Tag: Badger Countdown

Badger Countdown: Former number 84 could be set to breakout in NFL

The return of CFB is coming up faster than you think and the Badgers are 84 days away from their Week 1 matchup with Buffalo on Sept. 2. 

The return of college football is coming up faster than you think and the Badgers are 84 days away from their Week 1 matchup with Buffalo on Sept. 2. Former Badger tight end and second-year NFL player Jake Ferguson could be in for a very productive season with the Cowboys.

Ferguson spent four seasons with Wisconsin from 2018-2021, playing for the program that his grandfather Barry Alvarez once coached and that he was at the time, the athletic director. The tight end carved out a very successful career in Madison, reeling in 145 catches for 1,618 yards and 13 touchdowns over 47 contests with the Badgers.

He went on to be selected in fourth round (129th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys and he spent his rookie season as a reserve option behind starter Dalton Schultz. Ferguson caught 19 passes for 174 yards and two scores while playing in 16 games.

Now heading into the 2023 campaign, Ferguson is slotted in as the Cowboys’ top tight end following Schultz’s departure to Houston via free agency. With Dallas looking to increase their production in the passing game, Ferguson could become a top target for quarterback Dak Prescott. His 6-foot-5, 240-pound frame has transitioned well to the professional level and he could become the next former Badger to make a major splash in the NFL.

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Badger Countdown: Number 85 looking to put together healthy campaign

The start of the Badger football season is now 85 days away as Wisconsin gears up to face Buffalo on Sept. 2 at Camp Randall.

The start of the Badger football season is now 85 days away as Wisconsin gears up to face Buffalo on Sept. 2 at Camp Randall. Heading into the first season with Phil Longo and his “Air Raid” offensive scheme, fourth-year tight end Clay Cundiff will look to make a splash.

Cundiff has struggled to stay on the field the last couple seasons, twice suffering season-ending lower-body injuries, but he has been productive in limited action. Over seven games, the tight end has reeled in 12 catches for 228 yards and 12 scores, while he turned nine receptions into 142 yards and two touchdowns over four games in 2022.

He will split touches at tight end with Jack Eschenbach and Hayden Rucci in 2023, though Cundiff may possess the best set of skills as a receiver of the three. With new head coach Luke Fickell in town and transfer quarterback Tanner Mordecai (SMU) under center this season, the Badgers are expected to open the field through the air, so the 6-foot-3 athlete could be in for a big year if healthy.

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Badger Countdown: Former Badger kicker finished career 86 percent

The beginning of the Luke Fickell era in Madison is now 86 days away as the Badgers take on Buffalo on Sept. 2.

The beginning of the Luke Fickell era in Madison is now 86 days away as the Badgers take on Buffalo on Sept. 2. Wisconsin’s all-time best career field-goal percentage was 86.8 percent.

Taking over at starting kicker during the 1997 season, Matt Davenport went on to go 14-of-17 on field goals in his first year in that role. His second campaign was a massively successful one, Davenport went 19-of-21 of field goals while the Badgers went on to win the 1999 Rose Bowl over UCLA 38-31.

The 19 made field goals is the fifth most in program history (third most at the time) and after finishing his career 33-for-38 (86.8 percent), Davenport still has the highest career field-goal percentage in Badger history.

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Badger Countdown: Former number 88 leads all Wisconsin players in NFL yards

The start of the 2023 CFB season is on the horizon and there are 88 days until the start of the Badgers’ season Sept. 2 versus Buffalo.

The start of the 2023 college football season is on the horizon and there are 88 days until the start of the Badgers’ season Sept. 2 versus Buffalo. As we countdown the days, a former number 88 for Wisconsin carved out a great NFL career.

Wide receiver Chris Chambers spent four seasons with Wisconsin from 1997-2000, helping the Badgers win both the 1999 and 2000 Rose Bowls while with the squad.

Chambers totaled 2,004 receiving yards and 16 receiving touchdowns over his four campaigns in Madison, most notably reeling in 52 catches for 813 yards and five scores in his senior season in 2000.

The 5-foot-11 athlete went on to be selected in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins (51st overall). In his rookie season, he caught 48 passes for 883 yards and seven scores, averaging a career-high 18.4 yards per reception while being selected for the 2001 NFL All-Rookie Team.

Chambers went on to play 10 seasons in the NFL with the Dolphins, Chargers and Chiefs, compiling 540 catches for 7,648 receiving yards, both of which are all-time highs for a Badger in the NFL while his 58 touchdowns is second only to Elroy Hirsch (60).

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Badger Countdown: Wisconsin football begins in ’89

The return of Badger football is now 89 days away as Wisconsin launches their 2023 campaign Sept. 2 versus Buffalo at Camp Randall.

The return of Badger football is now 89 days away as Wisconsin launches their 2023 campaign Sept. 2 versus Buffalo at Camp Randall. The first intercollegiate competitions for UW-Madison took place in 1889 and the 2023 season could be the most hyped ever!

Head coach Luke Fickell has come to town after a successful six-year tenure at Cincinnati, most notably leading the Bearcats to a College Football Playoff appearance in 2021. He’s brought two high-caliber coordinators in Phil Longo (OC – UNC) and Mike Tressel (DC – Cincinnati), as well as over a dozen transfer athletes to Madison.

Of those players, former four-star quarterback Tanner Mordecai has joined the Badgers after two seasons at SMU, combining for more than 7,000 passing yards and 70 passing touchdowns. Mordecai is expected to be under center in year one of Phil Longo’s “Air Raid” offense, looking to revamp the team’s vertical passing ability.

Paired with Wisconsin’s established backfield of Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi, the offense could look impressive in 2023, while the defense is expected to remain one of the best in the country.

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Badger Countdown: Steelers’ number 90 is Wisconsin all-time great

We are now 90 days away from the Badgers’ Week 1 matchup with Buffalo on Sept. 2 at Camp Randall. A former number 90 is a legend in the NFL.

We are now 90 days away from the Badgers’ Week 1 matchup with Buffalo on Sept. 2 at Camp Randall. A former Badger who wears number 90 in the NFL was both a legend with Wisconsin and now in the league.

T.J. Watt was with the Badgers for three seasons, two of which active, from 2014-2016. Bogged down by injuries, Watt didn’t really step into his own until his third and final season.

During the 2016 campaign, the edge/linebacker emulated his older brother J.J. Watt, recording 63 total tackles, including 11.5 sacks, over 14 games. His defensive effort helped Wisconsin finish the season 11-3, winning the Cotton Bowl over Western Michigan 24-16.

Watt went on to be selected 30th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers and has become one of the best players in the entire league.

Since his rookie year in 2017, Watt has recorded an NFL-high 77.5 sacks over six seasons, adding six interceptions, 23 forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries while making 243 total tackles in 87 contests.

He’s been a five time Pro-Bowl selection, a three time All-Pro and he won the 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.

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Badger Countdown: Former number 91 successful away from football

The start of the Badger football season is now only 91 days away and we continue our countdown to the opener Sept. 2 against Buffalo.

The start of the Badger football season is now only 91 days away and we continue our countdown to the opener Sept. 2 against Buffalo at Camp Randall. Bryson Williams wore number 91 with Wisconsin, wrapping up his four-year collegiate career with the team’s 2021 Las Vegas Bowl win over Arizona State.

Williams was an interior defensive lineman from 2018-2021, recording 27 career tackles and a pass deflection. What makes him special is his story off the field.

After he was rejected from the Business School as a sophomore, Williams had to buckled down in class and he was admitted on his second attempt. He didn’t just relish in his admittance, he secured an internship with Morgan Stanley, the American multinational investment bank and financial services company.

Although his football career didn’t continue past 2021, the Lincoln, Nebraska native was hired out of school by Morgan Stanley and moved out to New York City.

Part of the reason why Williams chose Madison was because of the excellent Business School and he certainly took advantage of the academic advantages that UW provides.

Badger Countdown: All-time leading passer starts UW career in 92′

The return of Badger football is now 92 days away as we countdown to Week 1 versus Buffalo on Sept. 2 at Camp Randall.

The return of Badger football is now 92 days away as we countdown to Week 1 versus Buffalo on Sept. 2 at Camp Randall. Wisconsin’s all-time leading passer began his UW career in 1992, going on to start four seasons.

Darrell Bevell took over as the Badgers’ starting quarterback in 1992 replacing four-year starter Tony Lowery under center. Paired with third-year head coach Barry Alvarez, the Yuma, Arizona native stepped right into a starting role as a freshman.

Bevell went on to record 1,479 passing yards and eight scores during Wisconsin’s 5-6 season, but it was the next year where things really took off. The quarterback passed for a career-high and program record (at the time) 2,390 yards and matched record with 19 passing touchdowns while the Badgers went 10-1-1 and went on to win the 1994 Rose Bowl 21-16 over UCLA.

He went on to spend two more campaigns under center, ending his career with the program’s all-time leading 7,686 total passing yards and 59 total passing touchdowns, both of which remain the program’s highest ever.

Bevell went undrafted in the 1996 NFL Draft and began a career in coaching and in recent years, he’s filled in twice as an interim head coach with the Detroit Lions (2020) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2021).

Additionally, he won a Super Bowl in 2013 with the Seattle Seahawks as their offensive coordinator. Bevell is now entering his second season as the QB coach and passing game coordinator with the Miami Dolphins.

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Badger Countdown: Flashback to rare tie during 1993 campaign

The Wisconsin Badgers’ football team is now 93 days away from their 2023 season opener Sept. 2 vs Buffalo and we continue our countdown. 

The Wisconsin Badgers’ football team is now 93 days away from their 2023 season opener Sept. 2 against Buffalo and we continue our countdown.

The 1993 season ended with the Badgers’ 21-16 win over UCLA in the 1994 Rose Bowl, finishing off a 10-1-1 season. As easily seen in their record, Wisconsin did record a tie during the 1993 and it wasn’t with just any ordinary team.

On November 6, 1993, the Badgers (7-1) hosted the Ohio State Buckeyes (8-0) at Camp Randall and the two teams tied 14-14. Late in the contest Wisconsin held a 14-7 lead but the Buckeyes marched down the field to tie it with under four minutes to go.

In the end, head coach Barry Alvarez and his Wisconsin squad had their shot to win it, but cornerback Marlon Kerner blocked a 32-yard Badgers field goal and the contest ended in a tie. When it came down to it, both teams finished 10-1-1 and tied for the Big Ten title.

Wisconsin won the Rose Bowl invitation tiebreaker due to Big Ten rules which resolved first-place ties by eliminating the most recent invitee.

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