Despite being a former walk-on and a clear back up to Corey Clement, redshirt senior Dare Ogunbowale has proved his leadership to the Badgers.
Alongside senior outside linebacker Vince Biegel, Ogunbowale was named team captain earlier this month and also was chosen to be the student-athlete guest speaker at the Big Ten annual luncheon in late July.
“I’m more of a doer,” Ogunbowale said about his role as a leader in the offense. “I’m not going to really change the way I talk to guys or the way I try to lead the team. I’m just going to continue to go out there and take advantage of the opportunities and lead by example and make sure I’m bringing up the level of energy that all the guys have.”
Ogunbowale said he felt good about his teammates following Tuesday’s practice and leading up to the Badgers season opener against LSU this Saturday. Players were moving around quickly, he said, and the team displayed confidence in their ability to execute plays.
“You can expect a lot of the same,” Ogunbowale said of the Wisconsin offense. “We’re not trying to change too much, just execute. We have a lot more confidence with the offensive line and with the different skilled positions.”
Of the running back rotation, Ogunbowale does not expect much to change from fall camp to the regular season. Throughout fall camp, Ogunbowale, Clement and Deal have been rotating series with each taking two reps. Clement is listed as the #1 running back with Ogunbowale at #2 and Deal #3.
“Obviously different situations call for different backs,” Ogunbowale said. “But I can’t imagine it will be too much different.”
Ogunbowale said in the next few days of practice before Saturday’s game he needs to focus on the details, which the coaches continuously stress.
“It’s about making sure everything that we do we’re focusing on the little things because they can become big things,” he said. “These next couple practices, it’s a lot more mental things than physical things.”
Despite being considered 10-point underdogs against LSU, Ogunbowale, like head coach Paul Chryst, said that the Badgers are confident in their ability to play well and win on Saturday. It’s the team’s confidence that Ogunbowale says is their biggest strength heading into the season opener.
“Coach Chryst talked about the biggest gift an athlete can have is their confidence,” he said. “If our confidence is where it needs to be and right now it looks like it is, then we can make some big things happen this Saturday. I’m looking forward to it.”
And obviously as a Milwaukee native and graduate of Marquette High School, Ogunbowale anxiously and excitedly awaits the opportunity to play at Lambeau Field.
“Anytime you get to play after a long offseason is exciting, getting to go against a good opponent,” he said. “Then me getting to play at Lambeau, a place where I’ve watched a lot growing up, that adds a little bit too it.”