“It’s going to be unreal running out of the tunnel for the first time knowing I’ll be starting the game.”
Those words from Manitowoc Lincoln alum and the starting offensive left tackle for the Wisconsin Badgers, Davis Heinzen.
Heinzen comes to Wisconsin as a grad transfer from Central Michigan, where he started 36 consecutive games at either left guard or left tackle for the Chippewas.
He was in a battle throughout training camp and was officially named the starter by head coach Luke Fickell on Monday.
“I’ve had that experience that makes it a little easier to adjust to learning a new system and playbook,” Davis told SeehaferNews.com. “Having them trusting me from day one of training camp, even though I haven’t taken a full set of reps with the ones (starters) it means a lot that they’ve (the coaching staff) put their faith and trust in me to do the job.”
Heinzen graduated from Central Michigan in early May and had about a week to come home and visit friends and family, then get to his new digs in Madison to begin what he calls a dream come true to play for Wisconsin.
“There were workouts in the morning and meetings with coaches to learn the playbook as best as I could,” he explained. “The workload picked up in July with OTA’s (Organized Team Activities) and fall camp. It’s been hectic, but I love it. I ‘m excited to get the season started.”
Davis and the Badgers open the season on Thursday, hosting the RedHawks of Miami of Ohio, a team Heinzen knows quite well, playing them in the Mid-American Conference.
The RedHawks are a team in transition, but despite their turnover, Heinzen says they’ll be tough to deal with.
“Their defensive scheme has been standard from year to year. I don’t expect to change much,” the Lincoln grad revealed. “They’re gap sound and very good at what they do. We’ll be prepared for whatever they bring at us.”
Davis told us he does expect to have plenty of people knocking on his door or blowing up his phone to get them tickets to watch him play, but also noted, “Some games it’ll be tough to get tickets, but I’ll do the best I can.”
You can hear Davis, and the Badgers play all season long on 1240 WOMT.
Thursday night’s coverage begins at 6:000 p.m.
