MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin junior offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk will forgo his final season of eligibility with the Badgers to declare for the NFL Draft.
"It was a definitely a difficult decision, but at the end of the day, when I finished playing in the bowl game, it became a lot easier," Ramczyk said with an interview with uwbadgers.com. "I realized it's really what I want to do. That gave me comfort."
Ramczyk played in 14 games for the Badgers after he transferred to Wisconsin from UW-Stevens Point before the 2015 season, forcing him to sit out for a year and wait for his chance to play Division I football.
"It's definitely a different path than most," Ramczyk said in the same story. "I found my love for football after I took that year off (in 2012) and ever since then it's been in my mind to play in the NFL."
Once he got the chance he didn't look back - the Badgers named Ramczyk their starting left tackle for the 2016 season at the start of spring workouts, only adding to the pre-season expectations that were already building up around him after word got out about his performance on Wisconsin's scout team during the 2015 season.
And while it was going to be hard for Ramcyzk to live up to those expectations, he more than delivered on them. Ramcyzk was named an All-American at the conclusion of the regular season, in addition to being named first team All-Big Ten, and earned very positive grades from scouting services like Pro Football Focus. He earned a first-round grade from the NFL Draft Advisory Board.
In the end the time was ripe for Ramczyk to head to the NFL as part of a draft class that at first glance appears to have few elite offensive line prospects. Ramczyk will reportedly have to sit out for four months while he recovers from a hip surgery, so his 14-game career with the Badgers will have to serve as his resume for NFL teams if he is unable to work out at the combine or in private sessions with NFL teams.
"The surgeon said there was less damage than he expected and it went well," Ramczyk said in the same story. "I won't be able to test (physically) at the (NFL) combine, but I'll be there for all the interviews and test and measurements.
"It's a big decision, but with this opportunity it's pretty difficult to pass up."
Ramczyk's departure means the Badgers will have to find a new starter at left tackle for the 2017 season, and is the only expected vacancy on the offensive line. Freshmen tackles Cole Van Lanen and Patrick Kasl, as well as sophomore offensive lineman David Moorman, could be top contenders for the job in spring and fall camp, as all three players got reps at left tackle during UW's developmental practices in the run up to Wisconsin's trip to the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.
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John Veldhuis covers Wisconsin football, basketball and recruiting for BadgerBlitz.com on the Rivals.com network. Follow him on Twitter at @JohnVeldhuis.
