BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. — Although one plays on offense, the other on defense, running back Dare Ogunbowale and outside linebacker Vince Biegel got asked the same thing more than once during their pre-draft interview sessions with National Football League scouts, personnel directors and assistant coaches.
"Do I love football?" posed Ogunbowale, reciting the question. "That's a big thing."
"It did come up," Biegel conceded. "That's frequently asked."
As part of the process, Ogunbowale said, "I think they liked getting to know me as a player."
There's much to like about Biegel as a player, too. He has always been an open book.
"People should not be asking me if I love football," he said, "by the way I play the game."
Biegel could have been speaking for any of his former teammates — Ogunbowale, Corey Clement, Ryan Ramczyk, Sojourn Shelton and T.J. Watt — who each have put themselves in position, some more secure than others, to hear their name called in the NFL draft, whatever round, however long the wait.
"When you play D-I football, it's always the goal to go to the next level," said Ogunbowale, who was originally a walk-on defensive back from Milwaukee. "But I didn't think I'd be here (five years later) — as a running back — having the opportunity to be drafted. It's definitely a blessing."
And he's not taking anything for granted.
"I'm still going to work hard to try and excel at the next level," said Ogunbowale, 22, who graduated in economics from the UW. "When you're younger, you always want to be able to go through the process of hopefully being a professional athlete. It's definitely exciting thinking about the future."
At an early age, it was not unreasonable for Ogunbowale to think about a career in pro soccer, the sport that he was raised on. It's part of his narrative, along with his development as a reliable third-down back who used special teams as a springboard into something more impactful on offense.
"They like what I do on third down — my protection and catching the ball out of the backfield," Ogunbowale said of the NFL talent evaluators. What might give him an edge over others in this capacity? "I would say my awareness, my knowledge of the game. I think those things do set me apart."
Ogunbowale's family has been supportive. He has also received encouragement from former UW tailback Melvin Gordon. "I've talked to Melvin a lot throughout the process," he said. "He has been really helpful in kind of telling me how things are going to work out."
There is a timetable for everything, though the pace has finally slowed down.
"You're doing a lot more waiting than anything," said Ogunbowale, who has ignored the countless mock drafts published around the web. "I try to stay away from reading that stuff. I'm not worried about what those people are saying. It's more so what the GMs and coaches and scouts are saying about you."
Ogunbowale, who has worked out for three teams, has been having fun with it all.
"It's something I've looked forward to," he said of getting a shot to play in the NFL.
He's not alone.
"I've had a dream of playing in the NFL," said Biegel, "since as long as I can remember."
The day following Wisconsin's win over Western Michigan in the Cotton Bowl, Biegel boarded a flight to San Diego where he began training for the Senior Bowl, the scouting combine and the next step in his life. "It has been a busy 2017 to say the least," he said. "But I've really been enjoying myself."
In early February, Biegel and his longtime girlfriend — Sarah Panzenhagen — flew out to the West Coast. (They met during Biegel's sophomore year on campus.) The day before, Biegel had an engagement ring shipped to him in Carlsbad. "It was kind of boom-boom," he said.
With the sun setting, the waves lapping the shore, he proposed to Sarah on the beach.
"I thought I was pretty smooth," he said, breaking out into laughter.
The couple will get married on July 1.
I asked my best friend to marry me, Biegel posted on his Twitter account. Through all the ups and downs she's been my rock! Excited for what the future holds.
On Monday, he elaborated on that tweet. "It's not just football, career-wise, but there have been a lot of positive changes in my personal life," said Biegel, who will turn 24 the day after his marriage. "It's nice to have somebody — Sarah — that has been by my side in this journey."
Vince and Sarah will watch the draft together with family and friends in Wisconsin Rapids.
"I'm going back to my hometown where it all started," he said. "My whole life has been in the spotlight the last four or five years, so I'm not going to have any cameras there, no news people, nothing. It's just going to be family and we're going to enjoy the draft."
Speaking directly of his whirlwind travels, he said, "One thing I really learned about myself, kind of going into the real world, you're not in college anymore and you're on your own and trying to make a living for yourself. You're out there chasing your dreams with people you've never met before."
Five teams came to Madison to work him out. He had some contact with all 32 in the league.
"There has been a lot of interest," he said, "and really positive feedback."
By now, the interviews have all begun to mesh together, one indiscernible from another.
"The only thing that stood out is how in-depth they want to get with you," he said. "It's not only football, they're asking you everything about your personal life and the kind of character you have. Because you're an investment, they want to know every aspect of that investment they're making."
Biegel was fine with the probing. He didn't find the questions to be intrusive. "I felt that was an advantage for me with my background," he said of the interviewing. "I've learned to be consistent with who I am. I don't have to hide anything. I'm just going to be myself."
That attitude has won over many people during the evaluation process.
"Overall, I'm happy with how everything went," he said. "But at this point, you just want to get drafted and get started right away. You're talking about it, you're talking about it. If I hear one more person ask me, 'What team do you want to get drafted by?' I'm going to pull my hair out.
"I'm just ready for someone to pick me already."
A handful of his UW teammates are right there with him.
