Tag: Badger Countdown

Badger Countdown: Dual-threat wide receiver wears number 11

Dual-threat wide receiver wears number 11

The 2023 college football season is right around the corner and Luke Fickell and his Badgers are now 11 days from their opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2. Wide receiver Skyler Bell is back in number 11 for Wisconsin again this year.

Bell had a very productive 2022 campaign, catching 30 passes for 444 yards and five touchdowns over 13 games. He was also used in the backfield, turning 13 carries into 160 yards.

Now operating with a new quarterback in Tanner Mordecai (SMU) this season, Bell could be in for another step forward with his production. Offensive coordinator Phil Longo, formerly with North Carolina, has brought his “Air Raid” offense to Madison, which certainly sounds like it could lead to an increase in passing success.

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Badger Countdown: Quarterback puts up impressive numbers with UW in No. 12

One of the top QBs in program history wore number 12

The 2023 college football season is near and the Badgers are now 12 days away from their opener versus Buffalo at Camp Randall on Sept. 2. A former quarterback wore number 12 in Madison, putting up impressive numbers in his time with Wisconsin.

Alex Hornibrook was a member of the Badgers from 2015-2018, starting his final three years in Madison. The quarterback totalled 5,438 passing yards and 47 touchdowns over his 35 contests under center with Wisconsin.

The yards rank fifth all-time in program history while the touchdowns are tied for third place with John Stocco.

Although he unceremonious transferred to Florida State ahead of final collegiate season in 2019, there’s no denying that Hornibrook was a successful quarterback in Madison.

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Badger Countdown: Two seniors set for big seasons wearing number 13

Two Badgers stars in 13 this year

The 2023 college football season is closing in quickly and the Badgers are now just 13 days away from their opener versus Buffalo on Sept. 2. There are two significant players wearing the number 13 in Madison this year.

Wide receiver Chimere Dike will be back for a fourth season in Madison, coming off of a career-best 2022 campaign where he reeled in 47 catches for 689 yards and six touchdowns.

Now operating in Phil Longo’s “Air Raid” offense with SMU-transfer quarterback Tanner Mordecai, Dike could be in for a monster season with Wisconsin.

EVANSTON, ILLINOIS – OCTOBER 08: Kamo’i Latu #13 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates after intercepting a pass from Ryan Hilinski #3 of the Northwestern Wildcats (not pictured) during the first half at Ryan Field on October 08, 2022 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

On the other side of the ball, Kamo’i Latu will don the number 13 in his second season with the Badgers after transferring from Utah ahead of last year.

Latu recorded 55 total tackles, including three sacks, while intercepting two passes and deflecting two others over 13 games in his first campaign in Madison.

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Badger Countdown: All-time field goals leader begins career in 2014

Top field goal kicker starts UW career in 2014

The 2023 college football season is almost here and the Badgers are now two weeks (14 days) from their season opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2. In 2014, Wisconsin’s top field goal kicker began his career with the football team.

Rafael Gaglianone was a member of the Badgers from 2014-2018, making a UW-record 70 field goals over his career. In total, he went 70-for-92, which is good for 76 percent.

Maybe even more impressive, Gaglianone went 216-for-218 on extra-point attempts while he was a member of Wisconsin. Overall, he accounted for 426 points over his 57 games.

He went undrafted and most recently, Gaglianone played for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League in 2022.

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Badger Countdown: Number 15 has impressive 2022 campaign

Number 15 put on a show in 2022

The 2023 college football season is on the horizon and the Badgers are now 15 days away from their opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2 at home. Wearing number 15 with Wisconsin in 2022, safety John Torchio filled up the stat sheets.

During the season, Torchio was able to record 56 total tackles, including a sack, while intercepting five passes and deflecting six others. Additionally, the “Jewelry Thief” returned to of the picks for touchdowns.

After the season, Torchio declared for the NFL Draft, but he went unselected. As of right now, he is still looking for his first opportunity in the league and if he gets a shot, he’ll likely operate as a practice squad option.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/v4UPz5If8PM

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Badger Countdown: Star walk-on safety wore number 16

This Badger walk-on may be the best player to wear 16

The 2023 college football season is nearly upon us and the Badgers are now 16 days away from their opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2. One former Badger became a star while wearing 16 on his back even though he was a walk-on.

Joe Stellmacher was a two-year starter in Wisconsin’s secondary during the 2005 and 2006 campaign. Over those two seasons, he recorded 174 tackles and four interceptions, one of which he took back for a touchdown.

The Berlin, Wisconsin native was an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten both years and he was named the team’s co-MVP in 2006.

These days, Stellmacher has returned to Berlin, operating as the head coach of the high school’s varsity football team.

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Badger Countdown: Former UW number 17 finishes first season in XFL

Former Badger number 17 is now in XFL

The 2023 college football season is closing in and the Badgers are now 17 days from their opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2 at Camp Randall. Their former quarterback Jack Coan, who wore number 17 in Madison, just finished his first year in the XFL.

Coan spent four seasons in Madison, recording 3,278 passing yards and 23 touchdowns over 22 games with the Badgers, most of which came in 2019. He finished his collegiate career with 3,150 passing yards and 25 scores in his final campaign in 2021 with Notre Dame.

The quarterback went undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft and he spent the 2023 XFL season with the San Antonio Brahmas, compiling 1,471 yards and six touchdowns over eight contests.

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Badger Countdown: New number 18 could be future starter under center

Is 18 the future under center?

The 2023 college football season is on the horizon and the Badgers are now 18 days away from their opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2 at home. Transferring to Madison this offseason, quarterback Braedyn Locke will wear number 18 with Wisconsin.

Locke didn’t see any action as a true freshman last season with Mississippi State and he joined Luke Fickell’s squad in January, bringing four years of eligibility with him. The quarterback has impressed this summer and he’s expected to be the primary backup to Tanner Mordecai in 2023.

With Mordecai in his final collegiate campaign, Locke could be the next man up to take over under center next year. It’ll likely be a competition between him and former Oklahoma recruit Nick Evers.

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Badger Countdown: Two transfer athletes set to wear number 19 in 2023

Two new Badgers in number 19 this year

The 2023 college football season is almost here and the Badgers are now 19 days away from their season opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2. There will be two new Wisconsin athletes wearing the number 19 this year.

After two seasons with Cincinnati, wide receiver Will Pauling followed his head coach Luke Fickell to Madison. Over his two campaigns with the Bearcats, Pauling recorded 13 catches for 128 yards while appearing in 10 total games.

Now with Wisconsin, Pauling will look to carve out a more significant role in Phil Longo’s “Air Raid” offense.

The other athlete donning 19 on their jersey this year is defensive lineman Darian Varner. Varner transferred to Wisconsin after three years with Temple, recording 57 tackles, including 10.5 sacks, over 21 games during his two active seasons.

He’ll look to help replace the production of linebacker Nick Herbig and defensive tackle Keeanu Benton, amongst others in Mike Tressel’s defense this year.

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Badger Countdown: Wisconsin D holds opponents to 20 PPG in 2022

Can the defense repeat their success in 2023?

The 2023 college football season is almost on us and the Badgers are now 20 days from their season opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2 at home. With Luke Fickell taking over, many have wondered if Wisconsin’s identity will change and in turn, if their defense will remain as good following Jim Leonhard’s departure.

Wisconsin’s defense allowed 20.2 points per game last season, ranking 17th in the entire nation. That was with defensive coordinator and eventual interim head coach Jim Leonhard at the helm.

Now with Fickell and defensive coordinator Mike Tressel coming over from Cincinnati, they’ll have to maintain the team’s defensive reputation. The two men produced some very strong results with the Bearcats and in 2022, their defense allowed 20.6 points per game.

With players like Maema Njongmeta and Jordan Turner leading the defense in Madison, they should have no trouble continuing their success in 2023.

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