:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67155044/usa_today_13861799.0.jpg)
During the summer doldrums of sports news, many college football fans are starved for news and information regarding their favorite teams.
With that in mind, we at B5Q have decided to take a more detailed look at each walk-on contributor and scholarship player on the Wisconsin Badgers football roster for 2020 in a running feature, our 2020 returnee profiles.
Each weekday we will breakdown one player on the football roster to look back at their recruiting process, their career as a Badger to this juncture and lastly preview their potential contribution to the team in 2020 and beyond.
Today, we feature a senior walk-on in Cristian Volpentesta.
Name: Cristian Volpentesta
Position: cornerback
2020 eligibility: redshirt senior
Recruiting info out of HS: unranked, safety, Highland Park, Ill.
2016 Recruitment: A versatile high school athlete on both sides of the ball, Cristian Volpentesta chose to walk-on with the Badgers over other interest from Valparaiso, Winona State, and a smattering of Division II schools.
Career statistics: 13 games played
2019 statistics: nine games played
Player overview: Another prime example of the Wisconsin walk-on program, Cristian Volpentesta has been in the defensive backfield now entering his fifth year. A little undersized at 5-foot-9, he has primarily seen playing time as a special teams player. Last season he saw his most extensive playing time appearing in nine games, and recording two tackles.
Best case scenario for 2020: Wisconsin has traditionally had many of their upperclassmen walk-ons contribute in special teams. In looking at the roster heading into 2020, Cristian Volpentesta appears to be a likely candidate to see greater responsibility, especially with COVID-19 potentially stretching rosters further than normal. He becomes a valuable member of the kickoff and punt coverage units, and forces a key fumble.
Likely role on team in 2020: I anticipate that Volpentesta continues to see playing time on kickoff coverage, and could easily increase his tackles and games played from 2019 now in his final season on campus.