Kornacki: Bredeson 'Can't Wait' for Return to Camp Randall
11/15/2017 11:41:00 AM | Football, Features
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Ben Bredeson knows Camp Randall Stadium quite well. Every one of his four varsity seasons with Hartland Arrowhead High ended there in state championship games.
"We won my freshman and sophomore years," said Bredeson, a sophomore offensive guard for the University of Michigan, "and we lost my junior and senior years. That one my senior year was a heart-breaker. We lost a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter, and it ended up being a very poetic ending for the other team."
Kimberly rallied for 28 unanswered points in a snowy second half for a 49-42 win that still rankles him.
On Saturday (Nov. 18), Bredeson will play his first game at Camp Randall when the University of Michigan football team takes on Wisconsin, the team he grew up rooting for.
A recent Sports Illustrated article on the Badgers reported on their ability to secure nearly every homegrown star from the state, noting that 13 of 16 four- and five-star recruits from Wisconsin over the past decade chose to play in Madison.
Bredeson, a consensus four-star recruit who was a USA Today first team All-American, is one of the outliers.
"Wisconsin came hard at me and we had a lot of mutual interest in each other," said Bredeson, who also had Notre Dame among his final three choices. "Growing up in Wisconsin, just about everyone grows up a Badger fan, me included as a young kid.
"But as I went through the recruiting process, I looked for what the best fit was for myself. I loved the University of Wisconsin. It was a beautiful place. But in the end, Michigan was the right spot for me, and I believe that in my heart to this day."
Bredeson also enjoyed the benefit of joining his older brother, Jack, who was already in Ann Arbor as a pitcher on the Wolverines baseball team.
"It's awesome being here with Jack," said Ben, who is 19 months younger. "We watch Monday Night Football together and go and eat dinner. I have someone from home right here, someone I've grown up with my entire life who is one of my best friends.
"His best days are getting out of practice and running over to the stadium for my games. My best days are sprinting out of here after spring ball practices and, luckily he's a relief pitcher, so I usually don't miss him pitching. We're each other's biggest fans."
Jack is an inch taller at 6-foot-6, but is 73 pounds lighter than his 308-pound younger brother. They played high school football together, but Ben didn't play baseball, opting for basketball and briefly, track and field
Ben said playing for the Warhawks prepared him for Michigan because their head coach, Greg Malling, ran the program along the lines of a college team and was strict on the rules to develop discipline.
Ben Bredeson said the speed at which he and senior offensive lineman Mason Cole (52) "clicked" has helped him find success at his position.
Bredeson made a strong first impression as a true freshman in 2016, and started the last eight games. Offensive line is one of the rarest position groups for first-year players to make an impact, and I asked Bredeson what enabled him to do so.
"That preparation in high school was the start," said Bredeson. "And then, when I got here, Coach Drevno took it from there to get me ready as quickly as possible if I was needed to step in if called upon. When my number got called, I had to deliver, and we've just been going ever since."
Bredeson points to offensive coordinator and line coach Tim Drevno for his constant improvement. He was All-Big Ten honorable mention as a freshman, and made the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-American team.
"My technique and knowledge of the game has skyrocketed under him," said Bredeson. "I see myself get better every week. He teaches you the ins and outs of schemes and technique, and what defenses are trying to do and what offenses are trying to do to counter that, and it all just rubs off on you. I found it interesting from Day One, and I've just been trying to learn everything I can."
The last true freshman to start on the offensive line was Mason Cole in 2014. He's now a senior and starts at tackle on the left side with Bredeson. Last season, Cole was the starting center and Bredeson played to his immediate left.
"Mason was my host here for my visit," said Bredeson. "So, we started from Day One together. I love the guy, and it's so nice playing next to him. He's very football-savvy, very football intelligent. For us, it took maybe one week for us to click together and have full intuition and know what each other is doing.
"I feel like we play really well together, and I love playing next to him."
Michigan's running game has picked up down the stretch run, with 334 yards against Rutgers and 371 against Minnesota. That the Wolverines are running more power football with counter plays puts a quick smile on Bredeson's face.
"We absolutely love that," he said. "Every offensive lineman loves that. Controlling the run game, controlling the box is the ultimate goal. So, when we get games like Minnesota, where we can just run the ball and we don't have to throw that much, that's a beautiful game.
"That's what football's all about. When you can push the other guy more than he can push you, and keep running the ball and not having to pass, that's a beautiful thing."
Bredeson was named Offensive Lineman of the Game for the mashing of the Golden Gophers.
"I've cleaned things up on my run-blocking technique," said Bredeson. "I watch tape of myself from last year, and I just kind of smile, seeing that then, I really didn't have that great of form. Now I'm working on my pass pro, trying to get my punch stronger, quicker and more accurate. I'm always chipping away at small things with technique.
"All the experience I got in all the big games we played in last year really helped. I was able to build upon that, and now I'm playing faster, calmer and I'm more explosive with it."
Going back to Wisconsin brings a great challenge with it.
While the Wolverines rank No. 3 in the Big Ten with 207.8 rushing yards per game, the Badgers lead the conference in rushing defense with only 81.5 yards allowed. They also run a 3-4 front that requires special focus in practices because most opponents run a 4-3.
"With the 3-4 front, there are generally a lot bigger guys up front," said Bredeson. "Wisconsin is no different. They've got some big guys in the box and have linebackers on the outside who can pass-rush. So, it changes the schemes some and it changes the angles.
"But we're prepared for it. We've always been prepared for it. We always go against the 3-4 and 4-3 in practices. We know our assignments, and the adjustments and techniques for it."
Bredeson is returning to Camp Randall under completely different circumstances and excited for the challenge in his home state.
"I can't wait," he said.
