Jeff Potrykus

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Madison – Wisconsin’s Dan Voltz spent the last several days seeking advice from trusted sources and pondering arguably the most difficult decision of his young life:

Keep battling the injuries that had battered his body for most of his time at UW. Or walk away from football?

Voltz, a fifth-year senior offensive lineman from Barrington, Ill., decided the time had come to hang up his uniform.

“It’s hard,” Voltz told reporters Tuesday morning after he watched UW conclude preseason camp. “This program has really been a big part of my life going on five years now, something I deeply care about. Telling them that I’d no longer be playing was difficult for me.

"But what made it easier is that I made it clear I am going to remain a big part of the program. My role is just going to shift from playing to helping out in other ways.”

The plan for Voltz, who missed the final five games last season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee Oct. 24 at Illinois, is to work in the weight room and be on the sideline for practices and games.

With 27 starts at center, Voltz is by far the most experienced offensive lineman in the program.

“I respect and appreciate a ton what he has done for this university,” head coach Paul Chryst said after practice. "And he will continue, just in a different capacity.

“Dan put everything he had into this. … He is going to help with the line. He is going to help in the weight room. He will still bring a lot, just in a different capacity."

Injuries to Derrick Tindal, Zack Baun appear minor

Voltz suffered injuries to his legs, chest and left ankle in his first three years in the program. Last season he missed one game with an elbow injury and then suffered the knee injury in UW's 24-13 victory over the Illini.

He sat out practice this past spring but participated in summer workouts and opened camp Aug. 8 as the No. 1 left guard. The coaching staff was cautious with Voltz in camp and gave him several practices off to aid his recovery.

Voltz, who discussed his future with coaches, teammates and family members, said that although the knee injury played a significant role in his decision, he is battling other physical issues. He declined to identify those issues.

He acknowledged the decision was made in part because he wanted to be healthy after he stopped playing football.

“That’s something not many college football players probably think about, which is a good thing," said Voltz, 22. “But when you are at the point where you start thinking about life after football, your long-term health, that is when you have to take a step back and say: ‘Is this the best decision for my body?’

“It’s a selfish decision but rightfully so. You have to make the best decision for yourself in the end, especially when it comes to your physical health.

“Because that is something that sticks with you for the rest of your life.”

Voltz volunteered to move to left guard for his final season after being impressed by the play of Michael Deiter, who moved to center last season after Voltz went down.

With Voltz no longer a factor, the makeup of UW’s starting line remains uncertain with the opener against LSU less than two weeks away.

When redshirt junior Ryan Ramczyk returns to practice from a leg injury, he is expected to start at left tackle. Redshirt sophomore Micah Kapoi and redshirt freshman Jon Dietzen have been splitting time at left guard with Voltz sidelined.

Deiter, a redshirt sophomore, is entrenched at center, with redshirt sophomores Beau Benzschawel and Jacob Maxwell at right guard and right tackle, respectively.

Deiter has 13 starts, seven at left guard and six at center. Benzschawel has eight starts. The first six came at right tackle and the last two at right guard. Maxwell has three starts, all at right tackle. Kapoi has 10 starts, six at left guard and four at right guard.

That is a total of 34 starts, just seven more than Voltz, who hoped he would provide veteran leadership to the line in his final college season.

Voltz sounded eager to transition to his new role.

"I feel like I have a lot to offer," he said. "The way football is played now and what defenses are running, the mental side is such a big part. Just having an extra set of eyes at practice, at games, I feel is a huge asset to the group. ... I feel like I can continue to help these guys grow."

Asked about the makeup of the line without Voltz, Chryst indicated the players' thoughts are elsewhere.

"I think everyone feels that this is a good decision," he said. "All you really care about as teammates and coaches is: 'How is Dan?'

"And Dan will be really good. He is so much more than just a football player."