Wisconsin’s Dean Engram growing at wide receiver after position change

MADISON – The transfer, introduced on Jan. 31, initially appeared curious.

Wisconsin cornerback Dean Engram, who had began 5 video games and performed in all 13 in 2021, was switching to large receiver.

Engram completed the 2021 season at UW with a personal-best 20 tackles, three passes damaged up and an interception. In brief, he performed his finest soccer since coming to UW. And with Caesar Williams and Faion Hicks leaving for the NFL, Engram appeared set to be UW’s most reliable cornerback.

Now with the Badgers set to wrap up spring apply Friday, the transfer seems to be one that can profit Engram and the crew in 2022.

UW added three senior cornerbacks by way of the switch portal. That trio – Jay Shaw, Justin Clark and Cedric Dort Jr. – and fifth-year senior Alexander Smith give cornerbacks coach Hank Poteat  4 skilled choices.

In the meantime, Engram seems to be rising extra comfy on offense with every apply. He made a number of spectacular performs and confirmed his versatility Tuesday.

Extra:The Wisconsin protection is missing skilled safeties, and that has Jim Leonhard involved

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Extra:UCLA switch Keontez Lewis and former cornerback Dean Engram are prepared make an impression with the Wisconsin offense

Engaged on the No. 2 offense throughout an 11-on-11 section, Engram sealed exterior linebacker Darryl Peterson to the within to assist tailback Grover Bortolotti get across the nook. On the following play, Engram ran a crisp in-breaking route and caught a go from Chase Wolf.

Engram runs fluidly, has proven the velocity to get deep, has proven he’s keen to run in-breaking routes into visitors and has the quickness to run jet sweeps.

“I’m fairly comfy however there’s at all times going to be one or two issues coming off the sector that you would be able to study from,” Engram stated final week. “That has been my focus. Probably not studying it unexpectedly however discovering the place I can develop from that day, from that apply.”

Engram, who famous he research video of former UW large receiver A.J. Taylor, usually has caught something inside attain this spring.

“Way back to I can keep in mind I’ve been catching the ball,” Engram stated when requested about his fingers. “When it wasn’t soccer, I used to be within the outfield enjoying baseball. After I wasn’t within the outfield, I used to be enjoying basketball.”

For the primary time, Engram is working with is father, offensive coordinator Bobby Engram.

“Generally you don’t know whether or not to name him dad or coach,” he stated, smiling. “However it’s a blessing. It’s one thing I’ve at all times dreamed about and it’s coming true.”

Though UW should substitute Danny Davis and Kendric Pryor, who mixed for 64 catches for 894 yards and 5 landing final season, large receivers coach Alvis Whitted seems to have loads of expertise available.

Chimere Dike, Skyler Bell, UCLA switch Keontez Lewis, Markus Allen and Engram all seem able to making performs.

Dike, who had some entertaining battles with Clark on Tuesday, hauled in two lengthy passes from Graham Mertz.

On the primary play, he out-fought Clark for the ball and made the catch contained in the 5. On one other, he received behind security John Torchio and reserve cornerback Amaun Williams for a landing of about 50 yards. The ball was thrown over the skin shoulder reasonably than the within shoulder however Dike adjusted properly and made the catch look straightforward.

In the meantime on protection, inside linebackers Tatum Grass and Jordan Turner continued to work with the No. 1 unit.

The No. 2 pairing was Jake Chaney and Maema Njongmeta.

Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard defined Monday that inside linebackers coach Invoice Sheridan deliberately juggled his pairings final week to check how comfy and assured the gamers had been within the scheme.

“The plan was to try this the final two weeks of apply to see who’s counting on anyone else to speak, who actually is aware of it and who’s versatile in what they do,” Leonhard stated.