Tag: Andrew Van Ginkel

Wisconsin position group dominates in opening weekend of 2024 NFL season

Wisconsin position group dominates in opening weekend of 2024 NFL season

Several former Wisconsin linebackers erupted during Week 1 of the 2024 NFL slate this past weekend.

Among the stars were Kansas City Chiefs LB Leo Chenal, Chicago Bears ILB T.J. Edwards, Philadelphia Eagles ILB Zack Baun, Minnesota Vikings OLB Andrew Van Ginkel and Pittsburgh Steelers OLB T.J. Watt.

Each playmaker was a handful for the offenses they lined up against. Watt and Baun even clinched their squads’ opening weekend victories with game-ending sacks in the final sequence of their respective contests.

While many members of the Badger faithful are accustomed to witnessing Watt decimate his adversaries regularly, Wisconsin fans were able to observe some spectacular performances from other UW alumni who don’t receive the same type of attention.

Baun, who recorded just 30 total tackles a season ago with the New Orleans Saints, registered 15 tackles, two sacks and a tackle for loss in the Eagles’ 34-29 victory over the Green Bay Packers in Sao Paolo, Brazil.

Edwards also showed out for the entire Week 1 window. He led Chicago with 15 tackles and recovered a Will Levis fumble to help the Bears shift momentum against the Tennessee Titans at Soldier Field.

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Van Ginkel, who made his Vikings debut on Sunday, intercepted a Daniel Jones’ pass and took it to the house for six points en route to a blowout victory over the New York Giants. And that’s just to name a few highlights.

While notorious for producing high end offensive linemen and running backs, UW also knows a thing or two about developing linebackers. Eight former Wisconsin linebackers currently play in the NFL, six of whom figure to serve as defensive staples for their crews this season.

WATCH: Former Wisconsin linebacker takes interception to the house vs. Giants

WATCH: Former Wisconsin linebacker takes interception to the house vs. Giants

Former Wisconsin linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel showcased his defensive versatility in the Minnesota Vikings’ season opener on Sunday.

With 4:26 to spare in the third quarter of Minnesota’s contest against the New York Giants, Van Ginkel peeled off the left edge to intercept quarterback Daniel Jones deep in Giants territory.

Uncontested, Van Ginkel walked into the end zone to secure his third career interception and second-ever pick-6 in the NFL.

Van Ginkel’s score made it 27-6 in favor of the Vikings and essentially clinched Minnesota’s victory over New York on the road.

Here’s the full sequence:

Van Ginkel is among 25 former Badgers to suit up in the opening week of the 2024 NFL slate. He, alongside the Steelers’ T.J. Watt and Bears’ T.J. Edwards, highlight a loaded Wisconsin linebacker contingent to make it to the NFL.

During his two-year tenure at UW, the 2018 third-team All-Big Ten member started in 10 of his 27 appearances. The Iowa native logged 99 tackles, including 19.5 TFLs, and registered 2.0 sacks.

WATCH: Vikings LB Andrew Van Ginkel scores second career touchdown

The former Miami Edge rusher side steps a pass and takes it to the house for the Vikings.

The Vikings needed to make a splash in free agency after losing Danielle Hunter and DJ Wonnum. Minnesota signed Jonathan Greenard from Houston and drafted Dallas Turner out of Alabama, but on Sunday, former Dolphin Andrew Van Ginkel is making the biggest impact.

Van Ginkel has been a force all game for the Vikings’ defense. Not only did Van Ginkel sack Daniel Jones in the game, but in the third quarter he caught a rocket thrown right in his direction for a pick-six.

The touchdown marks his second career interception returned for a touchdown. The first came in 2020 when current defensive coordinator coached him, Brian Flores.

Van Ginkel’s score put the Vikings up 28-6 and with the third quarter winding down, Minnesota fans are probably feeling pretty good right now.

In fact, they are feeling so good in the Meadowlands that they are starting a Skol chant of their own despite being the road team. Speaks to how great the fans are and how bad Giants fans are having a time.

Andrew Van Ginkel with pick-six of Daniel Jones for Vikings

Andrew Van Ginkel with a defensive TD for the Vikings

The New York Giants and Daniel Jones would expect to feel plenty of heat … and we don’t mean from the Minnesota Vikings defense.

The media will be all over the quarterback and Big Blue after playing poorly in their season opener.

They made Sam Darnold look like the quarterback the New York York Jets drafted and had such high hopes for years ago.

And, then Jones’ quick pass was picked off by Andrew Van Ginkel, who could have waltzed into the end zone.

The Vikings led 28-6 late in the third quarter. The Giants looked as bad as those throwback uniforms.

Former Dolphins OLB Andrew Van Ginkel defends coach Brian Flores

Andrew Van Ginkel went to bat for Brian Flores after Tua Tagovailoa criticized the former Dolphins head coach earlier this week.

A couple days after Tua Tagovailoa candidly described the harsh coaching he received from former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel offered a different take Wednesday.

Van Ginkel, 29, joined the Minnesota Vikings as a free agent in the offseason, reuniting him with Flores, who is currently the defensive coordinator in Minnesota.

“We’ve got [Flores]’s back and trust what he’s building here with this defense and the type of standard that he’s built and we’re all just trying to live up to his expectations and standards he has for our defense,” Van Ginkel told Jeff Wald of FOX 9 in Minnesota.

“Obviously, [Flores] has a lot of respect from me. I’ve got a lot of respect for him and kind of who he is as a defensive coach and what he brings to the table. He’s the reason I’m the player I am today and I give him credit for that. … I’m just gonna kinda leave Tua’s comments to himself but for me I wouldn’t be here without [Flores].”

On Monday, Tagovailoa told Dan Le Batard that constant criticisms from Flores caused self-doubt to sink in before Mike McDaniel was able to instill confidence in the quarterback again.

“If you have a terrible person telling you things that you don’t want to hear or probably shouldn’t be hearing, you’re going to start to believe that about yourself,” Tagovailoa told Le Batard. “That’s sort of what ended up happening.”

On Tuesday, Flores had a measured response to the criticism, telling reporters that he’s learned from past mistakes and he’s “genuinely happy” that Tagovailoa has found success under McDaniel.

Van Ginkel, 29, was a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft and finished his Dolphins tenure with 17 sacks.

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Vikings LB Andrew Van Ginkel gives DC Brian Flores the ultimate compliment

Brian Flores has been through a lot since becoming a head coach in the NFL back in 2019, another chapter in that saga is unfolding.

Brian Flores has experienced a lot since becoming a head coach in the NFL in 2019, whether it be his firing or his treatment of his former quarterback, which is now being discussed. The former Miami Dolphins head coach received some harsh criticism from Tua Tagovailoa this week, and he addressed it during a media session on Wednesday.

While he was addressing his comments, Flores was backed by the best people imaginable, his current players. Players Harrison Phillips and Joshua Metellus stood behind Flores during his session, and then Andrew Van Ginkel went to bat for him later in the day.

When speaking to Jeff Wald of Fox9 in Minneapolis, Van Ginkel gave his coordinator the ultimate compliment.

“He’s the reason I’m the player that I am today, I’m just going to leave Tua’s comments to himself. I wouldn’t be here without (Flores) at this point in my career.”

The former Dolphin saw his career blossom under Flores in Miami, and you can tell he signed up here because of that relationship. Flores comes from the Bill Belichick school of coaching, so he is very traditional in his approach to coaching.

Whatever happened in Miami is one thing. For now, Flores has shown through one year that what he is implementing in Minnesota is working thus far.

Wisconsin football boasts significant recent success at one defensive position

Wisconsin football boasts significant recent success at one defensive position

Wisconsin’s recruiting department offers an enticing message to incoming college prospects at the linebacker position.

In a recent X video, the Badgers highlight their professional success stories at the linebacker position. Eight active UW alumni will star at linebacker for a combined six NFL squads this season.

The list includes T.J. Edwards (Bears), Jack Sanborn (Bears), Maema Njongmeta (Bengals), Leo Chenal (Chiefs), Andrew Van Ginkel (Vikings), Zack Baun (Eagles), Nick Herbig (Steelers) and T.J. Watt (Steelers).

Similar to what Wisconsin’s program provides its incoming recruits at offensive line and running back, its linebacker legacy is no joke. The pitch is simple: if you need a blueprint of how to reach the NFL at the position, play for the Badgers.

UW’s 2024 linebacker class includes OLB Thomas Heiberger, ILB Landon Gauthier and OLB Anelu Lafaele. All rank No. 3 or No. 4 on UW’s depth chart at the position at this stage. Heiberger was already showing signs of future stardom before a knee injury halted his progress.

Wisconsin’s 2025 LB class includes several high-profile high school products. Four-star Mason Posa, three-star Samuel Lateju, three-star Brenden Anes and three-star Cooper Catalano are all currently committed to the class with time remaining before it is finalized.

Could Mohamed Kamara be the Dolphins’ next fifth-round steal?

The Dolphins found linebackers Bryan Cox, Zach Thomas, and Andrew Van Ginkel in the fifth round. Will Mohamed Kamara be their next steal?

The fifth-round of the NFL draft has historically proven to be a good spot for the Miami Dolphins to find linebackers.

There was Bryan Cox, a three-time Pro Bowler who was selected No. 113 overall in 1991. Five years later, the Dolphins one-upped themselves by finding Hall of Famer Zach Thomas at No. 154 overall. More recently, Miami found Andrew Van Ginkel at No. 151 overall in 2019.

The Dolphins will hope Mohamed Kamara can follow in those footsteps.

Miami used the No. 21 overall pick in the first-round to take Penn State’s Chop Robinson, but double-downed at the position by adding the Colorado State alum in Day 3.

Kamara, who enters the NFL following a 13-sack season for Colorado State, has the chance to learn from free agent addition Shaq Barrett, another CSU alum with a lot of pass rushing experience.

Kamara totaled 30.5 sacks in his five collegiate seasons and 21.5 over the last two, as well as 45.5 career tackles for loss. All those plays in the backfield earned him Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year honors in his last season.

While a tad undersized by NFL standards at 6’1, 248 pounds, he makes up for it with strength, speed, and ferocity. All those elements make for fan-favorite potential. He’s a project to refine, but Kamara has a solid foundation for new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver to build on.

Kamara’s 4.57 40-yard dash time was third among edge rushers at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, behind only Robinson (4.48) and another first-rounder, Dallas Turner (4.46).

All that’s left for Kamara is the production to justify his selection and solidify his spot on the next rung of fifth-round linebackers to succeed for the Dolphins. That’s easier said than done.

Miami already has a terrific duo of edge rushers in Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb. However, both are rehabbing injuries and will be returning for the Dolphins in 2024, but are beginning training camp on the PUP list. The newly added rookie duo of Robinson and Kamara adds to the depth.

When Phillips and Chubb both fully return, the Dolphins stand to have Robinson, Barrett, and Kamara in rotational roles. That means the rookies have a chance to make an early impact.

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Don’t be alarmed if Andrew Van Ginkel lands on the PUP list

Even if Minnesota would place Andrew Van Ginkel on the PUP list, Vikings fans shouldn’t panic even if he missies the start of camp.

The 28-year-old linebacker, Andrew Van Ginkel, inked a two-year contract with the Vikings this offseason after Minnesota traded away Danielle Hunter and let both D.J. Wonnum and Marcus Davenport walk.

Van Ginkel is coming off his best NFL year. In 2023 with the Miami Dolphins, he recorded 69 tackles, six sacks, and one interception that he returned for a touchdown.

The only issue is that he’s currently battling an injury, and it appears he could be heading to the Physically Unable to Perform list soon. However, according to Darren Wolfson with SkorNorth, it won’t be a long time for Van Ginkel if he lands on the PUP list. Wolfson said he should be back and ready to go quickly.

Minnesota will likely lean on Van Ginkel heavily in 2024. He will team up with former Texans’ edge rusher Jonathan Greenard. Both of those guys will likely begin as the starters but don’t forget about first-round selection Dallas Turner, who will also see plenty of snaps for the Vikings.

Van Ginkel family partners with foundation to help rebuild hometown

Historic flooding struck Rock Valley, IA last week, hometown of Vikings LB Andrew Van Ginkel. A foundation has been established for relief.

Now and again, something reminds us that there are things in life bigger than football. These events give us some perspective on our fandoms and how we’re all human, even in the heat of rivalries and favorite players changing teams.

Last week, we saw one of those events: extreme flooding struck parts of Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa, affecting numerous lives—including those of new Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, his wife Samantha, and their community of Rock Valley, IA.

Van Ginkel, a Rock Valley, IA, native, signed with the Vikings in this year’s free agency period after spending the past five seasons with the Miami Dolphins. In light of the historic flooding and damage to the Van Ginkel’s property and the entire community of Rock Valley, the family has partnered with former Dolphins teammate Zach Sieler and his Sieler Haven Foundation.

The goal is to help house and provide resources to the more than 1,500 residents who have been affected, as well as to help rebuild the homes that have been severely damaged or destroyed. If you are able and would like to contribute to the relief fund, donations can be made here.