Badgers walk-on tight end Jack Eschenbach an intriguing project for UW coaches

MADISON – Wisconsin tight ends coach Mickey Turner felt a bit lonely more frequently than he wanted during preseason camp.

After injuries tore through his position group, Turner for a time was left working with two warm bodies – redshirt sophomore Jake Ferguson and redshirt freshman Jack Eschenbach.

Ferguson was a known entity after catching 36 passes for 456 yards and four touchdowns last season but still faced a long road to become a dominating, two-way tight end.

And Eschenbach?

“He is our project,” Turner said. “Intriguing.”

Because of the injuries to Gabe Lloyd (leg), Luke Benzschawel (knee) and freshmen Hayden Rucci (arm) and Clay Cundiff (head), Eschenbach got more work in camp than anyone on the staff anticipated.

After all, Eschenbach was a walk-on who played wide receiver at Benet Academy in Lisle, Ill., and had worked on the scout team in 2018.

“He got a lot of valuable reps,” offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph said. “I liked him from the day he walked in the door. Sometimes that happens. Sometimes you throw a guy in the mix and the guy who looked nervous and shaky somehow gets it done and gets some confidence.

“I really like the way he has progressed. Is he there yet? No.”

The staff believes Eschenbach has the frame, skill and work ethic to get there in time.

“I think if he can put on 10 or 15 pounds of good weight, he could be really good,” said Zander Neuville, a sixth-year senior who joined UW as a walk-on and started out at defensive end before switching to tight end. “But the biggest things are knowing what to do and technique. Those are two of the basic things, but if you can do them well, that is how you become a really good player.

“Last year he struggled a lot with knowing what to do. He has gotten a lot better with that. Pretty much any play, you feel confident he is going to know what to do. And he worked on his technique a ton this fall with Coach Turner.”

Eschenbach carries only 224 pounds on his 6-foot-6 frame. His goal is to hit the 245-pound mark by next spring.

For comparison, Ferguson is 6-5 and 246. Neuville, who was granted a sixth year of eligibility in early August and as a result missed camp, is 6-5 and 252.

“Coach Turner likes my pass game but I definitely need great improvement in my run blocking,” Eschenbach said. “And that is the most important thing. To be a tight end here you have to be able to block. I have improved but have so far to go.”

How often was Eschenbach asked to block in high school?

“Literally never,” he said, chuckling. “I was a receiver and I was on the outside.”

Eschenbach helped Benet Academy reach the state semifinals as a junior and senior. He had 32 receptions for 486 yards, 15.2 yards per reception, and two touchdowns as a junior. He improved his numbers to 44 receptions for 711 yards, 16.2 yards per reception, and five touchdowns as a senior.

Eschenbach was as fast as most high school defensive backs, but it was his size that gave him a significant edge. He isn’t fast enough to run away from college defensive backs, but if he can get close to the 250-pound mark and maintain his speed he could become a match-up problem for linebackers and safeties.

“He is a faster, more agile guy,” Neuville said. “If he can get to 240 or 245, I think that would be a really good weight for him.”

Eschenbach had several walk-on offers coming out of Benet Academy. He chose UW because of its combination of academics and football.

“I wanted to prove to myself I could accomplish something as big as this,” he said, “maybe someday earn a scholarship and a starting role. Who knows?

“I thought this is as good as it is going to get. If I’m not going to earn a scholarship now, I am going to work for one.”

Benzschawel, who is wearing a brace on his right knee, remains out indefinitely. Lloyd will miss the entire season. Cundiff made his season debut last week against Central Michigan, though Rucci has yet to play. Neuville could return for the Sept. 21 Big Ten opener against Michigan.

Eschenbach has played late in both games this season and continues to focus on getting as much experience as he can this season and at the same time building for the future.

Preparing for the opener at South Florida was like nothing he had encountered before in football.

“It was more nerve-wracking than I thought,” he said. “The night before I was so nervous. I was going through every play for hours, making sure I knew everything. I’m happy to have gotten those nerves out of the way.”