OT Patrick Kasl leaves Wisconsin football program to focus on academics

MADISON — One Wisconsin offensive lineman will no longer be with the football program, as head coach Paul Chryst told reporters on Wednesday that redshirt sophomore Patrick Kasl has decided to leave the team to focus on academics.

Wisconsin left Kasl off its 105-man roster that was released on Wednesday afternoon during UW’s local media day, as initially called out by WOZN’s Zach Heilprin, which led to the surprising news.

“Patrick has decided to not play football, and he’s going to focus on his academics,” Chryst said. “Had a really good conversation with him about it. He was involved with a really dynamic summer program. I think it got him in a spot where you got a conversation. He wants to focus on that, so he won’t be with the team.”

Heading into his third year at Wisconsin, Kasl—a biomedical engineering major—was expected to compete for playing time at left tackle during fall camp alongside fellow redshirt sophomore Cole Van Lanen and redshirt junior Jon Dietzen.

Now both Van Lanen, a former four-star prep recruit, and Dietzen, who is bumping outside after being an interior lineman during his collegiate career, are the likely candidates to battle for that spot.

A Wyoming, Minn., native, Kasl was a three-star recruit by all major recruiting services. He played 14 games last season, including substituting in for David Edwards at right tackle during Wisconsin’s 34–24 win over Miami in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30.