Wisconsin safety Travian Blaylock trying to savor every play, every memory of his final season

MADISON – Travian Blaylock was determined to make the best of a potentially frustrating development.

The sixth-year senior safety from Texas toiled for hours in the offseason recovering from a torn ACL suffered in the spring of 2022, started two of UW’s first three games this season and then saw his playing time reduced dramatically as the staff went with younger options.

“Obviously, it gets tough at times,” Blaylock said. “Especially when you have high expectations. But at the end of the day, I always try to bring it back to the team perspective. At this point I’m just doing whatever I can to help this team.”

For most of the season that has meant contributing on special teams and that likely will be his role when UW (7-5) faces No. 13 LSU (9-3) in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Jan. 1 in Tampa.

“I’m just trying to do everything in my power to make sure – with this being my last year – to leave with a good taste in my mouth.”

Travian Blaylock has traversed a long, painful road

Blaylock was hampered by injuries his first two seasons (2018 and 2019) and finally played a full season (seven games) in 2020. He was a key reserve and special teams performer in 2021, when he played in 10 games. He missed last season after suffering the knee injury in spring practice but came back this season determined to have his best overall season.

After starting against Washington State and Georgia Southern, Blaylock didn’t play at all at Purdue. Then during the off week before UW hosted Rutgers, Blaylock sensed his playing time on defense would be minimal.

Redshirt sophomore Preston Zachman and sophomore Austin Brown were getting more work and have continued to do so the remainder of the season.

“Those guys are doing great right now,” Blaylock said. “Preston is playing awesome. AB is such a young guy, but he learns and he plays so hard. He has been ballin’. Props to him.

“Everybody in the safety room works hard. Braedyn Moore hasn’t played any snaps on defense, but he works with us all week and does scout-team stuff.

“At this point it is just do whatever I can to help this team. I play for an audience of one…I play for the Lord. As long as I am out there doing what I can to give him honor and glory – even the ability to step on the field – that is my position.”

Blaylock’s last work on defense came late in the first half against Nebraska after Hunter Wohler suffered an apparent concussion.

“You have to stay ready because you never know when something like that can happen,” Blaylock said. “I practice hard and try to make an impact on special teams. That has been awesome.”

Armed with a master's degree, Travian Blaylock has not given up on his NFL dream

Blaylock, who is married and has two young children, recently received his master’s degree in sports leadership from the School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis.

His plans for after the bowl game are to head home to Texas to train with his father, Derrick Blaylock, who played seven seasons in the NFL and owns Armed Sports Performance. Travian Blaylock has not given up on his dream of making an NFL roster.

“I just need to get in the door somewhere,” he said. “That’s what I’ve always said. Just get me in the door and you’re going to see what Travian Blaylock is about. That is my mindset.”

A benefit of moving home is that his parents can help out with baby-sitting duties.

“That is going to be awesome,” he said. “I’ll be spending a lot of time with my mom and my dad.”

How long will he pursue his NFL dream?

“I have no idea,” he said. “At this point I am taking it one day at a time. I get overwhelmed a little bit thinking that far into the future, wondering what I’m going to do.

"It is good to plan but I’m just trying to be in the moment and enjoy my time here, right now, my teammates, right now, the boys in the locker room. I love those boys. I’d do anything for those boys.

“Then I’ll let the pieces fall where they land. I’ll work my tail off.”

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin safety Travian Blaylock savors every minute of final season