Jack Cichy declares for NFL draft, writes about love for Badgers in essay on The Players' Tribune

MADISON – Jack Cichy has decided to follow his head and pursue his dream of playing in the National Football League, though as he described eloquently in The Players’ Tribune, his heart will remain in Madison and the University of Wisconsin.

“I love Wisconsin,” Cichy, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in August, wrote in an article released Tuesday morning. “And, in one way, that’s what makes what I’m about to tell you all so tough.

“Even just typing this out now is … hard, so I’m just going to come out and say it.

“I’ve decided not to apply for a sixth year of eligibility and to instead declare for the NFL draft.

“I’m going to take my shot and see what happens."

Based on Cichy’s history at UW, no one should be surprised if he succeeds in the NFL.

Cichy, from Somerset, had two choices as an undersized linebacker coming out of Hill Murray High School in Minnesota: Attend Holy Cross or join UW as a walk-on.

“From the time I was a little kid growing up in Somerset, Wisconsin,” Cichy wrote, “I always wanted to be a Badger.

“My family watched every Wisconsin football game on TV. We never missed one. Ever. And sometimes — the best times! —we’d make the 3½-hour drive down to Madison for the games.

“I had so many Wisconsin shirts back then. Hats, too. My prized possession was the stuffed Bucky Badger I kept on my dresser.”

Cichy played in just four games as a freshman in 2013 under first-year coach Gary Andersen.

He redshirted in 2014 and began to blossom in 2015 after Paul Chryst took over the program.

Cichy started four games, played in all 13 and finished fifth on the team in tackles with 60.

The 2015 Holiday Bowl against USC allowed Cichy to impress fans outside the Big Ten footprint. After sitting out the first half because of a targeting penalty in the regular-season finale, Cichy recorded nine tackles and was named defensive MVP in UW’s 23-21 victory.

Three of his tackles were sacks – back-to-back-to-back sacks.

The nickname "three-sack Jack" was born.

Cichy was a full-time starter in 2016 and was playing at an All-American level when his season ended on Oct. 22 at Iowa.

Cichy had recorded a team-high 10 tackles in a 17-9 victory but tore his left pectoral in the game. He suffered the injury in the first half, returned for the second half after getting taped up and played several series despite having to use his right hand to lift his left arm into position before each play.

Despite missing UW’s final seven games, Cichy finished tied for fourth on the team in tackles with 60.

He was healthy when camp opened in July and was performing well in practice when he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in August.

“Four months ago, about 20 minutes into a routine preseason practice in Madison, we were running a standard special teams drill,” Cichy wrote in The Players’ Tribune. “I was covering down on the returner like I’ve done a million times over the years, and as I went to change direction I planted just a little bit wrong. 

“I felt my right knee kind of pop, and, I don’t know, crack … and I went down in an instant.

“That’s when I screamed.

“Loud.

“I wasn’t screaming because of the pain, though — it didn’t even really hurt all that bad. The scream was more out of … fear."

Cichy donned a brace and finished practice. He practiced the next day but when he continued having issues with the knee, he underwent an MRI.

The ACL was torn.  

“When the MRI came back, I cried like a baby,” Cichy wrote.

“I just heard the news and then kind of tuned out for a minute or so.

“When I came back around and really put it all together, I excused myself to another room and … sobbed.

“After hearing the bad news from the surgeon all I could do was cry. It was one of the lowest points in my life.”

With his teammates supporting him every step of the way, Cichy underwent surgery, attacked rehab and became a coach on the sideline for the second consecutive season.

Cichy saw UW go 12-0 and win the Big Ten West Division title. He was there when UW’s perfect season was ruined with a 27-21 loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten title game.

He plans to be at the Orange Bowl when UW faces Miami and attempts to become the first team in program history to win 13 games in a season.

For his teammates, he had a heartfelt message:

"I want you to go out there and play hard, and compete like you know how, and represent for Wisconsin, and win the game," he wrote in the Players' Tribune essay.

"But more than anything, please just go out and…

“Enjoy every damn second of this experience. Enjoy it. Have fun!...

“And, when you do, please know that in doing so, you’ll be bringing me an incredible amount of joy, and making the entire state of Wisconsin extremely proud."