Tag: Badger Football

USC offers Wisconsin’s top quarterback target in the class of 2022

The Wisconsin Badgers have been on a quarterback recruiting tear recently with commitments from 2019 four-star Graham Mertz and 2021…

The Wisconsin Badgers have been on a quarterback recruiting tear recently with commitments from 2019 four-star Graham Mertz and 2021 four-star Deacon Hill.

Their top target at the position in the class of 2022, now, is three-star pro-style quarterback Devin Brown.

Brown currently has a 247Sports crystal ball prediction to Wisconsin but yesterday picked up an offer from the USC Trojans.

247Sports currently has the Queen Creek, Arizona native as the No. 466 player in the class of 2022, the No. 25 pro-style quarterback and the No. 3 recruit from the state of Arizona.

USC obviously has the track record at quarterback that the Wisconsin football program lacks, with names including Carson Palmer, Matt Leinhart, Mark Sanchez, Matt Barkley and Sam Darnold.

If the crystal ball prediction were to hold up the Badgers’ recent quarterback recruiting success would continue for another class. This USC offer is significant, though, and only time will tell what it means for Brown and his recruitment.

 

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

Report: Iowa one of three schools to not vote to postpone the Big Ten football season

The circus-like back-and-forth about the Big Ten presidents’ vote and whether it happened was a sight to see. Finally two days ago it was…

The circus-like back-and-forth about the Big Ten presidents’ vote and whether it happened was a sight to see.

Finally two days ago it was cleared up in a Big Ten statement that said the presidents “voted to postpone the fall sports season” and “reached an 11-3 decision which far exceeds the 60% threshold required by the Big Ten By-Laws.”

ESPN senior college football writer Adam Rittenberg followed this statement with a report that three schools voted to not postpone the season: Iowa, Ohio State and Nebraska.

If you’ve been following the story at all this news doesn’t come as much of a surprise, as all three schools listed above have been adamant since the decision was made that the conference should be playing football.

Related: Opinion: What the NCAA can do to fix the structure of college football and save the sport

The information coming out now, though, is valuable for everyone who has followed the story. But it still doesn’t make much sense why this wasn’t reported when the decision first came down.

There were media reports saying there was a vote, then reports that there wasn’t, then was, and so on. Being transparent during a process like this, one which led to a verdict that has far-reaching implications, is necessary for the health of the sport from top to bottom.

Again it’s good the information was finally released. It just shouldn’t have taken a lawsuit to get it out.

More will come out in the coming days about the Big Ten’s plan forward and their process of postponing. We can only hope, then, that the conference and those involved are transparent during this process and work together to reach the best way forward.

Jack Coan receives a top-30 nod in PFF’s 2020 college quarterback rankings

Two days from now Jack Coan would have been starting his senior season at home against the Indiana Hoosiers. As we all know, that is…

Two days from now Jack Coan would have been starting his senior season at home against the Indiana Hoosiers.

As we all know, that is obviously not the case with the Big Ten choosing in early August to postpone its season to the spring. One bright spot, though, is that the NCAA granted players an extra year of eligibility so even if the Badgers aren’t able to take the field during the 2020-21 school year, the seniors–including Coan–will still get a final college campaign.

I’ve written extensively about the Badger quarterback, his impressive 2019 season, an NFL comparison for him and why he hasn’t really been getting the respect he deserves.

Related: Opinion: It’s time Jack Coan gets the respect he deserves

Well, ProFootballFocus is on my side on this one as they ranked Coan No. 27 in their 2020 College Football Quarterback Rankings.

Big Ten quarterbacks ranked ahead of the Badger starter include Northwestern’s Peyton Ramsey at No. 14, Indiana’s Michael Penix Jr. at No. 12, Minnesota’s Tanner Morgan at No. 5 and Ohio State’s Justin Fields at No. 2.

Here’s what they had to say about the senior quarterback:

“Coan had an impressive breakout year in 2019. He went from a 41.4 PFF grade on a limited sample in 2018 to a grade of 78.5 in 2019, the sixth-best PFF grade among Big Ten quarterbacks. He could look to improve his deep ball, as he tended to force deep throws into tight coverage (seven turnover-worthy plays to his first read on deep balls last season, third-most in FBS). That said, you have to love the way he performed in the difficult Wisconsin offense.”

They’re spot on about him improving dramatically from 2018 to 2019, his spot near the top of the Big Ten in nearly every category and his impressive work last season in “the difficult Wisconsin offense.”

Related: An NFL comparison for Badger quarterback Jack Coan

But for some context about where his 2019 season lands in the program’s history see this:

Coan’s final line from 2019 was 2727 yards, 70% completion, 8.4 adjusted passing yards per attempt, 18 touchdowns, five interceptions and four rushing touchdowns.

Since Russell Wilson’s remarkable 2011 season, during which he bested all of those numbers with 3175 yards, 73% completion, 11.8 AY/A, 33 touchdowns, four interceptions and six rushing touchdowns, where does Coan’s season rank?

Passing yards: first, completion percentage: first, AY/A: second (to Joel Stave in 2012 with a smaller sample size), touchdowns: second (to Alex Hornibrook in 2017 when he also threw 15 interceptions), interceptions: second (again to Stave in 2012 with far fewer attempts) and rushing touchdowns: first.

I said it in a previous article but it’s pretty clear: Jack Coan’s 2019 season was the best Badger quarterback season since Wilson’s 2011 campaign.

On a personal note I sincerely hope we get to see Coan finish out his Wisconsin career whether it be this spring or next fall. The Graham Mertz era will be a great one for the program, but after what we saw last season it would be a travesty if Coan doesn’t get one more campaign for Paul Chryst and the Wisconsin Badgers.

Report: President Trump called Kevin Warren to talk about ‘immediately starting up Big Ten football’

As if the Big Ten offseason couldn’t get any more interesting. According to a tweet this morning from President Trump himself, he called…

As if the Big Ten offseason couldn’t get any more interesting.

According to a tweet this morning from President Trump himself; he called Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren today to talk about “immediately starting up Big Ten football.”

This coming after the conference recently released documents detailing an 11-3 vote by the schools’ presidents to postpone the season during their meetings in early August.

As you remember correctly there was much discussion about whether there was a vote and how the decision was reached.

Warren and the conference have been adamant over the last couple days that the decision to postpone the season is final and they will “actively consider options to get back to competition when it is safe to play.”

We’ll never know the content of the call between President Trump and Warren. One thing that is clear through all of this, though, is that were the conference to revisit their decision it won’t be up to the commissioner whether they play or not.

It has been and always will be up to the schools’ presidents.

 

3rd-And-Run Podcast: College basketball plan, Nick Saban’s comments and preseason AP Poll

The 3rdAndRun Podcast is back for its second episode with topics including college basketball’s plan forward and why it actually makes…

The 3rdAndRun Podcast is back for its second episode with topics including college basketball’s plan forward and why it actually makes sense, Nick Saban’s comments on the season make the Big Ten look terrible again and what the season is really about for those involved and, finally, reaction to the 2020 preseason AP Poll.

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.

2020 Wisconsin Badgers Football Schedule: Downloadable Wallpaper

Never miss a game this season with our College Wire downloadable 2020 Wisconsin Badgers football schedule. Use for wallpaper on lock screen

As we all know, the new football schedule was released this week.

Never miss a game this season with our College Wire downloadable 2020 Wisconsin Badgers football schedule. Use as wallpaper for your lock screen on your smartphone.

Download 2020 Badgers football schedule here

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Wisconsin sends out an offer to a 2022 RB

The Badgers make another 2022 offer

The Badgers are staying busy in the class of 2022 as Wisconsin handed out another offer at RB yesterday. Samuel Brown became the latest Badger offer in the class of 2022.

Brown is a Glenside, Pennsylvania (La Salle College) native who is ranked as a three-star prospect by 247Sports. His offer list currently includes Baylor, Maryland, Michigan State, and others. Brown is the eighth RB offered by Wisconsin in the class of 2022.

 

A Wisconsin Badger earns the highest PFF pass coverage grade amongst returning Big Ten defenders

A Wisconsin Badger is the highest-rated coverage defender that is returning next season in the Big Ten

[lawrence-newsletter]Pro Football Focus, a football data company that specializes in analytics, recently named a Wisconsin Badger as the best returning Big Ten defender at covering the pass. That Badger is safety Eric Burrell, who is coming off his best season in Madison as a junior. Burrell is sure to be a leader in 2020 on the defensive side of the ball in his senior season.

This past season, the Severn, Maryland native set career-highs in nearly every statistical category, including total tackles, solo tackles, interceptions, and passes defended (PD). Burrell finished the year with 55 total tackles, a pair of sacks, three interceptions, and six passes defended. He finished with a PFF coverage grade of 88.9.

Burrell came into the year behind Scott Nelson on the depth chart, but after Nelson went out of the season-opener against USF with a leg injury that would ultimately hold him out the entire year, Burrell shined as the weekly starter. Wisconsin will have an embarrassment of riches next season at the safety position with Burrell, Nelson, and redshirt-sophomore Reggie Pearson all returning.

 

Wisconsin football extends offer to a 2021 athlete who does a little bit of everything

The Badgers add another offer in the class of 2021

[lawrence-newsletter]New Badger wide receiver coach Alvis Whitted has waisted no time getting busy in his first few months on the job. Coach Whitted extended another offer to a 2021 WR yesterday. Three-star prospect (according to 247sports) Kamonte Grimes was the latest UW offer in the 2021 class.

On tape, Grimes has highlights on both sides of the football. The wide receiver doubles as a lockdown defensive back, and whatever school lands the Florida native will have to decide where he fits best. He even stepped in at QB during his junior season at Palmetto Ridge High School.

Grimes currently holds offers from the likes of Kentucky, Michigan, and Cincinnati.

Check out highlights of the versatile three-star athlete via Hudl and 247sports: https://247sports.com/Video/Kamonte-Grimes-Junior-Highlights-9628987/

The Wisconsin connection for Detroit Lions OC Darrell Bevell played a part in taking WR Quintez Cephus

The former Badger QB used Wisconsin connections to gain some insight into the Badger wideout. Bevell’s Lions ended up drafting Cephus.

[lawrence-newsletter]When the GM of the Detroit Lions Bob Quinn talked through the decision to take Wisconsin WR Quintez Cephus in the fifth round of the NFL draft, he mentioned that a former Badger was instrumental in the process. Former Badger and current Detroit Lions OC Darrell Bevell played a key role in bringing in Wisconsin’s top receiver.

Once upon a time, Bevell played a starring role in a storybook season at Wisconsin. Bevell was the starting QB at Wisconsin from 1992-1996, and was crucial in then Head Coach Barry Alvarez turning the tide in Madison. The former Badger QB led Wisconsin to a Rose Bowl win in the 1993 season — the first Badger Rose Bowl appearance since 1963 — in which the Badgers defeated UCLA 21-16. During a coaching career that has lasted over two decades, Bevell began at the collegiate ranks before taking his first NFL job in Green Bay as the QB coach from 2000-2005. He then landed his first OC job with Minnesota in 2006, before moving on to serve the same role in Seattle and now in Detroit.

During Quinn’s online media availability following the final day of the NFL draft, the Lions GM raved about the talent that Cephus brings to Detroit. “Cephus is a really, really strong player, very physical, great catch radius, strong hands,” said Quinn.

The Lions GM went on to add that Bevell’s relationship at Wisconsin played a part in their interest with Cephus. “Coach Bevell has a strong relationship up at Wisconsin and one of his former teammates is one of the coaches up there,” said Quinn. “We really got a good recommendation on that player [Cephus] in the fifth round.”

The former teammate that Quinn could be referring to is Wisconsin offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph, who was the starting left guard on the 1993 Rose Bowl winning team that had Bevell at QB. According to the Lions GM, the relationship between the two proved important in Detroit’s prospect evaluation, and eventual selection, of Cephus. The saying ‘once a Badger, always a Badger’ certainly holds true in this case.