Nettles' Christmas gift is a start against Vols

Nettles

MADISON Wis. - Wisconsin sophomore cornerback Josh Nettles hopes to have a surprise Christmas present for his mom, though it won't be delivered until New Year's Day.

With the torn ACL suffered by freshman cornerback Aaron Henry in practice leading up to the Outback Bowl, Nettles suddenly has a much bigger role against Tennessee.

At the very least, Nettles is expected to be the fifth defensive back in passing situations. He also has been splitting time with the No. 1 defense with fifth-year senior Ben Strickland, the expected replacement for Henry.

Rather than tell his parents about it, Nettles planned on surprising them when they showed up at the game on Jan. 1 in Tampa, Fla. Nettles is from DeFuniak Springs in the Florida panhandle, and expects about 16 family members and friends at the game. At least his Christmas idea saves on shopping.

"I'm definitely excited," Nettles said Friday as the Badgers wrapped up practices in Madison. "I haven't told my mom anything about it. I'm hoping for a late Christmas present. (My parents) don't know anything about it. They'll get there and I'll get in the game and play a couple snaps (on defense)."

Not only has Nettles become a key figure in the bowl game, he also figures to play a prominent role next season.

Junior Allen Langford, who started the first 10 games at left cornerback, also underwent surgery for a torn ACL suffered against Ohio State on Nov. 3. He and Henry won't be available until fall camp at the earliest.

Also, junior Jack Ikegwuonu, a two-time first-team All-Big Ten cornerback, is contemplating an early jump to the NFL.

That means Nettles and redshirt freshman Niles Brinkley could line up as the No. 1 cornerback tandem in the spring. That's pretty much how Nettles got his first chance last spring after Langford was knocked out with an injury.

"Jack came and talked to me, he was like, 'We need you right now. Step up,' '' Nettles said. "That's what I did."

Said defensive backs coach Kerry Cooks: "Josh had a great spring ... probably one of the best springs I've been associated with" for a player.

Unfortunately for Nettles, it didn't carry over into fall camp. He had to complete some summer courses to stay academically eligible, which seemed to slow his progress.

"Josh just continues to put himself in a position at the end of the year, he's got to work extra hard," coach Bret Bielema said.

Nettles said he learned his lesson and is working to avoid a repeat of that situation. "I had to grind and get it out and I did," he said. "I'm not consistent in the classroom. I'm really trying to be. They (coaches) tell me consistency in the classroom will carry over to consistency in football. I'm trying to get both of them balanced, so I can be able to be there."

Nettles (5-foot-10, 179 pounds) knows a lack of consistency is his big issue on the field, too. "Sometimes I get out there and I get frustrated and I just shut down," he said. "It's all about consistency."

With Henry's rapid development in his first year, most of Nettles' snaps this season have been on special teams. He got three snaps in the nickel defense against Michigan, which he said was his most of the season.

In terms of athleticism, Nettles is one of the most gifted players at his position. He was a versatile athlete at Walton High School who was a quarterback his final two years and a Class 2A finalist as a senior for Florida's Mr. Football Award.

"He's got the speed and he's got the aggressiveness," Cooks said. "He's a physical player. Athletically, he's probably in the top three or four at corner. He's a very capable guy, as far as athleticism. Now, it's a matter of him being able to do it mentally and adjusting."