University of Wisconsin strong safety Chris Maragos, a 2007 transfer, felt a little unappreciated and uncomfortable during the two seasons that he spent at Western Michigan, despite starting eight of 13 games as a wide receiver for the Broncos in 2006.

"I really don't feel like they thought I could cut it there," said Maragos, who redshirted as a walk-on in 2005, "so that was probably the reason why they didn't try to keep me.

"We had a falling out with some things and I just felt like they were being dishonest. And if I couldn't trust them, I didn't think I could play for them."

When he decided to transfer, he considered all of his options.

"We looked at the whole market -- some I-AA and Division II schools," he said. "I didn't get that many offers. They didn't even want me at the lower divisions, so I said, 'Let's go play for Wisconsin. Let's give it a shot.'

"I thought to myself, if I'm going to sit out a year, then, I'm going to sit out a year for a program that I'm passionate about."

That would be the UW football program that Maragos followed while growing up in Racine. Two former walk-ons, Jason Doering and Jim Leonhard, have been his inspiration and role models.

"I didn't hear from them (Badgers) coming out of high school," Maragos said. "I transferred from Park to Horlick between my junior and senior year, so I probably got lost in the mix a little.

"As a senior, I had a good first three games and then our quarterback broke his collarbone, and the stats just weren't there.

"I guess you could say I was more of a late bloomer. I was more of a track guy in high school than I was a football player."

Western Michigan was the only school that offered Maragos the opportunity to walk on.

"I could see how people would pass on me," he said. "Especially when you're 5-11 and you're playing wide receiver and you don't have that elite speed.

"That was very motivating to me. All I wanted was a shot to prove myself. But I couldn't hold it against them (the Badgers). I just wasn't ready to cut it there."

When he was ready -- after that two-year apprenticeship at Western Michigan -- there were still some people who questioned his decision to enroll at Wisconsin.

"When I went back home and everyone heard the news that I was transferring," he recalled, "it was like, 'You should have transferred down a few divisions instead of going there. You're going to be a little fish in a big pond.'

"There were some people close to our family who didn't think I should do it, or could do it."

Imagine their surprise today, given that Maragos has made a successful transition from receiver to safety. That allowed him to get on the field last Saturday when the Badgers used multiple defensive backs against Akron.

In addition, he showed his value in another area -- serving as the holder on all placements.