Badgers giving speedy Trezy a chance to run the ball

MADISON, Wis. -- The fastest player on Wisconsin's football team had been stuck in neutral for the first nine practices this spring. Now, Serge Trezy is being presented with a change of pace.

Trezy, a junior-college transfer who arrived on campus as a cornerback, was moved to running back for the first time during Wednesday's practice. And he carried the ball a handful of times during live reps with mixed results.

He was stopped for a loss on his first touch and fumbled the ball away on his second touch while practicing with the team's reserves. Later, however, he demonstrated the quickness and cutting ability that had Badgers fans buzzing upon his commitment to the program. Trezy reportedly has run a 4.29-second 40-yard dash.

"We wanted to take a look at what Serge could do," Badgers head coach Paul Chryst said after Wednesday's practice. "You watch his high school tape and just see if it's a place that suits him."

What was Chryst's assessment of Trezy's first day at tailback?

"Didn't take care of the ball very well," Chryst said. "But first snaps, did all right. Really early in it."

Trezy rushed for 4,164 yards and 54 touchdowns in three years as starter at Agape Christian Academy in Orlando, Fla. And in his two junior-college years at Eastern Arizona, he played running back in addition to defensive end. In 2013, Trezy rushed for 814 yards (7.8 average) and six touchdowns to earn first-team All-Western States Football League honors.

When Trezy committed to Wisconsin, he hoped he would eventually earn an opportunity to play running back, even though the previous coaching staff wanted him at defensive back. He could have competed for playing at defensive back last season, but his transcripts were not cleared in time, so he enrolled in January.

Where the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Trezy fits into the tailback picture now remains to be seen, though Wisconsin already has experienced a measure of success converting a defensive back to running back. Redshirt junior Dare Ogunbowale made the move last season and rushed for 193 yards and a touchdown. He is participating in spring practices as the team's backup to Corey Clement.

Redshirt freshman Taiwan Deal is working to solidify the No. 3 running back spot. And incoming freshman Jordan Stevenson, a highly touted high school prospect from Texas, should be in the mix as well.

Aranda important: One of the first moves Chryst made upon taking Wisconsin's head coaching job in December was to retain defensive coordinator Dave Aranda to his staff. And four months later, Chryst also considers it among his most important decisions.

"Guys that I know and trust had worked with Dave and known Dave and certainly I had an idea of what was going on," Chryst said Wednesday on a Big Ten spring football teleconference. "And then when I had a chance to talk to some of the players here that I knew and respected, how they felt about Dave, it was a no-brainer for me. And then I felt fortunate when Dave said it would be a good fit for him, too."

With the departure of running backs coach Thomas Brown for Georgia, Aranda is the only returning assistant coach on the staff. He and the players are surrounded by new defensive assistants -- Inoke Breckterfield (defensive line), Daronte' Jones (defensive backs), Tim Tibesar (outside linebackers) -- but Aranda has brought a measure of continuity and ease to the transition.

Last season, Wisconsin ranked 17th nationally in scoring defense (20.8 points) and fourth in total defense (294.1 yards per game). Chryst noted Aranda's ability to adapt to his personnel made him particularly valuable.

"There's a foundation that you have regardless of the people," Chryst said. "Yet he can adjust. We need to adjust to the players. I think it boils down to it's as simple as he's a good coach."

Badgers safety Michael Caputo, the team's leading returning tackler, said he was "pretty excited" when Chryst retained Aranda.

"I like coach Aranda," Caputo said. "I love the scheme. I love everything about the defense. It's just great to have that coach that you like that's coaching you and makes you feel confident in doing what you already know how to do."

Tindal update: Reserve defensive back Derrick Tindal, who was carted off the field into an ambulance during Sunday's practice, suffered a concussion, Chryst said following Wednesday's practice.

Chryst noted he saw Tindal on Wednesday morning in the dorm cafeteria and said he "was in good spirits" but did not have a timetable for Tindal's return.

"Each guy is a little bit different," Chryst said. "We've got a good protocol and we'll follow that and we'll see."

Tindal was injured on what became the final play Sunday when he attempted to tackle Deal in open space. He briefly lay motionless on the turf but had feeling in his extremities when he was taken to UW Hospitals and Clinics for evaluation.

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