Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Thursday, April 24, 2008
Football: Clay set to make UW debut
MADISON — At times, you see glimpses.
University of Wisconsin redshirt freshman running back John Clay will bolt through the line of scrimmage. The combination of size, strength and speed - which produced incredible expectations when Clay signed with the Badgers a year ago - is all there, waiting to bust out.
During those moments, running backs coach John Settle can ponder the possibilities.
''I tell you what,'' Settle said. ''It's scary.''
It's scary good, in terms of what Clay could do in his career with the Badgers. But it's also just plain scary for defenders who have to deal with him.
Junior linebacker Elijah Hodge knows what that's like. He has had the misfortune of trying to run with Clay in coverage this spring. Clay has turned several short passes into long gains, leaving Hodge in his wake.
''You can see it on film,'' Settle said. ''If (Clay) gets squared up on a defender, after he catches the ball, that guy's in trouble.''
Still, there is so much more to the position than looking good with a football under your arm. Like blitz pickups.
Clay rushed for 5,005 yards and 58 touchdowns in his prep career at Racine Park. He didn't spend a lot of time pondering which linebacker was blitzing.
The great unveiling of Clay finally comes today, about eight months later than expected, during the annual spring game at Camp Randall Stadium. It will be the first chance for UW fans to see Clay in his No. 32 Badgers jersey.
''Everybody's just waiting to see me come out and play, finally get a chance to see me out there,'' Clay said. ''I'm ready to show people I'm ready to play college ball. I'm ready to step up, do my job and help the team out.''
If Clay has learned anything, after what he's been through in the past year, it's patience. He missed the first two weeks of fall camp while taking summer classes to make himself academically eligible. That led to the decision to redshirt him.
Just when he was making progress, he missed three weeks of bowl practices with a concussion, ''which is really like another spring ball,'' UW coach Bret Bielema said.
Asked where he made the most progress during his redshirt year, Clay said: ''I guess just being patient. After sitting out my first year, just looking at how the older guys did everything, how they adjusted and did what they needed to do. I kind of picked up on that and talked with them, saw what I need to do.''
Settle would urge fans to display some of that same patience with Clay.
''He's beginning to show some flashes of doing some good things,'' Settle said. ''The thing we have to focus on now is consistency and making sure he gets everything done.''
Like most young backs, Clay has a tendency to bounce every run to the outside, a habit he is trying to break.
''Certain plays, you've got to press the line of scrimmage,'' Bielema said. ''That makes the play work. If you're looking to bounce it right away, it can't set up the right reads.''
Clay (6-foot-2, 231 pounds) has the speed to get around the corner and the size to pound it between the tackles. If anything has surprised Settle so far about Clay, it's his shiftiness.
''I thought we'd have a big thumper that can run downhill,'' Settle said. ''But he does a good job of making guys miss, out in space, catching the ball, that type of thing. I've been impressed with him.''
As one of four talented tailbacks, it won't be easy for Clay to earn playing time. In some ways, he has relished being one of the guys, instead of the focal point.
''In high school, everything was on me to make sure I made the big play,'' Clay said. ''Now, we've got talented backs. I don't have to be the main guy.''
Clay is focused on doing his assignments - and trying not to do too much. ''That's when you start to mess up,'' he said.
Clay said he will be content this season with spot duty, or maybe some extended time in blowouts.
''That's how everybody starts,'' he said. ''You've got to start off slow, you can't just jump right into it. You've got to earn your spot and earn your time. That's what I'm doing right now.''
With all the injuries, the Badgers might not use full offensive and defensive lines for the entire scrimmage, which would make it hard to judge Clay's progress. Still, the fans on hand should look for the glimpses of what's to come.
''I know when I get in a groove, it's like everything is just clicking,'' Clay said of those times. ''I don't second-guess myself. I don't think too much. I just know what I need to do.''
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