Last year, junior linebacker Mark Zalewski came into the season as one of the few inexperienced players on a veteran defense. He was quiet and reserved, but he took his time, learned from some of the older guys, and excelled as the strong side linebacker. He ranked first on the team in tackles for a loss (11.5), fourth on the team in sacks (3.5), fifth on the team in tackles (55) and definitely ranked up there in big hits. For his hard work and great play, Zalewski was named as Honorable Mention All-Big Ten player by the media.
The tables have turned this season. \Zew,"" as his coaches and teammates call him, is now one of the few veterans on a young and inexperienced defense. Over the summer, he was named captain and moved to the middle linebacker position. Though there are many changes, nothing seems to phase Zalewski.
""I like it a lot,"" Mark says of the move. ""I get to use my speed a little bit more and run around a little bit more.""
Defensive coordinator Bret Bielema likes the move as well.
""Mark has been a pleasant surprise for us. He has really responded well; the keys, the reads, he's got great ability, just his overall presence,"" Bielema said. ""It's good because he can now make plays both ways.""
Little has changed in Zalewski's game since last year. He still leads the team in tackles for a loss with three, and is third on the team with eight tackles, while recording one sack.
To many people who know Mark, he is a quiet guy. His title of team captain, as well as his position on the field as middle linebacker, usually calls for a fiery personality. However, he knows he has to come outside of himself a little bit to lead this Badger team.
""From the middle linebacker position, you have to be really verbal and I have no problem with that. There is no room for a quiet player on the football field,"" Zalewski said.
He makes all the team's calls and adjustments and especially likes to lead with his play on the field.
""I always try and make that first big play,"" he said. ""I try to get everyone excited to lead them. In camp, coach [Barry] Alvarez spoke about making that first big spark on your side to get everyone amped up. So I try and make the first spark to get everyone into it.""
That big play becomes even more important when playing on the road, where the crowd is usually hostile. Taking the crowd out of the game is a huge part of erasing the home field advantage and an early big hit can do just that. With a young Wisconsin team, taking away the home-field will be very important this weekend playing in North Carolina.
""It's a lot of fun to have people come out really excited and after a little while have the crowd be silent,"" Zalewski said.
Despite being a senior, North Carolina's quarterback Matt Baker will be making just his second career start. He was rattled last weekend against #16 Georgia Tech, throwing two interceptions in the final three minutes when his team had a chance for the upset. An early big play by Zalewski could do double duty in taking the crowd out of the game and rattling UNC's inexperienced quarterback.
Zalewski looks to lead off the field as well. He remembers former UW middle linebacker Jeff Mack, who helped him learn his way and he tries to honor him by helping the younger guys out and serving as a mentor for them as much as he can.
""When I came in here, I was one of Jeff Mack's backups,"" Zalewski said. ""I would ask him questions and he would always help me out with that. I watch film a lot with [freshman line backer] DeAndre [Levy] and some of the other young guys and I tell them where they should be in a certain call and tell them what the game is about and what they have to go through.""
Zalewski is definitely the right guy to talk to. It seems he has painlessly made the transition from the strong side to the middle, from rookie to veteran, from reserved player to vocal leader, from starter to captain and hopefully from honorable mention All-Big Ten to an All-Big Ten Player.
If his past transitions can serve as an indicator for the future, ""Zew"" is a star in the making. The team is 11-3 with him starting and Badger fans should feel comfortable with the defense riding on Zalewski's broad shoulders.
