Lucas: Chenal brothers emblematic of Badgers’ excitement for return
November 13, 2020 | Football, Mike Lucas
In ‘gritty’ game with Michigan, play of fullbacks and linebackers will loom large
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BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. — Most college programs don't consistently utilize one in their offense. Many don't even have one on their roster. Michigan and Wisconsin have been among the outliers by embracing the position despite its status as an endangered species in today's game.
Fullback.
On film, Ben Mason is easily mistakable for Mason Stokke. Or John Chenal. Whether it's Mason clearing a running path for the Wolverines or Stokke and Chenal doing likewise for the Badgers, on top of their various other functions, they are the throwbacks.
"It just makes you think back to how the game always used to be played and how normal it was back then," said the 6-foot-2, 247-pound Chenal. "Nowadays, you've seen it go in the other direction (with offenses), not that it's a bad thing. It's just different."
Different as in spread-friendly. It's why Saturday night's retro matchup between the Badgers and the Wolverines at Michigan Stadium will be unlike any other staged on that day in that both offenses will scheme ways to get the fullback involved. Or fullbacks, plural, in the UW's case.
"To have two teams that play fullbacks is kind of neat," said Chenal, a junior from Grantsburg, Wis. (two hours northwest of Eau Claire). "It will make the game that type of game — more physical, more gritty — that's the tradition that the two schools have kept."
In his baptism to college football — the first game of his career was against Michigan in 2018 — Chenal crossed paths with the 6-3, 254-pound Mason, who has played on both sides of the ball as a defensive tackle and fullback. Mason is a two-time recipient of the Wolverines' toughest player award.
"I remember I was on a kickoff return and he was running down there, and he just blows me up," Chenal said. "Right then, I'm like, 'OK, he's a fullback.' He definitely sets the example of what a good fullback should be. I have a lot of respect for him and I know Mason (Stokke) does as well."
As a freshman, Chenal came under the wing of Stokke, who made the move from linebacker to fullback during the 2018 training camp. After battling injuries his first two seasons, Stokke found a home on offense and benefited from the mentoring of Alec Ingold, now a fixture with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Stokke, in turn, has mentored Chenal.
"Just having his experience — being that he's a couple of years older than me — it has been a great position that I'm in," Chenal said. "I can learn from him and we can learn off each other and together we can grow at the fullback position. I try to put myself in his shoes on how he does things."
In the 2020 opener, a decisive 45-7 win over Illinois, the Badgers got maximum production from their fullbacks. Stokke was responsible for the first score on a 10-yard pass from Graham Mertz, while Chenal followed Stokke's block and plowed into the end zone on a 2-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Laughing, Chenal said, "I'm following Mason wherever he goes."
By the way, who else puts two fullbacks on the field at once?
"That's just the unique part of the game that we have here at Wisconsin," Chenal said. "It's just an extra component to our offense that seems to help, especially on the goal line. It's kind of fun to have both of us busting holes for the running backs. I know me and Mason enjoy that."
During his prep career, Chenal enjoyed celebrating touchdowns. He rushed for 65 of them. His first as a Badger came in last season's Michigan game. Chenal scored on a 2-yard run with 5:13 left in the third quarter. That made it 35-0. The final was 35-14 in Camp Randall Stadium.
"It was a fullback belly on the goal line and the offensive line did a really good job like they always do, and I was able to ride the wave into the end zone," he recalled fondly. "It's just really nice having that type of talent and strength on our O-line that we've had consistently throughout the years.
"As fullbacks, we appreciate that. It makes it easier for us."
• • • •
No one appreciates John Chenal's gains more than a linebacker who bangs heads with him.
That would be his younger brother, Leo Chenal, a sophomore.
"He's always been strong. That was never a problem," Leo observed. "But he has gotten a lot better at using his feet and being in position. I always talk to him, 'How did you do in practice?' And he always brings up the details. It's always, 'I can get better.'
"He's really improving and driving his feet a lot better and getting better leverage.
"It's a lot of the details that he has been focusing on in the last year."
John returned the compliment to Leo.
"He's definitely more confident in what he's doing," John said. "He's just getting the instincts down because your freshman year it's about learning the playbook. It's, 'What do I do, and what don't I do?' Now, it's just, 'See ball, get ball' — that kind of thing. He has definitely grown in that aspect."
Leo got his first career start at inside linebacker against Illinois and acquitted himself well.
"Taking over the starting spot was a huge honor for me just to be able to earn that role," said Chenal, who tied for the team high with four tackles. "I was a little nervous at first. But as the game went on, I felt more and more confident and in control of things."
Chenal has taken over for Chris Orr, now in the NFL on the Carolina Panthers practice squad.
"I've been shooting him some quick DMs asking for some advice," Chenal noted. "I've always said this to everyone I've talked to about him: he's the smartest player I've ever seen. Along with his personality and knowledge of the game, he's the complete package."
Chenal has partnered at inside linebacker with junior Jack Sanborn, who was the leading tackler on the defense in 2019. Backing them up is Mike Maskalunas, a fifth-year senior and another valuable X's and O's tutor for Chenal in the same manner that Sanborn is.
"Whenever I have a question, I go to them," Chenal said, "and they've really helped shape me into who I'm becoming as a player. It's really nice having those guys with more experience than I have in the room. They've really rounded me out. They've both been kind of like big brothers to me."
Meanwhile, the Brothers Chenal have been adapting, like everyone else, to the pandemic.
"We've been seeing each other but doing it in a smart way with all that is going on," said John, who's not rooming with Leo this semester. "We still loving hanging out. It's just really nice having a brother here for that kind of thing; someone who's always there."
It goes deeper than that.
"We don't play the same side of the ball, but we're really holding each other accountable — 'Did you see this on film? How are you getting better?'" Leo said. "We also share laughs. Obviously, we're brothers and we get on each other's nerves.
"But we really do make sure we're pushing ourselves as people and players."
That was particularly true during the quarantine and when the program recently paused.
"There's a lot of regulations and those were put in place for good reasons," John said. "But I've been able to do some stuff on my own. With limited access to the facility, it's your responsibility during those times to stay in shape. I've done a good job of that. It looks like everyone else has, too."
Added Leo, "The strength coaches were giving us advice when we weren't allowed in the stadium. We're all physically fit and ready to go. It took a little adjustment at first to knock a little rust off. But I'm so excited to get under those lights (at Michigan Stadium)."
It will be 22 days between games for the Badgers.
"My goodness, it seems like last year and I know that's not just me saying that," John said of the Oct. 23 Illinois opener. "With the coronavirus and everything going on, it has taken a toll and it has just made it more challenging. But the teams that adapt to it, I think will be better off for it.
"There's been a lot of adversity. And it's not just football. It's school, not being in-person. It's balancing your calendar and knowing you have to plan everything out for yourself. It has been good and bad, honestly. I'm trying to see the bright side of things. It has made me a more responsible person.
"Overall, the adversity has challenged us. But it has also helped us grow.
"We're all just pumped about being able to play football again."
Leo is on the same page with John. Especially in light of the Nebraska and Purdue cancelations.
"For me, it's overcoming any adversity, whatever it is, and this time, it's a nation-wide pandemic," Leo said. "We find out a game is canceled, it's 'OK, what do we have next?' It's always looking at next … and preparing for the next week … and not worrying about what just happened."
That has been drummed into the players by the coaches.
"Our coaches do a really good job of getting us prepared and getting us where we need to be," John Chenal said. "I really admire what the coaches have done for us. It's nice having the stability of the coaches — always knowing they're going to be there for us, and they will have a plan ready to go."
Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard can relate on many fronts to the players' challenges.
"As coaches, you're feeling the same frustration," Leonhard said. "You're prepping for multiple games — all of a sudden — they're not happening. The biggest thing I'm trying to push to those guys, 'You had that frustration, you had those emotional highs and lows, now you have to push past it.'
"We all felt it … But we know we're going to get an opportunity to play … It's awesome the last couple of days to get back on the field … Guys are excited. They realize that it's a blessing to be able to play this fall. We didn't think we were going to have it (a season)."
How hungry are the Chenals for a game day?
"It just feels so right getting back out there," Leo said, "and hitting people."
"It brings out the best in everyone," John said. "Having some stability is nice in these times."
