The return of Badger football is now just 51 days away as the Badgers are set to start their 2023 campaign against Buffalo on Sept. 2 at Camp Randall. This season carries a lot of expectations for new head coach Luke Fickell and his Wisconsin squad.
Looking back, the number 51 carries some significance for the Badger program with all-time leading tackler Pete Monty (1993-1996) finished with 451 career takedowns.
Monty was a member of the Wisconsin squad that won the program’s first Rose Bowl in 1994, defeating UCLA 21-16. Additionally, the linebacker went on to be drafted in the fourth round (103rd overall) of the 1997 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.
In the league, Monty wore number 51 with New York, spending four seasons with the Giants before heading to Minnesota for his final year of his career in 2001. He recorded 62 career tackles, including two sacks, over five campaigns in the NFL.