Tag: Badgers in NFL

Former Wisconsin Badger re-signs with Houston Texans

Former Wisconsin football player re-signs with Texans

The NFL Draft begins Thursday and some athletes around the league are still finding new homes in free agency, but former Wisconsin running back Dare Ogunbowale is staying with his current team, signing a one-year deal with the Houston Texans.

Ogunbowale will return to Houston for a third consecutive season with the team. In 2023, the running back most notably nailed a 29-yard field goal in the team’s 39-37 win over the Buccaneers in Week 9.

When it comes to his traditional position, Ogunbowale turned eight carries into 35 yards while also adding two receptions for 18 yards over 12 contests last season. He’ll likely vie for reps behind Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce in 2024.

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Former Wisconsin running back continues to impress before NFL Draft

Former Wisconsin running back continues to impress before NFL Draft

The 2024 NFL Draft will begin next Thursday night (April 25) in Detroit and former Wisconsin Badgers running back Braelon Allen continues to impress.

After three consecutive seasons with over 1,000 rushing yards in Madison, Allen will be moving on to the next level. What makes him so impressive as an athlete is his shear strength, which he has consistently put on tape dating all the way back to his high school days in Fond Du Lac.

Allen has been compared to NFL star Derrick Henry throughout his career and the two of them were even spotted working out together earlier this month.

The running back remains projected to be a mid-round selection in the upcoming NFL Draft.

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Former Wisconsin Badgers linebacker ranks in top five in major NFL category

Former Wisconsin Badgers linebacker ranks in top five in major NFL category

The NFL season is still six months away, but the league never leaves the front page and a former Wisconsin Badgers linebacker received some attention Monday.

Pittsburgh Steelers standout edge rusher TJ Watt ranks second only to Haason Reddick in forced fumbles since the beginning of the 2020 campaign, which comes as no surprise. After two seasons with the Eagles, Reddick will be a New York Jet in 2024, joining Watt in the AFC.

Watt has been electric since he was selected in the first round (30th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft, ranking at or near the top of the league in sacks, forced fumbles, quarterback pressures and more.

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Former Badger is a finalist for the NFL’s DPOY

Former Badger is a finalist for the NFL’s DPOY

For yet another year, former Badgers linebacker T.J. Watt was named as a finalist for the AP Defensive Player of the Year award on Thursday.

Watt had yet another stellar season in Pittsburgh this season, matching his career-high with 68 total tackles, including 19.0 sacks, while also adding four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and an interception over 17 games.

The linebacker’s sack total was the second highest of his seven-year NFL career with the Steelers and he’ll look to secure his second DPOY award at the NFL Honors ceremony on Feb. 8.

All four of his fellow nominees have never won the award.

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Two former Badgers selected to 2023 NFL Pro Bowl roster

Two former Badgers selected to 2024 NFL Pro Bowl roster

The initial 2024 NFL Pro Bowl roster was announced Wednesday and two former Badgers, fullback Alec Ingold and linebacker T.J. Watt were selected.

For Ingold, it marks the first time that he has been chosen for the Pro Bowl, earning the selection after posting 13 catches for 119 yards over the team’s 16 contests so far while also helping lead block for Miami’s formidable rushing attack.

Watt has now been selected for six straight Pro Bowls and through 16 contests in 2023, he’s compiled 60 tackles, including 17.0 sacks, while deflecting eight passes, intercepting another, forcing four fumbles, recovering three fumbles and scoring a touchdown.

Congrats to the latest former Badgers who will appear in the Pro Bowl.

(Incorrectly marked as 2023 Pro Bowl)

https://twitter.com/brgridiron/status/1742729773594693653?s=46&t=OeAKdLK4n5Ct21xw6WVVTQ

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Wisconsin offensive lineman declares for NFL Draft

Badgers OL moves on to NFL

Just one day after accepting an invitation to the Senior Bowl in February, Badgers offensive lineman Tanor Bortolini has declared for the 2024 NFL Draft. It was a likely move after his decision to play in the Senior Bowl, but nonetheless, his decision became final Wednesday.

Bortolini spent four seasons with Wisconsin, playing both offensive guard and center in his time with the Badgers, even playing a little tight end occasionally.

His 6-foot-4 frame lends well to his chances to be successful in the NFL, plus Wisconsin has a track record of great pros coming through their program.

Bortolini joins running back Braelon Allen in deciding to declare of the upcoming NFL Draft.

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Former Badger wins AFC Defensive Player of the Month

Steelers’ stud gets another NFL honor

The month of September is somehow already coming to an end and after three full weeks of NFL action, former Badgers linebacker T.J. Watt was selected as the AFC’s Defensive Player of the Month.

Watt had a stellar month, recording 11 tackles, including six sacks, while also recording two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown in Week 2 versus the Browns.

Since he entered the league in 2017, Watt leads all players with 83.5 sacks over 90 total career games over his first six-plus seasons with the Steelers. He’s truly amongst the most elite players in the entire NFL.

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Internet reacts to potential Jonathan Taylor trade

Where will Taylor end up if traded?

Former Badgers running back Jonathan Taylor has been officially given permission to request a trade from the Indianapolis Colts. Taylor has spent three seasons with the Colts after being drafted in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

There has been plenty of conversations surrounding the state of the running back position in the league and Taylor’s potential trade has been at the forefront of the coverage.

If he does end up with another team, they’d be getting a running back that has performed as good as any during his short time in the NFL.

Here’s some of the best reactions to the Jonathan Taylor situation from the website formerly known as Twitter:

Steelers sign another former Badger

Former Badgers wideout signs with Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are quickly becoming the “Pittsburgh Badgers” signing another former Badger athlete in wide receiver Aron Cruickshank on Monday.

Cruickshank was a member of Wisconsin’s football team from 2018-2019 before transferring to Rutgers. During his time in Madison, the 5-foot-10 athlete was mostly a return specialist.

In his two years with the Badgers, he combined to return 49 kickoffs for 1,207 yards and two touchdowns (both in 2019). Cruickshank also turned nineteen carries into 189 yards and two scores while reeling in four passes for 40 yards as well.

He will now join a Pittsburgh squad that includes former Badgers like T.J. Watt, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Nick Herbig and Keeanu Benton amongst others.

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Badger Countdown: T.J Watt highlight reel as number 42 with Badgers

head coach Luke Fickell and his Wisconsin squad are now 42 days away from their opener versus Buffalo on Sept. 2 at Camp Randall.

The countdown continues as the Badger football season closes in and head coach Luke Fickell and his Wisconsin squad are now 42 days away from their opener versus Buffalo on Sept. 2 at Camp Randall.

T.J. Watt, NFL star and former Badger, wore number 42 while a member of Wisconsin’s football team from 2014-2016. He recorded a total of 70 tackles, including 11.5 sacks (all in 2016), while intercepting a pass, deflecting six others, forcing two fumbles and recovering another over 22 contests.

Watt went on to be selected 30th overall (first round) by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2017 NFL Draft and he’s blossomed into one of the best defenders, if not overall player in the NFL.

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