LAS VEGAS – Injuries and health issues have forced Wisconsin football coach Paul Chryst and his assistants to adjust on the fly as the Badgers prepare to face Arizona State in the Las Vegas Bowl.
According to a UW official Monday before practice:
Running backs coach Gary Brown did not travel with the team because of an unspecified health issue, not related to COVID-19.
“We’re not sure if he will be with us or not,” Brian Lucas, director of football brand communications, told reporters. Lucas added Brown was the only football “staffer” who was unable to make the trip.
UW head coach Paul Chryst said Monday night the issue is not related to Brown’s previous bouts with cancer.
“I think he is going to be fine,” Chryst said during a media session at the Circa Hotel. “We told him: ‘You’ve got to make sure you’re good.”
“I didn’t want Gary to (worry). I said we’ll be fine.”
Former UW tailback Garrett Groshek was brought in as a temporary hire to fill in for Brown.
Fullback John Chenal did not travel with the team and will not play in the game. UW declined to comment on the reason for Chenal’s absence. One potential replacement for Chenal is walk-on Riley Nowakowski, a redshirt freshman from Marquette High School.
Defensive end Matt Henningsen is not with the team but is scheduled to arrive before the game. UW declined to specify the reason for Henningsen’s absence.
In addition, center Joe Tippmann, right tackle Logan Bruss and tight end Jack Eschenbach are injured.
Tippmann has done limited work. Neither Bruss nor Eschenbach have practiced.
Senior left tackle Tyler Beach has gotten work at right tackle this week but Tanor Bortolini started two games at right tackle earlier this season.
“He has done a lot of things for us,” Chryst said of Bortolini. “We like who he is as a player and we trust him.”
Cormac Sampson could fill in for Tippmann at center.
Groshek, a graduate of Amherst High School, signed as an undrafted free agent with the Las Vegas Raiders but was released. He was signed to the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad last month but was released.
Groshek played in 41 games at UW and finished with 1,116 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 235 carries. He also had 79 receptions for 611 yards and one touchdown.
Chryst explained that after he learned Brown might not be available for the bowl game, he approached, Groshek, who was attending practice in Madison with former UW fullback Mason Stokke.
“I asked Grosh: ‘What have you got going the next couple days maybe a week?'”
Groshek was ready to help and Chryst acknowledged his experience in the offense will be invaluable as he works with a young unit.
“It is just nice to have someone who has been there,” Chryst said.
UW adding a transfer kicker
Kicker Vito Calvaruso, who handled kickoffs at Arkansas in 2020 and this season, announced on Twitter he is transferring to UW.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Calvaruso is from Jefferson City, Missouri. He recorded touchbacks on 33 of 48 kickoffs (68.8%) as a freshman in 2020 and on 63 of 74 kickoffs (85.1%) this season. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Garrett Groshek to step in as Wisconsin Badgers running backs coach