UW football: Royston's transfer has its restrictions

Jim Polzin  —  3/15/2008 5:59 am

Kim Royston is free to leave the University of Wisconsin football program. However, Badgers coach Bret Bielema has put some limitations on where the reserve defensive back can continue his career.

After participating in the first two spring practices, Royston was noticeably absent from Thursday morning's practice. When asked about Royston, Bielema said the backup free safety was considering transferring to another program. Later in the day, UW sent out a news release confirming Royston's departure from the program.

When reached on his cell phone Thursday, Chris Royston listed Boston College, Iowa State, Minnesota, Nebraska and Washington as potential destinations for his son. During a meeting with Kim and Chris Royston Thursday, Bielema said he'd grant a release of scholarship to any program that doesn't appear on the Badgers' schedule the next three seasons.

That would seem to eliminate Big Ten Conference rival Minnesota, which would be an attractive option for Kim Royston because he grew up in the Minneapolis area and strongly considered the Gophers during his initial recruiting process. His mother, maternal grandmother and paternal grandmother are graduates of Minnesota.

However, per NCAA rules, Royston can't speak with members of the Minnesota coaching staff unless Bielema grants a release to the Gophers.

"It's home," said Chris Royston, whose son has two seasons of eligibility remaining. "What's happening with the University of Minnesota program, it's an exciting time. By all means, he will be looking at other Division I schools. We have contacted some, and we're in the process of contacting others and setting up some recruiting trips.

"Hopefully, Bret at some point of time will grant him a release."

That's not likely to happen, unless Bielema reconsiders his policy that prohibits players from transferring to programs that UW will face in the near future. Not that the already bitter UW-Minnesota rivalry needs it, but Royston joining the Gophers would add a juicy story line to the teams' 2009 meeting (Royston would have to sit out a year, per NCAA transfer rules).

That's exactly what Bielema is trying to avoid.

"That's the way it's been with every kid that's released from here," Bielema said. "When I release a young man from the University of Wisconsin, I don't want to have to face them in the next three years -- not from the concern of playing against them, but because I don't want the story to be about a player rather than the game."

Chris Royston said his son decided to transfer because he wasn't given a fair shot at winning a starting spot, a notion Bielema disputes.

According to his father, Kim Royston was told by UW coaches that he'd compete with Shane Carter for the starting spot at free safety. Carter started all 13 games there in 2007 and was named honorable mention All-Big Ten after leading the conference with seven interceptions, but he also missed his share of tackles during his first season as a starter.

Chris Royston said his son was disappointed when the coaching staff released a depth chart prior to spring practice that had Kim Royston listed behind Carter. Kim Royston was even more disappointed when, during the Badgers' first two practices of the spring, Carter got all the reps with the No. 1 defense.

In Chris and Kim Royston's minds, that was a clear sign the coaching staff already had decided Carter would remain the starter.

"He was not going to be allowed to compete for a spot at free safety," Chris Royston said of his son, who played cornerback and both safety positions during his UW career. "This year at strong safety, they're alternating, they're competing for a spot. And at the quarterback positions, they're alternating, they're competing for a spot. Coaches can say you're competing, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that isn't the case."

According to Bielema, Royston was being given an opportunity to win the starting spot.

"Everybody in our program has an equal shot," Bielema said. "Anytime you are personally involved in situation, you see things in a little bit different light. I can appreciate what he's saying, but we had lengthy discussions. He was the No. 2 free safety behind Shane Carter and I really liked the development at that position at this point.

"What they're looking for, we weren't able to provide at this time. They had an urgency they wanted to fulfill."

Maragos impresses: One of the players who stood out the most during the first week of camp was junior safety Chris Maragos.

Maragos sat out last season after transferring from Western Michigan, where he was a wide receiver. He was moved to strong safety during bowl preparations, then was shifted over to free safety Thursday to fill Royston's role as the backup behind Carter.

Maragos had two interceptions during Thursday's practice.

"Really, what we were trying to do with Chris is we really didn't know what he'd be best at, strong safety or free safety," Bielema said of Maragos, a Racine native. "The one thing that's really apparent is he's got good ball skills. Part of the reason he was a good receiver and was good during the scout team work is he's got a good feel for ball flow."

Newest Badger: UW officially announced that Sam Spitz will join the program starting next fall. Spitz is a 6-foot-1, 245-pound fullback from Whitney Young Magnet High School in Chicago. He was a two-time captain and three-time all-conference performer.

Jim Polzin  —  3/15/2008 5:59 am