Tag: Badgers in NFL

Badger Countdown: Former number 75 gearing up for NFL career

We are now 1/4 of the way through our 100 day countdown until the Badgers face Buffalo in the 2023 opener Sept. 2, which is now in 75 days.

We are now one quarter of the way through our 100 day countdown until the Badgers take on Buffalo in the 2023 season opener Sept. 2, which is now 75 days away. After four seasons with the Badgers, center Joe Tippmann was selected in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft by the New York Jets.

Tippmann, formerly number 75 with Wisconsin, will look to become the next superstar former Badger offensive lineman in the NFL. He’ll join the likes of Rob Havenstein, Kevin Zeitler and Ryan Ramczyk, amongst others, in the NFL now.

The rookie will have a chance to learn in an offense under new quarterback Aaron Rodgers, someone that the state of Wisconsin is certainly familiar with. It’s unclear if Tippmann will start or sit behind 2022 starter Connor McGovern this season, but chances are he’ll become a successful NFL o-lineman before long.

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Badger Countdown: Running back records all-time high 77 rushing scores

The college football season is inching closer and the Badgers launch their 2023 campaign in 77 days on Sept. 2 versus Buffalo.

The college football season is inching closer and the Badgers launch their 2023 campaign in 77 days on Sept. 2 versus Buffalo. During his four seasons with Wisconsin, running back Montee Ball compiled career stats as good as any ball carrier ever.

Ball was a member of the Badgers from 2009-2012, becoming a superstar in his second season with the team in 2010. During his 2011 campaign he produced 1,923 yards and 33 touchdowns on the ground while also catching 24 passes for 306 yards and six scores. The 39 combined touchdowns matched Barry Sanders’ all-time FBS record and Ball finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting that year (RGIII won).

After his fourth and final year with Wisconsin, Ball had produced a program-high 77 rushing touchdowns, while his 5,140 rushing yards were second only to Ron Dayne.

Ball was selected in the second round (58th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos, but he unfortunately fizzled out of the league by 2015.

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Badger Countdown: Number 79 looking for rebound year in NFL

The return of Badger football is now 79 days away as Luke Fickell and his squad launch their 2023 campaign Sept. 2 versus Buffalo at home.

The return of Badger football is now 79 days away as Luke Fickell and his squad launch their 2023 campaign Sept. 2 versus Buffalo at Camp Randall. Former Wisconsin offensive lineman Rob Havenstein wears number 79 for the Los Angeles Rams and he’s looking for a rebound year.

Havenstein spent the 2010-2014 seasons as a member of the Badgers and he was a part of Wisconsin’s three-year run of making the Rose Bowl from 2011-2013. The offensive tackle went on to be selected in the second round (57th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams (now Los Angeles).

He remains with the organization and was their starting right tackle when they won the 2022 Super Bowl over the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20. The team finished the year with a 12-5 regular season record and won their first championship since moving to LA in 2016.

Havenstein and the Rams struggled to remain healthy and effective last season, finishing the year with a disappointing 5-12 record. The squad will look to rebound in 2023.

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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: 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: 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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Former Badger QB ranked in Top 75 since 2000

Former Badger QB ranked in Top 75 since 2000

ESPN released their top 75 college football quarterbacks from the 2000s, listing a former Badger in the top half. Although it may be easy to guess who this athlete is, he did only spend one season with Wisconsin.

Russell Wilson is the quarterback. He came in at 26th overall in Bill Connelly’s rankings. Even though he was essentially a rental for the Badgers, many consider him the best signal-caller in Wisconsin history.

Wilson’s 2011 season with the Badgers came after three seasons with NC State, but he went off with his new team. The quarterback recorded 3,175 passing yards and 33 passing touchdowns, both of which are program records. Additionally, he led Wisconsin to their second straight Rose Bowl appearance, losing to Oregon in 45-38 shootout.

His season-long performance earned him ninth place in the Heisman voting as well as it boosted his NFL Draft position, ultimately being selected 75th overall by the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson went on to win Super Bowl XLVII with Seattle and appear in another one the following year.

Now with the Denver Broncos, Wilson is considered a fringe Hall of Famer and is easily the most accomplished quarterback in Badger history.

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Watch: Former Badger linebacker may need a pool boy

In a funny turn of events, former Badger linebacker T.J. Watt suffered an embarrassing pool accident. 

In a funny turn of events, former Badger linebacker T.J. Watt suffered an unexpected pool accident. While cleaning his pool, the NFL Pro-Bowler overextended himself and slipped right into the water.

Thankfully, Watt came out of the whole ordeal perfectly fine, at least physically. Maybe he should consider hiring someone to clean his pool for him considering he makes $28 million a year with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The youngest of three NFL brothers, T.J. has carved out a very impressive tenure with the Steelers, registering 77.5 sacks over his six seasons in the NFL while also winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2022.

Former Badger offensive lineman gets signed as undrafted free agent

Former Badger offensive lineman Tyler Beach was signed by the Houston Texans on Saturday after he went undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Former Badger offensive lineman Tyler Beach was signed by the Houston Texans on Saturday after he went undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft. He officially became the fourth Wisconsin athlete to join an NFL team, with Joe Tippmann (Jets), Keeanu Benton (Steelers) and Nick Herbig (Steelers) all being selected.

Beach spent three seasons with the Badgers, starting 11 games at guard in 2022 while protecting quarterback Graham Mertz. Prior to his junior season, Beach operated as a tackle, so he could end up playing either position in the league. His 6-foot-6, 330-pound frame seems to suggest that he should be able to operate in either position at the professional level.

Considering the fact that he was not selected, Beach is likely set to be in a competition crack the active roster with Houston ahead of the 2023 season. If he can earn a spot, his role would most likely be as a reserve option.

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Badger edge rusher Nick Herbig selected in fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft

On Day 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft, Badger edge rusher Nick Herbig was selected in the fourth round, 132nd overall, by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

On Day 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft, Badger edge rusher Nick Herbig was selected in the fourth round, 132nd overall, by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He’ll join teammate Keeanu Benton in Pittsburgh after Benton was selected by the Steelers in Round 2.

Herbig spent three seasons with Wisconsin, recording 134 career tackles, including 21 sacks, notching 11 of those sacks in 2022. He will now join a franchise that prides itself on their zone blitz, a scheme that could lead to great success for the 6-foot-2, 227-pound athlete.

Heading to Pittsburgh, the linebacker will become the fifth former Badger on the team’s defense, pairing him up with the likes of T.J. Watt, Keeanu Benton, Isaiahh Loudermilk and Scott Nelson.

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