Special return for Wisconsin

TAMPA, Fla. - Wisconsin fifth-year senior special teams standout James Kamoku was told by doctors he had season-ending injury after suffering a torn Achilles' tendon late in preseason camp.

Kamoku had other ideas.

"I remember about halfway through the season, someone made reference, 'James thinks he's going to come back,' " Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said on Thursday. "He was sitting in every special teams meeting.

"Finally, I grabbed him one day. He goes, 'Coach, I'll be there for the bowl game.' "

Kamoku was good to his word and has taken part in the two practices here. It apparently took some persuasion on Kamoku's part, but he has apparently convinced the doctors to let him play against Tennessee on Tuesday in the Outback Bowl.

"There's a risk involved, but it's a risk he's willing to take," Bielema said. "(He) asked the doctors to do (it). They wouldn't clear him if he wasn't 100 percent but he probably can't be in a full-fledged sprint right now."

Bielema said Kamoku, a linebacker, will play on two special teams units but will not play on defense. But the popular Hawaii native, from Kailua-Kona on the Big Island, has already had a positive impact on his teammates.

"He's kind of a high-spirited guy and really got the guys going (Wednesday) when they saw him out here practicing," Bielema said.

Hill Update: P.J. Hill has strung together enough practices for Bielema to declare the sophomore running back should be at 100 percent against the Vols.

"Very, very consistent," Bielema said, when asked how Hill has looked. "Which is what we're looking for, because he'd have a good day and then he wouldn't be able to go the next day.

"Really, the last week in Madison, all three of those practices, he was 100 percent and he's been 100 percent down here for the first two days."

Hill, who suffered a leg bruise against Indiana on Oct. 27, continues to wear a green (non-contact) jersey. Freshman Zach Brown will start and sophomore Lance Brown will back him up, along with Hill.

"I think with the combination of (Hill), Lance and Zach, it feels pretty good," Bielema said.

Life Without Henry: This wasn't the homecoming freshman cornerback Aaron Henry envisioned.

While his teammates practiced at Jefferson High School, Henry sat on a table, under a tent, undergoing therapy with a trainer.

Henry, from Immokalee, Fla., had his impressive first season end in early bowl practices when he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He played in all 12 games, starting the last two after junior Allen Langford was knocked out with a torn ACL.

"He's doing great," said linebackers coach Dave Doeren, who recruited Henry. "He obviously wishes it didn't happen. The first couple days were tough. He really wanted to play against Tennessee in his home state. He understands it's an injury he can rehabilitate and come back from."

One thing that should help Henry in his rehabilitation is his strong religious faith and positive outlook.

"I think once he got over the shock of not playing, (he knew) he'll be fine," Doeren said.

Notebook: The temperatures have been warmer than normal, probably somewhere in the mid-70s when the Badgers practiced under sunny skies on Thursday, which Bielema was hoping for to get his player acclimated to the heat. "If it was 70 in our indoor practice facility, it's not the same effect when it's 70 here with the sun beating down on you," Bielema said. "I think our guys are excited to be in the sun, maybe not so right now. In an hour when they get to go back to the hotel they will be." ... Tight end Travis Beckum (separated shoulder) also continues to wear a green jersey. ... Freshman cornerback Otis Merrill, who was redshirted after shoulder surgery in the preseason, has returned to practice.