The second on our players to watch list is a Badger who has yet to play in a single game—Ryan Ramczyk. The 6’6″, 308-pound lineman transferred to UW last season from the University of Stevens Point, but because of NCAA rules, had to sit out the 2015-2016 season. This year, however, Ramczyk is expected to start at left tackle, replacing the recent graduate Tyler Marz, who was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Tennessee Titans.
After many adjustments in the 2015-2016 season for the Badgers offensive line, offensive coordinator and offensive linemen coach Joe Rudolph has a health group of men to going into the first game of the season at Lambeau Field.
Ramczyk, a graduate of Stevens Point Area High School, was first team all-state in 2011. He was offered a scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh, which was coached by current Badgers head coach Paul Chryst at that time, but turned the offer down because of the distance. Instead Ramczyk stayed in his hometown of Stevens Point, first taking a year off football to go to the technical school and then playing for two years with the University of Stevens Point.
As a Stevens Point Pointer, Ramczyk finished 2nd team all-conference honors during his freshman year with the D3 program and 1st team all-conference honors during his sophomore year. Ramczyk was also named the team’s offensive freshman of the year in 2013. When Chryst was appointed head coach for the University of Wisconsin in 2015, Ramczyk made the decision to leave UW Stevens Point to play for Wisconsin.
Back in spring, Ramczyk was bombarded by the press in his first interview as an eligible player.
On Saturday, April 9th, he said while talking with the media, “I just wanted to come here and work as hard as I could and see where that got me. Last year was tough, not even having the opportunity to be able to play, but I think I picked up a lot of techniques, fundamentals as well as the playbook.”
Ramczyk’s teammates are excited to see what he will bring to this upcoming season.
“He’s a freak. He’s a very athletic guy,” running back Dare Ogunbowale said of Ramczyk. “We’re excited to have him holding down that left tackle spot.”
Ramczyk is expected to claim the left tackle spot come September 3rd against LSU. Our very early predictions for who else will be joining Ramczyk on the line are as follows:
Left Tackle: Ryan Ramczyk
Left Guard: Jon Dietzen
Center: Michael Deiter
Right Guard: Beau Benzschawel
Right Tackle: Jacob Maxwell
Photo courtesy of Bucky’s 5th Quarter