Bison Athletics

Preseason Interview with S Cole Wisniewski

By brady

Posted on October 14, 2024

Throughout the year, especially in practices, it was tough. Springball wasn’t super easy because I was learning something new in year four of college after playing linebacker for three years.

What was the transition like last year moving from linebacker to safety?

Throughout the year, especially in practices, it was tough. Springball wasn’t super easy because I was learning something new in year four of college after playing linebacker for three years. Even fall camp wasn’t super easy because I was getting back into the habit of something that I hadn’t really done much before. But towards the end of fall camp, I was having more fun than I ever had playing football because, for the most part of it, it was a really big struggle. The brakes are different, the back pedal is different. And then finally, it started clicking, and I was having a ton of fun on a play-by-play basis.

Did you have any nerves going into the first game?

It’s kind of weird—I don’t really get too nervous for games anymore. In high school, I used to get super nervous, but I think it’s just how much preparation we do, to be honest.

How do you think your experience at linebacker helps you playing safety?

I knew the run fits really well. So, I kind of knew how the line was going to move and it made it super easy because as a linebacker you’re so close to it. And you really just have to key in on one piece—you can’t see the whole thing—where when you’re further back, you can key one piece, but you can still see the entire thing in your peripheral.

I have to imagine you’re much more comfortable coming into the position this fall camp. How does that change things for you?

It helps with confidence, really. I know what the calls are going to be—I know what to expect. Even with receiver routes, before I didn’t really have to worry about the entirety of route concepts, but I do now playing safety. And now, just understanding how the quarterback’s progression works and how routes are going to be flowing back—now I have a whole season of that under my belt to leverage.

Do you feel like a leader within the group now that you know what’s going on?

Yeah, for sure. So it was interesting because when I was playing linebacker, I was probably in contention to be in that captain mold, but then I got switched to safety and I didn’t know what I was doing. So, it’s almost like I was a rookie in that room, but I was still a leader on the team. So it was a super interesting mix… This season has given me a lot more freedom to lead and also know what’s happening on the field.

So whose idea was it to switch it? Was it the coach’s idea to switch you to safety?

It actually happened before the 2022 season even ended. We were having conversations about how we were going to fill the room with two or three of our starters and our key role players leaving… I remember that Coach Olson talked to me at the end of the year meeting and told me, ‘Hey, Cole, this might be something that we’re looking at doing.’ And then we had another player transfer out and he brought it up to the defensive staff. As the story goes, Coach Entz had a very blank stare on his face when that was first brought up.