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Wisconsin head coach Gary Andersen met with reporters Thursday evening for the last time of the week. In doing so, he dropped a surprisingly large number of updates. Let's roll through them one by one.
Vonte Jackson's career over
#Badgers Vonte Jackson is done. Will go on medical aid.
— Jeff Potrykus (@jaypo1961) August 21, 2014
Sad news for the former four-star running back from Kenosha (Bradford), Wisconsin. Jackson suffered his fourth knee injury earlier in fall camp, and Andersen said Thursday that he will now be on a medical scholarship. Jackson had been bouncing between running back and safety before tweaking his knee last Saturday.
Jackson came to UW after tearing the ACL in his left knee in the first game of his senior high school season. He suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during camp in 2012, and then reinjured that knee last June.
Per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
"It looks like Vonte is going to have to take medical (aid) unfortunately," Andersen said. ""But he is in a good spot (mentally). We've discussed it. We've spent time together.
"His family is on board. Everybody knows it is the best thing."
Some starters announced
Warren Herring has been moved to DE and Konrad Zagzebski has been moved to NG. #Badgers
— Zach Heilprin (@ZachHeilprin) August 21, 2014
Andersen announced a few starters Thursday evening, and some were mild surprises. Konrad Zagzebski, who has played in 31 games and started four mainly as a defensive end, will slide inside to play nose tackle. Warren Herring will move to end from nose tackle.
It's very likely that these changes aren't of the every-down variety. Getting Herring's playmaking ability on the edge puts him more into a pass-rushing role, it would seem. That's a smart move coming off his junior year in which he notched 17 tackles (eight for loss) and four sacks. Plus, Andersen labeled these changes as "certain packages against certain teams."
GA also said #Badgers will use Herring @ DE and Zagzebski @ NG in certain packages against certain teams. Sounds like LSU will see that.
— John Veldhuis (@JohnVeldhuis) August 21, 2014
GA says Rafael Gaglianone will be the #Badgers starting FG kicker. Endicott will do kickoffs.
— John Veldhuis (@JohnVeldhuis) August 21, 2014
This isn't much of a surprise considering Gaglianone's been one of the breakout stars of camp. The freshman from Sao Paulo, Brazil, has a booming leg and an endearing sense of confidence. He could well be a star before long -- at least as much as being a specialist allows.
Andrew Endicott, meanwhile, resumes his role on kickoffs. He did a fair job there, and all of a sudden, it seems like the Badgers have their best kicking game in place since the Philip Welch days, if not earlier.
Taiwan Deal wins No. 3 running back job
Deal beats out Caleb Kinlaw, a fellow freshman who left practice Monday with an undisclosed injury. At 6'0, 216 pounds, Deal is very much in the mold of Corey Clement (5'11, 217 pounds). Once again, it also means the Badgers will have a freshman as their No. 3 running back.
A three-star prospect and the class of 2015's No. 31 running back per 247Composite, Deal comes to Madison after an impressive high school career in which he rushed for 3,117 yards and 52 touchdowns for Maryland powerhouse DeMatha Catholic. He was also named the Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year as a freshman.
TJ Edwards to redshirt
Leon Jacobs will be 4th inside linebacker. Joe Schobert & Jack Cichy 2-deep at OLB as well as V. Biegel and J. Hayes. TJ Edwards to redshirt
— Jesse Temple (@jessetemple) August 21, 2014
Edwards, a freshman outside linebacker from Lake Villa, Illinois, will redshirt. The Badgers have solid depth at linebacker, especially considering the skilled Leon Jacobs will be No. 4 inside to start his sophomore season.
Here's how Wisconsin's linebacker depth chart should look now:
DEPTH CHART: LINEBACKERS | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
YEAR | HT | WT | GP/GS | HOMETOWN | |
OLB Joe Schobert | JR | 6-2 | 240 | 21/1 | Waukesha, WI |
ILB Marcus Trotter | RS SR | 6-0 | 226 | 14/1 | Racine, WI |
ILB Derek Landisch | SR | 6-0 | 231 | 38/3 | Nashotah, WI |
OLB Vince Biegel | RS SO | 6-4 | 244 | 15/2 | Wisconsin Rapids, WI |
Key reserves: SO Leon Jacobs , RS JR Jesse Hayes, RS SR Michael Trotter, RS SR Sherard Cadogan | |||||
The rest: RS SR Josh Harrison, RS SR Ben Ruechel, SO Jack Cichy, FR Chasen Andersen, FR Matt Austin, FR Ben Fischer, FR Zander Neuville, FR Ryan Connelly, FR TJ Edwards, FR Justin Schweitzer |