Wisconsin Badgers head coach Paul Chryst spoke with the media inside the McClain Centeron Thursday afternoon, just two days away from the No. 20 Badgers' match-up against the No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide.
Among the highlights of Chryst's post-practice media scrum:
• The Badgers will practice one more time before boarding the plane to Dallas on Friday.
• Chryst said the team's the healthiest it's been and had a good week of preparation.
• Chryst said the biggest thing for the returning players from injury is for them to know the game plan. He said they've jumped back in well.
• The plan right now is to redshirt tight end David Edwards.
• Chryst said true freshman Chris Orr played 10 times in AT&T Stadium in high school. The Badgers will walk through the stadium on Friday.
• Regarding true freshman tight end Kyle Penniston and a possible redshirt, Chryst said there's a few guys that are on a "redshirt-ready" type year (a.k.a. you'd like them to redshirt for a year, but depends upon how they grow through the season or the team circumstances at that time). He said there's four-five guys to see how the season goes, but said he wouldn't go through the entire roster.
• Chryst said redshirt junior Leo Musso has played in a lot of games, but this is a different role with the first team defense. He's excited for the Waunakee, Wis., native.
• Chryst said the Badgers spend the first part of practice and the first meeting of the day on special teams -- says players have championed special teams. He also noted the experience of the special teams specialists like sophomore kicker Rafael Gaglianone, redshirt senior Drew Meyer and redshirt junior longsnapper Connor Udelhoven helps. "Good players are good to have," Chryst said.