MADISON, Wis. >> The red, two-story, wood house on Lathrop Street doesn’t stand out in the tree-lined neighborhood. Like its residents, it is sturdy but not fancy.

It bears no resemblance to the fictional Heisman House that serves the purpose of selling cars and is inhabited by winners of college football’s most prestigious award.

But while Micah Kapoi or any of his housemates — all five of them redshirt freshman Wisconsin linemen — are extremely unlikely ever to capture a Heisman trophy, maybe some of them can help pave the way for a teammate to do so someday.

It’s a reasonable goal. There is historical precedent in Alan Ameche (1954) and Ron Dayne (1999). And, more recently, while they watched as redshirts last year, their big brother Badgers nearly accomplished it, as running back Melvin Gordon rushed for 2,587 yards and 29 touchdowns. Most years that’s more than enough, but 2014 belonged to Oregon’s Marcus Mariota.

The house Kapoi and his classmates rent is just a block from Camp Randall Stadium, where the Badgers practice each day and where on Saturday they will host the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors.

“That’s part of the reason we took it, it’s so close. That was the biggest selling point,” said Kapoi, a 2014 graduate of Kapolei High School. “All those guys are in my (recruiting) class and we were tight from the first day. We just had a connection and we do everything together.”

That especially goes for Kapoi and right tackle Beau Benzschawel, from nearby Grafton. Their bond, with each other and their other classmates, is why they didn’t leave when the coaching staff that recruited them did after last season.

“After the first year he’d made such a big connection,” said Kapoi’s mother, Patti. “(Benzschawel’s) family took him in like one of their own, on holidays and weekends. He connected and he’s fully committed.”

Benzschawel is one of several Wisconsin offensive linemen to suffer injuries costing him his chance to start now. And that is where Kapoi’s versatility has helped him get into the lineup. At 6-feet-4 and 325 pounds he can play anywhere on the line. He may have found a home at right guard; that’s where he got his first start last week in a 28-3 win over Troy.

“I thought he kind of turned it loose at times,” head coach Paul Chryst said. “I think that will only improve with (more reps).”

If things had gone according to the original plan, Kapoi would be playing in this game for UH. He’d committed to Manoa early in his senior year. But Chad Kauha‘aha‘a, then a Wisconsin assistant, came up with an offer in which Kapoi would not have to grayshirt, which was what Hawaii wanted him to do.

“He got an opportunity to go to Wisconsin,” UH offensive line coach Chris Naeole said, matter-of-factly.

Kauha‘aha‘a and head coach Gary Andersen are now at Oregon State, and Kapoi remains at Madison.

“Well, I’m trying to take it as just another game. But I’m not gonna lie, there’s somewhat of a difference,” Kapoi said. “I know a couple of the guys on the team and it’s going to fun playing with them. It’s good to see how much better they’re doing.”

Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said he’s not surprised Kapoi has already become a starter.

“I thought he was one of the two or three best offensive linemen in the state that year. He’s smart and athletic. Wisconsin saw this big guy with a beard and said, ‘You gotta be kidding,’” Hernandez said. “He’s even-keeled and respectful off the field. But he’s an animal on the field.”

He comes from solid blood lines. His father, Dean, started on three OIA championship offensive lines at Waianae. Patti (Su‘a) was a star during the long Kailua softball dynasty and in 1991 won the Bonham Award as UH’s outstanding student athlete. MMA star Max Holloway is Micah’s first cousin.

Wisconsin is a long way from Hawaii in mileage, but not in spirit, said Dean Kapoi, who went with his son on his recruiting trip.

“It’s a great community. They believe in the same things we do, family first. Not eccentric. No frappuccinos, everybody looks like they all shop at Kmart,” he said. “Academics, they pride themselves on that. And they happen to have a great football program.”

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at Hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quick-reads.