Caputo nabs pair of picks, MVP award at Shrine Game
January 23, 2016 | Football
Badgers senior brings home hardware, boosts draft profile from all-star game
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Michael Caputo the heavy hitter was in attendance Saturday, but so was Michael Caputo the ball-hawk.
The Wisconsin senior snared a pair of interceptions and made three tackles in the 91st East-West Shrine Game at Tropicana Field, helping lead his West team to a 29-9 victory and helping himself to Defensive MVP honors.
Nobody inside Tropicana Field was as familiar with East quarterback Joel Stave as Caputo, who spent five years practicing against his Badgers teammate. Caputo used that familiarity to his advantage late in the second quarter, jumping in front of Stave's intended receiver to grab his first interception of the day. He didn't break stride on what looked like a pick-six in the making until he was finally brought down at the East 11 yard line — with Stave finishing off the tackle.
The pick ended what looked like a promising scoring chance before halftime for Stave, who had gone 3-for-5 in leading the East's two-minute offense — a strength of his game during his Badgers career — before his sixth pass of the drive was pilfered by Caputo.
"How weird was it? It wasn't weird. It was cool,'' Caputo said. ''Whether it would stop my former QB or not, I just read the play and I just jumped it.''
His second pick of the game came as the result of him tracking a pass into the end zone by Michigan QB Jake Rudock early in the fourth quarter. Caputo had three interceptions in his four seasons with the Badgers.
While Stave played for the East squad, Caputo was joined on the West by former Badgers Tyler Marz and Derek Watt. Stave finished 7-for-12 passing for 31 yards. Watt had one catch for 3 yards while seeing time at tight end and fullback, and Marz got a significant number of snaps at both tackle spots.
Also Saturday, former Badgers OLB Jesse Hayes took part in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. All-America OLB Joe Schobert will round out the Badgers' all-star game participation when he takes part in the Senior Bowl next week in Mobile, Alabama.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
