Tag: Badger Countdown

Badger Countdown: Former UW head coach records 21 INTs as player

Former coach is all-time legend on the field

The 2023 college football season is almost underway and the Badgers are now 21 days away from their season opener versus Buffalo on Sept. 2. Former defensive coordinator and interim head coach Jim Leonhard gives the number 21 significant meaning.

Prior to becoming a coach, Jim Leonhard was a very successful safety with Wisconsin from 2001-2004, playing in his final three seasons. Over his three active years in Madison, the safety recorded a total of 21 interceptions, which is tied as the program record.

The impressive amount of takeaways includes a 2002 campaign where he snatched 11 interceptions, which stands on its own as a Badger record while ranking tied for eighth in NCAA history.

He also compiled 1,347 punt return yards and three scores over his three campaigns with Wisconsin, which was the Big Ten record for two seasons until 2006.

Leonhard went on to go undrafted in the 2005 NFL Draft, but he played 10 years in the league. After that, he returned to UW in 2016 as a defensive coach.

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Badger Countdown: Unheralded running back records 22 touchdowns in 2005

Forgotten running back scores 22 times on the ground in 2005

The 2023 college football season is closing in quickly and the Badgers are now 22 days away from their season opener versus Buffalo on Sept. 2. As the Luke Fickell era begins, he’s stated his emphasis on maintaining the strong running game and an unheralded running back recorded 22 touchdowns in 2005.

A member of Wisconsin’s football team for only one season after transferring from Colorado, Brian Calhoun made the most of his time in Madison. The 5-foot-10 athlete put on a show in 2005, compiling 1,636 rushing yards and 22 scores on the ground.

At the time, the touchdowns were the most in program history while the yardage ranked fifth all-time.

Calhoun went on to be selected in the third round (74th overall) in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.

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Badger Countdown: Star running back wore 23 in Madison

The best to wear 23 in Madison

The 2023 college football season is on the horizon and the Badgers are now 23 days away from their opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2. With a backfield combination of Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi, head coach Luke Fickell seems set for his squad to have a successful rushing attack, but a former Wisconsin star is worth mentioning.

Jonathan Taylor wore number 23 with the Badgers, playing for the team from 2017-2019. Taylor was an instant star in his freshman season, compiling 1,977 rushing yards and 13 scores on the ground.

He went on to produce a total of 6,174 rushing yards and 50 touchdowns as well as 42 catches for 407 yards and five scores over 41 games with Wisconsin.

The rushing yards are second all-time in Badger football history while the touchdowns rank third.

Taylor went on to be selected in the second round (41st overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.

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Badger Countdown: Number 24 set for breakout season in secondary

This Badger could be in for a big year

The 2023 college football season is quickly approaching and the Badgers are now 24 days away from their opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2. Coming off of an injury-riddled campaign in 2022, safety Hunter Wohler (number 24) could be set for a breakout year in Madison.

Wohler appeared in six games last year, recording 21 total tackles and an interception while on the field. Now healthy, the safety has impressed throughout the spring, intercepting the Badgers’ quarterbacks and registering powerful hits at practice.

Operating in Luke Fickell and Mike Tressel’s defensive scheme, Wohler could be the next star they produce in the secondary. In the past, they’ve worked with both cornerbacks Sauce Gardner (NYJ) and Coby Bryant (SEA).

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Badger Countdown: Number 25 posts historic campaign in 2014

The best to ever wear number 25 in Madison

The 2023 college football season is right around the corner and the Badgers are now 25 days away from their season opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2. The number 25 was worn by an all-time great running back and he produced a legendary season in 2014.

Melvin Gordon was entering his second season as Wisconsin’s starting running back and he turned it up to another level. Gordon rushed for 2,587 yards and 29 touchdowns during his final campaign in Madison.

The rushing yards rank second only to Barry Sanders (1988) for the most ever in a college football season. Most notably, Gordon went crazy in the team’s tenth contest, turning 25 carries into an NCAA record 408 yards while adding four touchdowns at home versus Nebraska.

His record would only stand for one week with Samaje Perine (Oklahoma) breaking it against Kansas with a still-standing 427 rushing yards.

Gordon went on to finish second to Marcus Mariota in the Heisman Trophy voting and was selected 15th overall in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Chargers.

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Badger Countdown: Wisconsin averages 26 points per game in 2022

The 2023 college football season is on the horizon and the Badgers are now 26 days from their season opener versus Buffalo on Sept. 2.

The 2023 college football season is on the horizon and the Badgers are now 26 days from their season opener versus Buffalo on Sept. 2. In what will be Luke Fickell’s first full season as the head coach, expectations are high for Wisconsin and they’ll most notably look to outdo their 26.3 points per game from 2022.

Part of the offseason hype for the Badgers was the addition of offensive coordinator Phil Longo, who was formerly with North Carolina. Wisconsin’s 26.3 Points/G ranked 77th out of 131 schools.

Longo on the other hand, used his “Air Raid” offense to produce better results. His Tar Heels put up an average of 34.4 points over their 14 contests, which ranked 26th in the nation.

Longo and SMU-transfer quarterback Tanner Mordecai will look to put the hype into action in Madison this year and jumpstart an offense that was rather stagnant at times this past campaign.

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Badger Countdown: Wide receiver’s 27 touchdowns are all-time high

The 2023 college football season is fastly approaching and the Badgers are now 27 days from their season opener versus Buffalo on Sept. 2.

The 2023 college football season is fastly approaching and the Badgers are now 27 days from their season opener versus Buffalo on Sept. 2. The Luke Fickell era is almost underway in Madison and part of the hype this season is surrounding the wide receivers, but a former wideout owns the all-time touchdown record with 27.

Lee Evans was a member of the Badgers from 1999-2003, finishing his UW career with 3,468 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns on 175 catches during his college career. The yards and touchdowns are the highest in Wisconsin football history while the catches are third.

With transfers like CJ Williams (USC) and Bryson Green (Oklahoma State) coming in, maybe there will be a new star wideout in Madison this year!

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Badger Countdown: Best to ever wear number 28 in Madison

The college football season is just a few weeks away and the Badgers are now 28 days from their opener versus Buffalo at home on Sept. 2.

The college football season is just a few weeks away and the Badgers are now 28 days from their opener versus Buffalo at home on Sept. 2. The number 28 is special one since it was worn by one of the best Wisconsin football athletes ever.

From 2009-2012, running back Montee Ball was a member of the Badgers. After a limited freshman season, he blossomed into a star and then a superstar!

In his sophomore campaign, Ball produced a respectable 996 yards and an impressive 18 touchdowns on just 163 carries. He kicked into into the highest gear in year three though.

The running back turned in an incredible season in 2011, producing 1,923 rushing yards and an all-time Badger record 33 scores on ground. That touchdown total is the second highest in NCAA history (Barry Sanders – 37 – 1988).

Ball also added 24 catches for 306 yards and six scores while also throwing a touchdown that season, finishing the year with 40 total scores. He ended up finishing fourth in the Heisman voting.

His senior season wasn’t quite as spectacular but he still churned out 1,830 rushing yards and 22 scores.

Ball’s 5,140 career rushing yards rank third all-time in program history while his 77 rushing touchdowns are the highest ever.

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Badger Countdown: Number 29 makes 11 field goals in 2022

The 2023 CFB season is right around the corner and the Badgers are now 29 days away from their season opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2.

The 2023 college football season is right around the corner and the Badgers are now 29 days away from their season opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2. With Luke Fickell coming to town, there have been many changes in personnel and kicker could be another one.

That being said, Nate Van Zelst, number 29 and second-year kicker went 11-for-14 (78.6%) on field-goal attempts and a perfect 35-for-35 on extra-point ties in 2022. Not bad for Van Zelst who replaced Collin Larsh as the starter last season.

This offseason though, Nathanial Vakos transferred to Madison from the Ohio University after he went 22-for-27 (81.5%) on field goals last year. Vakos and Van Zelst are expected to compete for the starting nod ahead of 2023, with Vakos currently having the upper hand.

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Badger Countdown: 30 catches for second-year wideout in 2022

The 2023 college football season is closing in and the Badgers are now 30 days away from their season opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2.

The 2023 college football season is closing in and the Badgers are now 30 days away from their season opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2. There are many changes within the football program with Luke Fickell taking over at head coach, but a returning wideout Skyler Bell will look to build upon his 30 catches from 2022.

Bell began his UW career in 2021, reeling in just one pass for 15 yards. He arrived in a big way in 2022, recording 30 receptions for 444 yards and five scores. Additionally, he ran the ball 13 times for a total of 160 yards, averaging 12.3 yards per carry.

He’ll look to take another step up in his third season in Madison, now operating with SMU-transfer quarterback Tanner Mordecai within new offensive coordinator Phil Longo’s “Air Raid” offense.

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