Tag: Badger Football

Former Badger running back signs with the Jacksonville Jaguars

After being cut last week by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, former Wisconsin Badger running back…

After being cut last week by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, former Wisconsin Badger running back Dare Ogunbowale found a new NFL home yesterday as he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Ogunbowale was a team captain for the Buccaneers a year ago so his release was surprising news, though made sense with the team bringing in Leonhard Fournette recently to complete the running back room.

The former Badger figures to be a big piece in the Jaguars’ running back rotation as the only backs ahead of him on the roster are Chris Thompson, Devine Ozigbo and James Robinson.

The slot-switching between Fournette and Ogunbowale actually bodes well for the former Badger’s future in the NFL as he now has a path to regular carries and touches in Jacksonville instead of sitting behind Ronald Jones II and LeSean McCoy in Tampa Bay.

 

Check in to BadgersWire throughout the NFL season as we keep up with former Badgers in the NFL and analyze their paths as NFL players.

3rdAndRun Podcast: Nolan Rucci signing, Ryan Connelly was cut and new NFL practice squad rules

The 3rdAndRun Podcast is back for its fourth episode with topics including what Nolan Rucci’s commitment means for the future of the…

The 3rdAndRun Podcast is back for its fourth episode with topics including what Nolan Rucci’s commitment means for the future of the program, why the New York Giants made a massive mistake cutting LB Ryan Connelly and, finally, what new NFL practice squad rules mean for former Badgers in the NFL.

3rd-and-Run is a brand new Wisconsin and Big Ten football podcast hosted by myself, BadgersWire staff writer Ben Kenney.

The podcast will come out once a week until the Badgers take the field and will include interviews with media members across the Big Ten, incoming recruits and much more.

Listen, subscribe, rate, share and have a take as we all try to unpack what is going on in college football and what the future holds for the sport.

Two former Badgers are on the NFL Week 1 ‘practice squad protected list’

This year in the NFL–like every other sport–has been and will be unlike any other. Some of the changes we’ve already seen include…

This year in the NFL–like every other sport–has been and will be unlike any other. Some of the changes we’ve already seen include zero preseason games, a virtual NFL Draft and, if you watched HBO’s Hard Knocks, a completely different training camp structure.

One of the new alterations that will become significant as the season progresses are the new practice squad rules–the size increasing from 12 to 16 players, 1-2 players on the squad allowed to be elevated to the active roster for games, teams getting two “free” practice squad active moves per player before he hits waivers and, finally, teams being allowed to designate four players per week who can’t be signed by other teams.

For the six former Badgers who found themselves on a practice squad after cut day last week these new rules are huge news, and could be the reason they find themselves on an NFL field this season.

Well, with opening night of the NFL tomorrow and a full slate of Week 1 games this weekend two Wisconsin products are already benefitting from 2020’s unique structured as they were designated by their teams as players who cannot be signed by another NFL team.

Those two players are Panthers defensive back Natrell Jamerson and Chargers offensive lineman Ryan Groy.

What does this mean?

At least in the short term it keeps the two on their current practice squads. But in the long term it shows that the organization still values them and may have future plans to bring them up to the active roster were somebody ahead of them on the depth chart to get injured or test positive for COVID-19.

In any other year we may have seen the likes of Jamerson, Groy, D’Cota Dixon, Chris Orr, Beau Benzschawel and Dare Ogunbowale–the six Wisconsin products currently on NFL practice squads–without a job going into the season.

With the new rules this year, the NFL dream has stayed alive for all six of them.

Making an active roster was obviously the goal for all six players, but at least now there is security on the practice squad and a more-than-possible path to the active roster as the season progresses.

Instant Twitter reaction from the Badgers landing five-star tackle Nolan Rucci

The best news Badger fans have heard in months: Earlier today five-star offensive tackle and the No. 14 player in the class of 2021…

The best news Badger fans have heard in months: Earlier today five-star offensive tackle and the No. 14 player in the class of 2021 Nolan Rucci committed to play for the Wisconsin Badgers.

Rucci is the No. 2 highest-ranked recruit the program has ever landed after 2007’s No. 13-ranked recruit offensive tackle Josh Ogelsby and one of five five-stars in program history: Him, Ogelsby, 2019 offensive tackle Logan Brown, 2001 defensive tackle Anttaj Hawthorne and 2003 defensive end Justin Ostrowski.

I could write for years about the caliber of player Rucci is and what his signing means for the program. But first, reaction from Badger players, recruits, commits, coaches and more.

Here is some of the Twitter reaction from his commitment announcement:

 

Nolan Rucci himself:

 

Tight end Hayden Rucci (Nolan’s older brother):

 

Recruiting analyst Mike Carens:

 

Director of player personnel Saeed Khalif:

 

2021 four-star quarterback Deacon Hill:

 

2021 three-star linebacker Jake Chaney:

 

2021 three-star wide receiver Skyler Bell:

 

2021 three-star defensive end Mike Jarvis:

Badgers offer four-star 2022 defensive tackle

While the state of Wisconsin and everybody who follows the Badgers awaits tonight’s commitment decision from five-star 2021…

While the state of Wisconsin and everybody who follows the Badgers awaits tonight’s commitment decision from five-star 2021 offensive tackle Nolan Rucci, Paul Chryst and his staff are staying diligent on the recruiting trail as they offered four-star 2022 defensive tackle Hunter Deyo.

Deyo is the No. 253 player in the class of 2022, the No. 24 defensive tackle and the No. 3 recruit from his home state of Iowa.

The only other Big Ten team on the defensive tackle’s offer list at this point is Iowa, a school he has already received a crystal ball prediction to sign with.

At this point four-star linebacker/safety Braelon Allen remains Wisconsin’s only commit in the class of 2022 though their recruiting push in the class has heated up recently with the 2021 recruiting cycle nearing its end.

 

For everything Wisconsin Badgers and the class of 2021 check out the 2021 commitment tracker and follow @thebadgerswire, @benzkenney and @alow_33 on Twitter.

Wisconsin legend Russell Wilson named team captain of the Seattle Seahawks

In news that will surprise absolutely nobody: yesterday Wisconsin legend Russell Wilson was named a team captain of the…

In news that will surprise absolutely nobody: yesterday Wisconsin legend Russell Wilson was named a team captain of the Seattle Seahawks.

This year will be the eighth straight year of Wilson as the captain of Seattle’s offense, with 2012 being the only year the former Badger played in the NFL without being a team captain.

Not much else needs to be said about Wilson’s college and NFL resume, as he projects to be a first-ballot selection to the Hall of Fame and has arguably been the best quarterback in the league over the last decade.

Now, entering his age 32 season, the former Badger will continue to seek the elusive second Super Bowl victory and further cement his legacy as one of the best quarterbacks of this generation.

 

Wisconsin legend Russell Wilson named team captain of the Seattle Seahawks

In news that will surprise nobody: yesterday Wisconsin legend Russell Wilson was named a team captain of the Seattle Seahawks.

In news that will surprise absolutely nobody: On Monday, Wisconsin legend Russell Wilson was named a team captain of the Seattle Seahawks.

This year will be the eighth straight Wilson has been the captain of Seattle’s offense; 2012 is the only year the former Badger played in the NFL without being a team captain.

Not much else needs to be said about Wilson’s college and NFL resume, as he projects to be a first-ballot selection to the Hall of Fame and has arguably been the best quarterback in the league over the last decade.

Now, entering his age 32 season, the former Badger will continue to seek the elusive second Super Bowl victory and further cement his legacy as one of the best quarterbacks of this generation.

Ryan Connelly already has a new home after being cut by the New York Giants

In a surprising move yesterday the New York Giants cut former Badger linebacker Ryan Connelly as he continues to rehab from tearing…

In a surprising move yesterday the New York Giants cut former Badger linebacker Ryan Connelly as he continues to rehab from tearing his ACL a year ago.

I wrote about why the move didn’t make much sense, as Connelly showed a lot during his four games on the field and figures to be a productive starter for years to come.

Well, it didn’t take long for him to find a new NFL home as the Minnesota Vikings claimed the former Badger off waivers earlier today.

Connelly was the only Wisconsin product who was claimed during the waiver process as the others will likely sign with a practice squad and wait for a roster spot to open up.

The Vikings are getting a good one in Connelly, though, as he works to come back from last year’s ACL injury and return to playing stellar defense on the football field.

 

Stay tuned in to BadgersWire as we follow Connelly and every former Badger in the NFL when the season kicks off this Thursday.

The New York Giants cut LB Ryan Connelly yesterday…but why?

Thanks to NFL teams trimming their rosters to 53 yesterday nine former Badgers were released and now will seek another NFL job…

Thanks to NFL teams trimming their rosters to 53 yesterday nine former Badgers were released and will now seek another NFL job or a spot on a practice squad.

Among those players was now-former New York Giants linebacker Ryan Connelly.

And I ask this: Why?

After joining the team as a fifth round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Connelly did nothing but impress during his time on the field.

He finished his rookie season having appeared in four games with three of them starts and recorded two interceptions, two passes defended, one sack, 20 tackles and one quarterback hit.

By all accounts he was emerging as a starting linebacker for the team and seen as a true diamond in the rough after coming in as just a fifth-rounder.

Unfortunately, as Badger fans may know, the linebacker tore his ACL during the Giants’ Week 4 contest and missed the remainder of the season.

There has been chatter in New York that Connelly was coming along slow in his ACL rehab. I still don’t quite understand, though, cutting a second year player that isn’t giving the team any financial stress and showed that he can be a starter–and a productive one at that–in the NFL.

Even if he was coming along slow, wouldn’t it be worth it to place him on the PUP list or injured reserve? Cheap production is the name of the game in the NFL and also perfectly defines Connelly going into this season.

I just don’t understand the move. I don’t.

The former Badger will no doubt find another home in the NFL when the ACL rehab is finished and will likely have a productive career.

I guess now it just won’t be with the New York Giants.

Two former Badgers waived by the Carolina Panthers

Normally right now the nation would be watching preseason NFL games and following how roster long-shots perform in their on-field…

Normally right now the nation would be watching preseason NFL games and following how roster long-shots perform in their on-field opportunities, trying to project whether the players will the 53-man roster.

Now, without preseason games, the cuts still need to happen–this time, though, only based on what coaches saw during OTAs and training camp.

After two former Badgers–Dare Ogunbowale and Nick Nelson–were recently released by their NFL teams two more have joined the list: now-former Carolina Panthers Natrell Jamerson and Chris Orr.

Jamerson’s NFL path since the Saints took him in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft has been a windy one, bouncing from the Saints, to the Texans, to the Packers and then to the Panthers in a span of only two seasons.

His best season of production was the 2018 season during which he played in a combined 12 games for two different teams and recorded 10 tackles and one pass defended.

Orr, on the other hand, was recently signed by the Panthers after the 2020 NFL Draft after absolutely dominating during his senior season in Madison.

The path towards making a roster as a late-round pick or undrafted free agent is undoubtably more challenging this year without the opportunity of preseason games and an overall shortened offseason.

The two players will now be placed on waivers and other teams will get a shot to land them before they become free agents. The most likely result of the process for both Jamerson and Orr is a spot on the Panthers’ practice squad where they’ll await another shot at the 53-man roster.