Steffes details grayshirt plans

Fond Du Lac (Wisc.) St. Mary's Springs athlete Eric Steffes had several offers to consider throughout the recruiting process, though one always stood out above the others. A lingering injury, however, has forced the 6-5, 225-pound prospect to postpone his college enrollment plans.

"I'm set on Wisconsin, but I have to have surgery on both of my shoulders so I'm not going to join the team until after spring ball next year," Steffes said.

"I won't be down in Madison during the summer. I'm not sure what I will do for first semester, but I have to make sure I get somewhere where I have somebody I can rehab with. [Wisconsin] is looking into the rules to see if I were to be in Madison, whether I could use the facilities."

Steffes played through his injury during the season, but knew he had to get it taken care of before playing in college. He has tears in both labrums and plans surgery to correct the issue later this winter.

"The surgery is going to be as soon as hockey season is over," Steffes said. "It's kind of been something that's bothered me since grade school, but it's never been a problem until this year."

Other programs like Eastern Illinois and Illinois State had offered Steffes a scholarship, but the chance to play for the home state school was an easy choice.

"Wisconsin was always the school I wanted to go to if I could get an offer," Steffes. "As soon as they offered me I was pretty much set on Wisconsin; it has always been my dream to go there. Living in Wisconsin, they've always been my team, and once my recruitment picked up I knew it was Wisconsin for sure. It was a pretty easy decision for me."

A three-star prospect, Steffes is ranked as the No. 4 player in Wisconsin for the 2011 class. He has the potential to line up either as a tight end or defensive end in college.

"I'm really thinking [Wisconsin's] thinking tight end," Steffes said. "It could be d-end if I put on a lot of weight, but I think tight end is where they want me. I've been talking to the coaches a lot and it seems like offense is going to be my side of the ball."

As a junior, Steffes averaged nearly 20 yards per catch and totaled six touchdown grabs. He put up similar numbers on that side of the football as a senior despite playing through injury.

"I barely played any defense at all this year because of my shoulders. I pretty much played all on offense," Steffes said. "I sat out one game because of my shoulder, and it bothered me a little bit, but all in all I did alright. I had more catches than I had last year, but I know I didn't have as many touchdowns."