Jeff Potrykus

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Madison – Garrett Rand appears to have found a home at nose tackle.

The 6-foot-2, 279-pound freshman from Chandler, Ariz., continued to work inside Friday and appears ready to challenge redshirt sophomore Jeremy Patterson for the No. 2 position.

“This summer I learned all the plays and the techniques,” Rand said after practice.

UW’s No. 1 nose tackle is sophomore Olive Sagapolu, who started four games last season and played in all 13. Sagapolu is 6-2 and 340 pounds.

Patterson, who played in two games last season, is 6-3 and 350 pounds. He played in two games last season but gained about 15 pounds in the off-season and doesn’t appear to be moving well.

After early struggles, freshman punter Anthony Lotti is confident

Rand, who has bench-pressed 560 pounds, reported to UW at 274 pounds and hopes to continue bulking up.

“I gained 5 pounds — just because of the meals they’ve been feeding us,” he said. “I’ve been taking full advantage of that.”

Nevertheless, Rand believes leverage and strength are more critical assets.

“I would like to gain some weight because it would be a little easier taking on that double-team,” he said. “But honestly, if you have technique it’s not going to be hard.

“The first few days I found out it is about technique. I tried to muscle everything.”

Rand had scholarship offers from UCLA, Arizona, Arizona State, Michigan State, Nebraska, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Boston College and Illinois.

His only official visits were to UW and UCLA. The UCLA visit came after defensive coordinator Dave Aranda left UW for LSU.

Rand stressed Friday he never backed out of his commitment to UW and kept the UW staff informed throughout the process.

“I just wanted to check it out,” he said. “It was a great visit, but I was still committed to Wisconsin.

Before signing with UW, Rand met with new defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox. According to Rand, that meeting was set up before he visited UCLA.

“They weren’t worried,” he said of the UW coaches, “because I told them I was still confident in my decision.”

Rand hit it off with Aranda during the recruiting process and did the same with Wilcox.

“Honestly, not that much difference,” Rand said when asked about Aranda and Wilcox. “Dave is intense. Wilcox is more intense. It is crazy. I like the way he coaches.”

From the infirmary: Tailback Corey Clement was held out of practice Friday because of a hamstring injury. Clement, who was limited in practice Thursday, missed eight games because of a sports hernia. It is unclear how long Clement will be sidelined.

Starting right guard Beau Benzschawel suffered a minor right-shoulder injury on the next-to-last play Friday.

Redshirt freshman Jon Dietzen, battling for playing time at left guard, was held out because of a head injury suffered one day earlier. Micah Kapoi and Jason Erdman split time with the No. 2 line with Dietzen out.

Redshirt freshman David Edwards, who moved to right tackle from tight end after spring ball, worked with the No. 1 line Friday. He replaced redshirt sophomore Jacob Maxwell, who was given the day off. Maxwell missed the spring game and all the summer workouts because of a stress fracture in his left foot.

Extra points: Outside linebacker Christian Bell has been cleared academically and is set to join the team Saturday. Bell helped Hoover (Ala.) High School win three state titles and then signed with Alabama. He was asked to grayshirt and enrolled at Alabama in January but decided after spring practice to transfer. Bell must sit out the 2016 season but will have four seasons of eligibility...

Freshmen wide receivers Quintez Cephus and A.J. Taylor continue to impress in camp. Both appear to be legitimate candidates to get playing time this season.