(In the adjacent photo courtesy of the Royal Purple are left to right; Ryan Cortez, Kyle Wismer, Cole Klotz and Josh Williams)
Just three weeks until the UW-Whitewater football team returns to campus for the start of its 2013 training camp. At the Division 1 level, with a lengthy list of scholarship athletes, you know who will show up for the start of preseason practice.
At the D3 level a school’s “recruit list” and returnees isn’t cast in stone until that opening day of training camp.
My tentative 2012 Warhawk depth chart features scheduled returnees highlighted in neon yellow. The one aspect that jumps out at the reader is a yellow dominated list of linebackers scheduled to be on the North campus practice field complex on the first day of preseason practice.
This year's returning linebackers include two players that have been given preseason All-American consideration.
Four of the top six tacklers last year are back led by 2012’s top tackler – Cole Klotz. The 6-4, 244 lb. senior who played his high school football at New Berlin Eisenhower led the Hawks with 63 tackles in 2012 including a team-high 35 solo tackles. He finished eighth in tackles in 2011 despite missing two games due to injury.
Josh Williams returned last year after missing the entire 2011 season after rupturing an Achilles tendon. The former Mukwonago star had a big return by finishing second on the team in tackles last season. Williams finished with 54 tackles including eight tackles for a loss and two-and-a-half quarterback sacks.
Kyle Wismer followed up his team leading 75 tackles in 2011 with another solid season. The former All-State performer from Richmond/Burton (IL) High School finished fourth in tackles as a junior last year despite missing a game due to injury. Among Kyle’s 42 tackles last year were a team-high nine tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
Ryan Cortez reminds me of another recent UWW linebacker – Lane Olson. Cortez finished 2011 with 35 tacklers including six tackles behind the line of scrimmage and three QB sacks. Much like “Lane Train” Olson, the Palatine, IL native is a bit undersized (6’, 218 lbs) but has the knack of making “highlight reel” type hits with his quickness at his linebacker postion.
The cabinet is certainly not empty after the four just mentioned.
Bryan Spakowicz, Oscar Johnson, and Joe Paulus, all seniors, are all scheduled to return this year after recording 10 or more tackles in 2012.
Last year’s recruiting class at linebacker, along with this year’s, will again put plenty of quality talent on the field for UWW’s new linebacker’s coach, John Miech,
One of the keys to UWW defensive coordinator Brian Borland’s defense each season is the ability “to run to the football” from sideline to sideline. His 2013 defense will certainly fit that mold.
Mark your calendar - only three weeks until the UW-Whitewater football team returns to campus for the start of its 2013 training camp. At the Division 1 level, with a lengthy list of scholarship athletes, you know who will show up for the start of preseason practice.
At the D3 level a school’s “recruit list” and returnees isn’t cast in stone until that opening day of training camp.
My tentative 2012 Warhawk depth chart features scheduled returnees highlighted in neon yellow. The one aspect that jumps out at the reader is a yellow dominated list of linebackers scheduled to be on the North campus practice field complex on the first day of preseason practice.
This year's returning linebackers include two players that have been given preseason All-American consideration.
Four of the top six tacklers last year are back led by 2012’s top tackler – Cole Klotz. The 6-4, 244 lb. senior who played his high school football at New Berlin Eisenhower led the Hawks with 63 tackles in 2012 including a team-high 35 solo tackles. He finished eighth in tackles in 2011 despite missing two games due to injury.
Josh Williams returned last year after missing the entire 2011 season after rupturing an Achilles tendon. The former Mukwonago star had a big return by finishing second on the team in tackles last season. Williams finished with 54 tackles including eight tackles for a loss and two-and-a-half quarterback sacks.
Kyle Wismer followed up his team leading 75 tackles in 2011 with another solid season. The former All-State performer from Richmond/Burton (IL) High School finished fourth in tackles as a junior last year despite missing a game due to injury. Among Kyle’s 42 tackles last year were a team-high nine tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
Ryan Cortez reminds me of another recent UWW linebacker – Lane Olson. Cortez finished 2011 with 35 tacklers including six tackles behind the line of scrimmage and three QB sacks. Much like “Lane Train” Olson, the Palatine, IL native is a bit undersized (6’, 218 lbs) but has the knack of making “highlight reel” type hits with his quickness at his linebacker postion.
The cabinet is certainly not empty after the four just mentioned.
Bryan Spakowicz, Oscar Johnson, and Joe Paulus, all seniors, are all scheduled to return this year after recording 10 or more tackles in 2012.
Last year’s recruiting class at linebacker, along with this year’s, will again put plenty of quality talent on the field for UWW’s new linebacker’s coach, John Miech,
One of the keys to UWW defensive coordinator Brian Borland’s defense each season is the ability “to run to the football” from sideline to sideline. His 2013 defense will certainly fit that mold.
No comments:
Post a Comment