MADISON - Tight end Clay Cundiff was on the receiving end of Wisconsin's only two scores of the afternoon this past Saturday in a loss to Washington State. In the first half, the redshirt junior reeled in a 17-yard catch on a corner route where he beat his defender. Cundiff caught another score to end the half on a 10-yard reception, dragging his defender with him into the end zone.

Despite the career day, the play that will stick with Cundiff is a fumble on a 24-yard reception that would have set UW up at the Washington State 12-yard line. Wisconsin's offense wouldn't get the ball back.

"I had a good first half but none of that matters unless you finish on the right foot and I didn’t do that today," Cundiff said after the game. "Just got to be careful of where I am on the field and protect the ball. I had a feel for where he was but I didn’t see him coming.

"Disappointed in myself. Felt like I let my team down, coaches down. Ball security is a huge, huge deal here. We practice it every day. Slipping up like that really hurts."

Now entering a new week of preparation, Cundiff has put that play past him and is looking to build on the early success.

"You can be frustrated to a certain point. It happens," Cundiff said Monday morning. "We came out with a loss, but just changing your mindset watching film of how can I clean this up for the next game and what can I do better here. Stuff like that."

Cundiff didn't wait long to do just that. Along with his roommates - quarterback Graham Mertz and center Joe Tippmann - the group went over the film together later when they got home.

Mertz and Cundiff have been roommates their entire time in Madison. That connection has built a level of trust between the two, and Mertz knows one play won't define his season.

"I know that dude, I know what he’s been through," Mertz told reporters after the game. "He’s a fighter. He’s going to learn from it. He’s going to make plays happen again. I’m blessed to have gone through what I’ve been through so I can share that with him."

Both Kansas natives, the two spent time together going back to their high school days, having played some 7-on-7 prior to arriving in Madison.

"He’s got the timing down on my routes and everything, so it’s nice to have him have confidence in me and I’ve got confidence in him," Cundiff said. "It’s a good duo."

That timing showed up on the second touchdown connection this past Saturday. On the 10-yard reception for a touchdown before the end of the half, Cundiff reeled in a quick read from Mertz with Washington State bringing six defenders on a blitz. With the pressure coming, Cundiff changed his route to help out his quarterback.

The Week 2 performance marked consecutive positive games for Cundiff. To open the season, he caught two passes for 23 yards, both of which went for first downs. Through two games, he's matched or nearly surpassed his statistics from a season ago.

Cundiff has already played 101 snaps with six catches for 82 yards and two touchdowns. In 2021, he played in 105 snaps with three catches for 86 yards and a touchdown.

"Definitely as a younger player I can make some plays, but just doing it consistently is what I’m trying to get to now," he said. "Watching Ferg (Jake Ferguson) before me in the tight end room, he was a guy who could do it every down, so just getting into that role and that mindset moving forward."

Naturally with Ferguson, who is now with the Dallas Cowboys, in the room, his opportunities were limited. With questions surrounding the state of the position after Ferguson's departure, Cundiff has filled the void and become a favorite target for Mertz. In fact, on each of the touchdown receptions, he was No. 1 in the progression of the play for Mertz, according to offensive coordinator Bobby Engram.

For Engram, this kind of receiving role for Cundiff is no surprise.

"He’s fast, think he has good hands. He’s got good movement skills and I think he understands the offense," Engram said. "He made some plays. I know he wants to have the one back as we all would have, but we still have faith in him. He’s going to continue to work and improve his skillset and be a part of our offense."

These moments and big plays come just a little over 10 months after being carted off the field against Iowa and taken to a hospital. Cundiff would get news later that he had broken his fibula, dislocated his right ankle and needed to reconstruct his deltoid. After the gruesome injury, he's gained a new appreciation for playing the game.

"Definitely after my ankle injury last year it feels good to be out there. Coming out of a game healthy, that’s a big thing for all of us," Cundiff said.

Mertz has been with him throughout his journey and expects nothing short of a rebound from his roommate and top tight end.

"He is a reliable target. You can never say one play shatters that no matter what," Mertz added. "He had a fantastic game. He did a good job in the run game and the passing game. I know him, he’s a fighter, he’s going to learn from it and if anything, that’s going to fuel him more than anything ever has. He’s going to continue to be a reliable target."

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