As Chad Yocum watched the University of Wisconsin football team last season, he couldn't help but notice that No. 99 -- Kirk DeCremer -- was a playmaker.

"I knew he was going to be good," Yocum said.

It didn't take long for Yocum, who played for the Badgers under former coach Barry Alvarez, to connect the dots and realize he had a lot in common with DeCremer. Both were local athletes -- DeCremer played at Verona; Yocum at DeForest -- who had fulfilled their dreams by playing at UW. Each was a defensive end who made an impact early in his career.

Now you can add one more painful item to that list with the recent news that DeCremer's career is likely over because of a back injury.

"I feel sorry for the guy," Yocum said.

Yocum can relate, at least to some degree. After playing as a true freshman in 1991, Yocum earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors as a sophomore after finishing with 52 tackles for loss, including 10 sacks for loss. The highlight of Yocum's season was sacking Ohio State quarterback Kirk Herbstreit three times for a total of 29 yards as the Badgers upset the No. 12 Buckeyes 20-16 on Oct. 3, 1992.

"What a huge win for the program," Yocum said.

Yocum expected bigger things in 1993 -- and some were already projecting that he'd be playing on Sundays someday -- but he injured his back during preseason camp and re-injured it during the third game of the season, a 28-7 nonconference victory over Iowa State. Yocum was diagnosed with a fractured third lumbar vertebrae in his back and sat out the rest of the season as the Badgers made their thrilling run to the Rose Bowl.

Yocum had surgery and the next summer wore a hard plastic brace that extended from just above his waist to his arm pits. Then he sat out the 1994 season before completing his remarkable comeback by playing as a senior the following season. Yocum started six games and finished with eight tackles for loss.

Though he was never the same after his injury, Yocum feels fortunate because he at least ended his career on the field and not on the sidelines.

"I'm glad I'm not sitting here right now saying I wish I would have came back," Yocum said. "I did it and got that out of my system."

DeCremer, who led the Badgers with 5 1/2 sacks last season as a redshirt freshman, may not be as lucky. After having surgery in the offseason to repair two herniated disks in his back, the third-year sophomore reinjured the same two disks during practice on Aug. 27, three days before the Badgers opened the 2008 season with a 38-17 victory over Akron at Camp Randall Stadium.

UW coach Bret Bielema broke the news after the game that DeCremer's career likely was over. Bielema got emotional while doing so, in part because DeCremer was the first recruit to commit to the Badgers after the announcement was made in the summer of 2005 that Bielema would be taking over for Alvarez.

DeCremer has yet to speak with reporters, but Yocum can imagine what he's going through.

"When that day comes, it's disappointing, especially when it comes because of an injury," Yocum said of a player's career ending. "But that's part of the deal."