The Badgers cornerback has returned to the fold in a big way.
The Wisconsin Badgers are nearing the end of their spring football program, with practice No. 13 scheduled for Saturday, which will be similar to last year’s spring game.
As the spring has progressed, position battles have continued to evolve, with the cornerback position beginning to shape out.
Toledo transfer R.J. Delancy has began to run with the top defense alongside Nyzier Fourqurean on the outside, but the surprise name in the mix is redshirt senior Max Lofy, who didn’t play or really even practice last season due to an injury.
Lofy has been seeing action as the top slot cornerback in the spring and has impressed in the role, flashing on certain days.
What have the Badgers seen in their slot cornerback this offseason?
“He has done a really good job,” Fickell said. “And until this spring, Max had been hurt the entire time I’ve been here from the bowl game the year before. I think maybe practiced one time in fall and, you know, that’s some of those things. In year one, you almost write the guy off, and I got to give him a lot of credit. He has done a really, really good job.”
Lofy’s return to not only playing, but also being a key contributor in the spring has been a nice revelation for the Badgers, as his humble approach has set the tone.
“He has come out another one of those guys that’s an older guy that has been really humble. You know, he’s played, but yet all of a sudden he walks back in here and he might be, you know, two or three, doesn’t know a lot, and he has done nothing but this entire spring and really the winter other than work, keep his mouth shut. And now he’s out here performing and he’s going to give us a lot of opportunities, a lot of options. I think we’re going to continue, maybe to move him around.”
“I think you saw him maybe starting a little bit [and] he’ll get a lot of those opportunities and he’s doing a really good job.”
Lofy’s emergence has allowed the Badgers to be versatile with their secondary, as several players have moved around to different positions.
“We’ll be able to mix around because, you know, a guy like Max Lofy that hasn’t played, didn’t play at all last year, you know, has showed up and battled through a lot of injuries and is doing a really good job,” Fickell said. “And he might not be playing at that position, but gives us some flexibility to try to see who’s going to be the best eleven and who’s going to be the best 22.”
It’s unclear whether Lofy is the favorite to earn a starting role, as Ricardo Hallman hasn’t practiced due to offseason surgery, but he’s providing Wisconsin with competition in the secondary.