Lucas at Large: Fumagalli embracing NFL draft process
April 11, 2018 | Football, Mike Lucas, Varsity Magazine
Tight end working way through waiting game of future pro career
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BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. — Toeing the pitching rubber, Troy Fumagalli used a full windup before unleashing a four-seam fastball on the ceremonial first pitch for the Milwaukee Brewers' home opener at Miller Park.
If it looked like the former Wisconsin tight end knew his way around a mound, it's because Fumagalli was once a promising lefthanded pitcher at Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora, Illinois.
In fact, he dreamed about a pro career in baseball, not football.
"I had a really good year in baseball my sophomore year and I wanted to quit football and play baseball full-time," he admitted. "My dad convinced me to stay with football, and I'm lucky I did."
FUUUUUUUUM?????? "I let it rip." What grade we giving @TroyFumagalli for his ceremonial first pitch at the #BrewersOpener? Check it out from @Big_Cheeks34's view.
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) April 2, 2018
Lucky because he had growth plate surgery on his throwing elbow as a prep junior. Lucky because he could still play football well enough to attract a modest number of college recruiters.
Fumagalli ended up walking on at Wisconsin.
Meanwhile, he didn't have any offers to play baseball collegiately or professionally. But he went to some scouting camps and "I was getting a bunch of looks" before the elbow injury.
Estimating that his fastball was in the mid-to-high 80s, he didn't come close to that velocity on opening day in Milwaukee. "I had that sports hernia," he reasoned, "so I couldn't let it rip."
In early March, Fumagalli attended the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis but he didn't run or catch passes because of that hernia. This week, he will return to Indy for a "medical re-check."
"I'll sit down with doctors and they'll see the progress I'm making," he said. "Hopefully, they'll see I'm projected to be ready a week or two after the draft (April 26-28). We don't see any big issues."
Shoutout to the @Brewers for inviting us to #BrewersOpeningDay. Good luck this season! ????
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) April 2, 2018
After leading the Badgers with five catches in a 28-21 loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game, he was thrown a curve in mid-December when the sports hernia was diagnosed.
There was even some question whether he would be available for the Orange Bowl.
"I ended up feeling okay enough to play," said Fumagalli, who had three catches for 31 yards in the 34-24 win over Miami. "I was just trying to go out there and make an impact.
"It was my last game in a Wisconsin uniform — (Fumagalli finished with 54 receptions for 1,627 yards in 52 career games) — and it would have taken a lot more than that for me to not go out there."
After returning to Madison, he got treatment for a couple of weeks and was feeling pretty good during the early practices leading up to the Senior Bowl on January 27 in Mobile, Alabama.
The Denver Broncos coaching staff handled the North team and at least one of their assistants needed no introduction to Fumagalli. Broncos tight end coach Geep Chryst is the brother of Paul Chryst.
"Geep is an awesome guy and very similar to Paul in his football IQ and his love for the game," Fumagalli said. "I thought I had a great week. I kind of showed them everything I could do."
Since there was only one fullback on the roster, Fumagalli got reps in the backfield along with snaps at tight end. But he reaggravated his hernia the final practice and didn't play in the game.
After undergoing more treatment, the injury was still bothering him. So, he decided on surgery with the intent that he'd resume training shortly after the draft.
Fumagalli measured up well — literally — against 16 other tight ends at the scouting combine. He tied for the longest arm length (34 1/8 inches) and had the fourth-biggest hands (10 1/4).
"This is funny," he said. "My left hand measured at 10 and 3/8 inches and my right one was 9 and 5/8. Everyone was like, "Oh, no, he's missing his finger. That's why his hand is so much bigger."'
It has been well-documented how Fumagalli was born with a congenital birth defect (Amniotic Band Syndrome) and had his left index finger amputated soon after birth.
As for the discrepancy in the size of his hands, he says it's because of an old injury, a broken thumb: "I can't stretch the right one out fully. But my hands are actually both 10 3/8 inches."
At the collegiate level, Fumagalli has answered questions about his catching radius and his clutch gene. He also has proven to be a competitive blocker at the point of attack.
"Depending on what is needed, I would have no problem putting on 10 to 15 more pounds and playing the Y," he said of the on-line tight end. "Or, I'll stay where I'm at (248 pounds) and play the H."
With Fumagalli moving on, Kyle Penniston, a redshirt junior, is now out of the shadows and will be challenged to be more productive (13 receptions, 26 games) in the UW offense.
"He's really smart," Fumagalli said, "and he knows what he's doing."
Losing "blocking" tight end Zander Neuville to a knee injury against Minnesota was costly. Neuville, a converted defensive end, was an unsung contributor with nine catches and two touchdowns.
"We missed him when he was out," said Fumagalli. "I expect him to have a great year."
The emergence of redshirt freshman Jake Ferguson has been one of the April storylines. Having grown into his frame (6-foot-5, 240) he can be a serious downfield threat in the seams.
"He has the ability to make contested catches," Fumagalli said. "Stuff that's tough to teach."
With Neuville still sidelined, Luke Benzschawel has been getting valuable turns. "He can learn from Zander," said Fumagalli, "and develop into that role when he's gone."
Fumagalli is seeking a role, too. A fit with an NFL team. Although he hasn't had any individual workouts, he said, "Hopefully what I've been able to do at Wisconsin will speak for itself."
Someone must be listening. "I'm trying to embrace it," Fumagalli said of the lengthy draft process and accompanying uncertainty. "I'm a football player and I just want to play."
That's his best pitch.
