By Jackson Dargan

Peter Konz came to Wisconsin as one of the top recruits in his class, figuring that he would play offensive tackle, offensive guard or even be moved the defensive line.

After redshirting his freshmen year, he entered the summer trying to compete with Josh Oglesby and Gabe Carimi as one of the offensive tackles. However, illness and injuries by the starting center gave him a few weeks of work at the center position during the summer.

With 11 minutes remaining in the first quarter of the game against Fresno State, starting center Travis Frederick went down with an ankle sprain forcing Konz into the starting position.

“I saw Travis go down, and then heard coach say, ‘Konz get in there’, it felt like a classic T.V. show moment,” Konz said. “I realized that this was really it.”

Standing on the sideline baffled at what was soon to transpire, he was quickly rushed to by Scott Tolzien.

“He told me that we can do some snaps, we can practice, it was a crazy experience.”

As Konz ran out onto the Camp Randall field he felt a rush through his entire body.

“All I could think about was don’t fumble, don’t fumble, don’t fumble and this well be good.”

Having a strong performance filling in, and with Travis Frederick still injured, he got the start at center the next week. Along with getting the start, he also was able to practice with the first team offense.

“That week and the week after were huge for me, I got a better handle on the speed, learned a lot of the calls, and got more settled,” Konz said.

UW not only boasts one of the biggest offensive lines, but it is also a group that is one of the closest on the team. Whether it is Gabe Carimi, John Moffit, or Konz himself, the joking with each other never seems to stop.

“Without all those guys the move would have been a lot more difficult, Moff really helped me take some big steps…were all really close as a group,” Konz said.

The past six weeks have been highly critical in the development for Konz, as he is not only dealing with the pressures of starting for UW, but also in learning how to play the position.

“I’ve really become more confident, I was making quiet calls, but now I make more and louder calls, and I really am being able to see defenses better.”

Although he is quite the jokester, Konz does realize what the rest of the season means not only for him, but also for the entire team.

“We got to finish strong as a team, I want to do that for our seniors, and me personally I got to get better, I’m young, I got a lot to learn,” he said.

When asked if he wanted to play center, and if not where would he like to play, he had a quick and humorous response.

“I want to play running back, I can read any hole like a book,” Konz said “The only issue is that there gone by the time I get there.”