MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin's 2016 signing class has been on campus for almost a year, so BadgerBlitz.com is catching up with some of the players who elected to redshirt in their first year on campus as they go through their first spring camp with the team.
Our interview with Cole Van Lanen, the 6-foot-5, 303-pound redshirt freshman offensive lineman from Green Bay, Wis., is included below.
It feels like spring practice just started, but the spring game is less than two weeks away now. Have you been enjoying the grind of another camp or are you looking forward to getting on the field at Camp Randall?
Cole Van Lanen: It’s a little bit of both. Last year on scout team I never really got to … I guess this will be my first game, so I’m excited to get on the field next Friday and play. It’s been fun having the pads on – I can really see my improvement from last year to this year, so I’m really enjoying every practice as a chance to get better.
How do you think your redshirt season went for you? Do you think having that extra year will pay off in the long run?
Cole Van Lanen: A lot of it was helpful last year – (you) learn a lot. You can just see your improvement and maturity like with footwork and the way you play. I think redshirting is a really good thing for everyone to come in, because you really mature and you play a lot better. You’re still a beginner, but you’re that much better at what you’re doing. I really liked redshirting and I’m glad I did.
Did you know going in to camp that a redshirt season was likely?
Cole Van Lanen: I knew that I’d redshirt. There’s always a chance of travelling, but literally it’s like 19 out of 20 time you’re going to redshirt. I knew that coming in. Like I said, a redshirt year gives you a chance for a huge jump. It’s only been a half of a year from last fall to now – that full year is going to make a big difference for me.
What was the best thing about getting those reps on the scout team?
Cole Van Lanen: You just learn how to play. I was going up against Sheehy, T.J. Watt, Vince Biegel on every play. That’s just going to teach you the speed of the game. It teaches you how to go against guys that are that good. Because those guys are the best in the Big Ten – if you go against them every day of your first year, that just helps you now and for your next four years.
Do you feel more comfortable now – on and off the field - than you did in the fall?
Cole Van Lanen: It’s night and day. You’re so used to everything now. Originally you’re so busy and you have no time for anything, it felt really choppy like this that and the other thing. Now it’s just like everything flows – it’s an easy transition.
Was the on-field transition more difficult or was it getting used to everything else that comes with playing college football?
They do a really good job, even from the get-go, of having us transition from high school to college, on top of the football. They do a really good job of balancing the football and the school – I’ve never really had a problem with academics or football. There’s a football part of the day and there’s an academic part of the day, and that’s it. I feel like with the academics if you apply yourself you’re going to be just fine. The football side, it’s just the speed of the game. It’s a full extra step. You’ve really got to pay, and you really have got to know your technique more than anything. It’s not just hitting someone as hard as you can anymore.
Did you have any ‘Welcome to college’ moments on the field or off of it when you got here for camp last year?
Cole Van Lanen: I just remember Tyler (Biadasz) and Patrick (Kasl) and me we came in and just felt like we got our asses kicked every day, we didn’t know what was going on. But if you look at us now we know what we’re doing and we’re holding our own. It’s really nice to know you’re putting in the work with other people from day one. You’re not the only person that’s getting called out. We’re all doing it together, we’re all learning it together. We’re all really close now and it’s really fun.
What goals do you have for the rest of camp and the offseason before things really start to ramp up next fall?
Cole Van Lanen: I want to have marginal gains every day. I want to better myself every day. We have coach Costigan – he comes up to us and asks what’s the one thing you’re going to work on today? And I just want to do that and focus on improving myself every day.
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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.
