Tag: centers

Wisconsin sophomore center logs first career double-double in win over UCF

Wisconsin sophomore center logs first career double-double in win over UCF

Wisconsin sophomore center Nolan Winter logged his first career double-double in the Badgers’ win over UCF on Friday.

After senior center Steven Crowl accumulated three fouls early in the first half, Winter stepped up in a big way. The second-year Badger logged 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting and 1-of-2 from the three-point line. The big man also corralled a game-best 10 rebounds in the 86-70 win.

Despite scoring 15 points in his first game of the 2024-25 slate, this was easily Winter’s best performance of the season thus far. He fit seamlessly into Greg Gard’s overall scheme and absolutely dominated in the interior.

In 29 minutes of action, Winter was also responsible for five offensive rebounds. Those boards created opportunities for more points in the painted area, a category in which Wisconsin outclassed UCF.

On the season, Winter is averaging 9.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in just under 20 minutes per game. His size as UW’s starting forward makes the Badgers’ front court all the more formidable to defend.

With wing John Tonje and guard John Blackwell responsible for a bulk of Wisconsin’s offensive workload, Winter naturally receives less defensive attention in the half court.

The Badgers will be back on the floor for a matchup against Pittsburgh in their second game of the Greenbrier Tip-Off on Nov. 24.

Wisconsin forward flashes offensive potential in Badgers win over Holy Cross

Wisconsin forward flashes offensive potential in Badgers win over Holy Cross

Wisconsin sophomore forward Nolan Winter flashed his offensive brilliance in the Badgers’ 85-61 win over Holy Cross on Monday.

In just over 20 minutes, the second-year Badger registered a career-high 15 points and snared eight rebounds in the 24-point victory at the Kohl Center. Winter shot a perfect 6-6 from the field, including 2-2 from beyond the arc, and dished out a pair of assists as well.

All 15 of Winter’s points arrived in the second half of Monday’s season opener. After transfer John Tonje and sophomore John Blackwell revitalized Wisconsin’s offense to open the second half, Winter attacked for the final six minutes of the game.

The Lakeville, Minnesota native’s improvement from a season ago is obvious. Without veteran forward Tyler Wahl in the mix or volume scorer A.J. Storr taking shots, Winter’s opportunities to create will only increase as the season progresses.

Yes, it was Holy Cross. But the breakout potential is there. On several occasions, Winter displayed his ability to operate in the low post and from outside. Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard now has the luxury of two seven-footers who aren’t scared to shoot from deep in the starting lineup.

In 2023-24, Winter registered 2.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in roughly nine minutes per game. Those totals are all set to skyrocket in 2024-25.

Former Wisconsin star center on PFF’s ‘Team of the Week’ for NFL Week 6

Former Wisconsin star center on PFF’s ‘Team of the Week’ for NFL Week 6

Former Wisconsin star center Joe Tippmann earned a spot on ProFootballFocus’ Week 6 ‘Team of the Week’ on Tuesday.

Tippmann, who serves as the starting center for the New York Jets, blocked a bevy of Bills defenders on Monday night to open up the field for emerging star running back Breece Hall. Hall rushed 18 times for 113 yards (6.3 yards per carry) against a stout Bills defense during the primetime slot.

The Fort Wayne, Indiana, native was accompanied by Cardinals’ left tackle Bernard Raimann, Jets left guard John Simpson, Falcons right guard Chris Lindstrom and Packers right tackle Zach Tom on the offensive line.

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker, Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown, Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, 49ers tight end George Kittle and Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton were also selected on the offensive end.

After being selected No. 43 overall by the Jets in the 2023 NFL draft, Tippman has become a dependable player on New York’s offensive line. He started in 14 of his 16 appearances as a rookie, plus all six games of the 2024 season.

During his four-year college tenure in Madison, Tippmann started at center from 2021-22 and allowed just one sack over 338 pass blocking snaps as a senior. His continuity with former Badgers’ running back Braelon Allen, who also suits up for the Jets, is an added bonus for Aaron Rodgers and company.

The Jets’ next game is against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Oct. 20.

Their opponent in that game, the Steelers, will be led defensively by former Wisconsin star T.J. Watt — who also made PFF’s ‘Team of the Week’ for NFL Week 6. His addition came after he totaled five tackles, four run stuffs, two tackles for loss and two forced fumbles in the Steelers’ 32-13 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.

Two former Packers make list of NFL’s best centers

Former Packers Corey Linsley and J.C. Tretter both made Touchdown Wire’s top NFL centers

Green Bay Packers rookie Josh Myers has big shoes to fill.

Two former centers for the Packers made Touchdown Wire’s list for the NFL’s best 11 centers. In fact, Corey Linsley and J.C. Tretter were both in the top three.

Linsley, a first-team All-Pro last season, left Green Bay after seven seasons for the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency. Tretter, who made 10 starts for the Packers during his rookie contract, signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2017 and has started the last 64 games for the franchise at center.

Tretter ranked second; Linsley third.

The success of Linsley and Tretter bodes well for Myers, the Packers’ second-round pick in 2021. So does the accomplishments of Elgton Jenkins, a college center and a second-round pick of the team in 2019. At the very least, the Packers have proven capable of finding quality center prospects through three draft process.

How long before Myers ends up on one of the NFL’s best centers lists?

There’s a good chance he’ll be a rookie starter at center in 2021, just like Linsley in 2014. Myers Will need time, but he played in big games at Ohio State, and playing along an experienced Packers offensive line with a well-respected young coach – Adam Stenavich – provides an opportunity for early success.

For now, two of the best at the center position are former Packers playing in the AFC.

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14 center prospects Packers could target to replace C Corey Linsley

A closer look at 14 prospects in the 2021 NFL draft capable of helping the Packers replace All-Pro center Corey Linsley.

The Green Bay Packers may not feel an urgent need to replace All-Pro center Corey Linsley with a draft pick, especially with potential internal replacements such as Lucas Patrick and Elgton Jenkins on the roster, but the 2021 draft sure looks like a good one for teams needing a center.

The draft class has appealing options for the Packers in the early, middle and late rounds.

Here’s a list of prospects the Packers could target to help replace Linsley at center:

Notre Dame football: who replaces Patterson at center?

Notre Dame received bad news on the injury front Monday as star center Jarrett Patterson is done for the year. So who will replace him?

Tough news for the Notre Dame football program came out early on Monday morning when news broke that standout center Jarrett Patterson was lost for the year after injuring his foot late in Saturday’s 45-31 win at Boston College.

Patterson’s play and importance can’t be understated as he started each of Notre Dame’s last 21 games dating back to the opener at Louisville in 2019.  Although individual stats aren’t simple to look at for offensive linemen like they are their defensive counterparts, Patterson been receiving praise from multiple outlets throughout the year.

So how does Notre Dame go about filling the hole left by Patterson’s injury?

Sophomore Zeke Correll (6-3, 295 lbs.) has been listed second at center on Notre Dame’s depth chart all season long but has played in just one game this season, the 52-0 win over South Florida, but did see action in four contests a year ago.

Correll was a four-star recruit in Notre Dame’s 2019 recruiting class out of Anderson High School in Cincinnati.

Another potential replacement could be senior Colin Grunhard (6-1, 290 lbs.) who has more game experience than Correll, as Grunhard has appeared in 11 games all-time at Notre Dame, including this season’s South Florida contest.

Grunhard is the son of former Notre Dame standout Tim who helped lead the Irish to the 1988 national championship before playing 11 seasons in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs.

It’s worth noting as well that senior Josh Lugg (6-7, 310 lbs.) took some reps at center back in spring of 2019 but it’d appear to be quite the upset to see take over the center position.

Notre Dame’s next three games come against North Carolina, Syracuse and Wake Forest, who rank nationally 59th, 70th and 94th respectively in terms of yards allowed per play.