, with Lyles anchoring the second unit, for the remainder of the practices open to reporters.
Isaac Guerendo
Guerendo carried 11 times for 36 yards in the opener against Illinois last season but suffered a hamstring injury late and sat out the final six games. He also missed time in the spring because of hamstring issues but was fully healthy this month and generally worked as the No. 3 tailback behind Chez Mellusi and Jalen Berger.
Guerendo, a 6-foot, 219-pound redshirt junior, played wide receiver in high school and didn’t get any carries at UW until the 2019 season. He rarely looked comfortable or instinctive with the ball in his hands, largely because he often missed practice time because of injury.
That changed this camp and Guerendo looked like a tailback who can use his speed in space but can also run with confidence and proper pad level between the tackles.
“There’s no question it was energizing to see Isaac stay healthy (so) he could take advantage of the reps,” Chryst said.
Markus Allen
The freshman wide receiver from Ohio got more work as camp progressed, in part because of his ability and in part because Davis and freshman Skyler Bell missed time with injuries.
Allen is a solid 6-1 and 215 pounds, can move and generally catches the ball cleanly.
“We think he’s got some talent,” Chryst said. “And like all the freshmen, the more reps you get the less thinking you do. … I’m excited about his abilities. … He’s just got to keep working.”
Cormac Sampson
If UW’s No. 1 offensive line makes it through the season unscathed, Sampson likely won’t start a game in 2021.
But the redshirt junior from Eau Claire Memorial High School could be the team’s most versatile lineman.
He has played as a jumbo tight end and a guard and started two games at center last season. This camp he worked at center, both guard spots, left tackle and tight end.
His flexibility gives Rudolph options, particularly if injury strikes.
Darryl Peterson
UW’s staff continues to search for as many potential playmakers at outside linebacker it can find. Peterson, an impressive physical specimen at 6-1 and 247 pounds, made typical freshman mistakes in camp. Those included getting caught too far inside and allowing the ball to get to the edge.
However, he appears to have the size, strength and speed to get into the backfield in passing situations. Don’t expect Peterson to get into the regular rotation but the staff may give him a shot in certain situations if it needs to bolster the pass rush.