WISCONSIN BADGERS

Gaglianone eager to return to form

Jeff Potrykus
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Wisconsin kicker Rafael Gaglianone played in just three games last season.

MADISON - Wisconsin’s Rafael Gaglianone still chafes a bit when he recalls how quickly his 2016 season was cut short:

Three games.

Eight field-goal attempts.

Ten extra points.

A back injury forced the gifted kicker to miss the entire Big Ten season and UW’s final 11 games overall.

“It was hard because you work so hard for those games," Gaglianone said after practice Tuesday morning. "And to go down in the beginning of the season, with how special we were looking, and the type of schedule we had, something you always look forward to. In big games, you’re going to need a kicker who is going to step up.

“That hurt a lot.”

Gaglianone, who is back kicking but remains on a modified schedule, is eager to regain the form he displayed early last season.

Gaglianone entered last season in excellent physical condition and eager to rebound from a shaky sophomore season during which he made just 18 of 27 field-goal attempts. He hit the ball with power and accuracy in camp and was almost perfect through the first three games as he made 7 of 8 attempts.

The end came in Week 3 against Georgia State. Gaglianone made 3 of 4 attempts but appeared uncomfortable on his follow-through and was in obvious discomfort when he spoke to reporters after the game.

He was held out of the Sept. 24 Big Ten opener against Michigan State and five days later underwent back surgery to repair a damaged disc and missed the remainder of the season.

“Everything was great until the third week,” he said. “We were kicking on that Tuesday before the third game and it was hurting. I checked in with the trainers and they told me not to kick again that week.”

Gaglianone followed those instructions and took Advil the morning of the Georgia State game.

“I felt great during pregame,” he said. “Was hitting from deep. I felt like myself out there. Then it kept getting worse and by the end of the game I was limping out of the stadium.”

The loss of Gaglianone thrust Andrew Endicott into the spotlight. Endicott made 13 of 19 attempts but had key misses in the Nebraska game and against Penn State in the Big Ten title game.

All Gaglianone could do was watch and offer tips and support.

“I’m just excited to get the opportunity to do it again," he said. “When you have a back injury you always think the worst. You aren’t sure if you’re going to be back. They assured me I was going to be back and I just had to be patient with the process.”

Gaglianone weighed about 220 pounds at the start of last season, a drop of about 25 pounds from his sophomore season. He weighs 235 now.

“I’m at the same spot I was last year at this time,” he said. “I’m not too worried about losing weight. Once summer comes around we’ll be running a lot and they’ll get us right in the weight room.

“It feels like everything is back on track. I’m just taking it one day at a time. If I get better every day I’ll be there eventually.

“By summer time I should be at 100%.”

Extra points: UW officials plan to appeal to the Big Ten to obtain medical waivers for Gaglianone, safety D'Cota Dixon and linebacker Chris Orr. Dixon was limited to three games as a freshman because of a shoulder injury. Orr suffered a season-ending knee injury in the 2016 opener. If successful, Dixon will have two seasons of eligibility remaining, Orr three and Gaglianone two. ...

David Edwards, who opened spring practice as the No. 1 left tackle, insists he is finished adding bulk to his body. Edwards, who will be a redshirt sophomore in the fall, played quarterback in high school. He started out at tight end at UW but moved to right tackle after last spring. He weighed 260 last spring, finished last season at 295 and opened this spring at 305. "I'm done gaining weight," he said with a smile. "I'm done."