Tag: Collin Wilder

Wisconsin S Hunter Wohler named breakout candidate in 2022 by Athlon Sports

Wisconsin safety Hunter Wohler named as a top breakout candidate for 2022 by Athlon Sports:

After a true freshman season where he contributed on both defense and special teams, Wisconsin safety Hunter Wohler was named by Steven Lassan of Athlon Sports as one of the top 50 breakout candidates for this season.

Related: Ranking the Big Ten’s best home uniforms

Wohler recorded 17 total tackles, a sack and a pass deflection in his true freshman season while serving as a rotational player on defense and constant on special teams. Lassan believes that Wohler’s intangibles, alongside defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s experience, will help him take the next step this season.

The Muskego, Wis., native will likely slot into the role of either starting safeties Scott Nelson or Collin Wilder, who both graduated at the end of last.

A former Wisconsin safety announces retirement

The former Badger announces his retirement

One of Wisconsin’s emotional leaders over the past few seasons has officially announced his retirement from football. 

Former Wisconsin safety Collin Wilder took to Twitter on Monday to announce he was moving on from his playing days. The originator of Wisconsin’s “Grit Factory” nickname, the former Houston Cougar made an immediate impact on and off the field upon arriving in Madison in 2019. 

Wilder played in 32 games as a Badger, making 12 starts from 2019-21. A team leader in every way, his career came to an unfair end when he was ejected on a controversial targeting call against Minnesota in Wisconsin’s final regular season game of 2021. 

Here is Wilder’s thank you to the game of football: 

 

WATCH: Wisconsin S Collin Wilder mic’d up at Las Vegas Bowl practice

WATCH: Wisconsin S Collin Wilder mic’d up at Las Vegas Bowl practice

Wisconsin enters its week of preparation for Thursday’s Las Vegas Bowl matchup with Arizona State nearly full-healthy. There are a few key absences to note, one of the more significant being senior safety Collin Wilder who was injured during the first play of the Badgers loss at Minnesota.

Wilder is one of the leaders of not only the defense but the team as a whole. His presence was seen both when he was on the field playing, but also at the podium and off the field.

Related: Several Wisconsin starters battling injury ahead of the Las Vegas Bowl

The Houston transfer is still doing whatever he can to help the team, as seen in a recent video posted on Twitter by Wisconsin Football.

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

[listicle id=43428]

Wisconsin’s Las Vegas Bowl depth chart sees one significant change

Wisconsin’s Las Vegas Bowl depth chart sees one significant change

Wisconsin released its depth chart for its Las Vegas Bowl matchup against Arizona State earlier today.

One big thing to note from the two-deep is the lack of opt-outs. Unlike the Sun Devils, Wisconsin is yet to see a starter opt-out of the bowl game up to this point—that including the starters that are projected to be selected in the upcoming NFL Draft if they declare.

But there was one significant change to the starting lineup and two-deep: John Torchio replaced Collin Wilder (injury) as a starter at safety while freshman Hunter Wohler moved up to the backup.

The change is expected after news of Wilder’s injury. It is still significant to note, though, that Wohler has impressed enough this season to already be a member of the two-deep as only a true freshman.

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

Wisconsin S Collin Wilder to miss Las Vegas Bowl with injury

Wisconsin S Collin Wilder to miss Las Vegas Bowl with injury

Wisconsin starting safety and vocal leader Collin Wilder will miss the team’s final game of the season with an injury, according to a report from the Wisconsin State Journal’s Colten Bartholomew. Wilder called the injury “very serious injury,” with more news sure to come when he speaks to the media tomorrow.

The news is tough on many levels, as Wilder is one of the team’s primary leaders and is a significant contributor to the nation’s second-best defense. Even more so, the safety was ejected early in Wisconsin’s loss to Minnesota due to targeting and was unable to help the Badgers battle for a Big Ten West title.

The former Houston Cougar transferred to Wisconsin back in 2018. He went on to start 13 games over three seasons as a Badger which included 80 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 5 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery.

He said thank you to many in a heartfelt video posted on social media earlier today:

Wisconsin will now likely turn to John Torchio to start alongside Scott Nelson at safety when the team travels to play Arizona State in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

Wisconsin safety Collin Wilder’s ‘Grit Factory’ hat may be for sale soon

Grit Factory hats may be on sale soon:

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyzzyj3n3jt6m7 player_id=none image=https://badgerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

During Saturday’s 27-7 win over Iowa, Wisconsin football’s identity was perfectly summed up with what was supposed to be part of safety Collin Wilder’s halloween costume.

Wilder showed up to the game with a trucker hat that read “The Grit Factory,” and got the green light from Paul Chryst to wear it. It then took on a life of its own, turning into Wisconsin’s turnover emblem. Whenever a Badger player came up with a turnover, they got to wear the prestigious hat. Grit sums up what Wisconsin football is all about at its best. What’s the furthest thing from a turnover chain? A turnover trucker hat, of course.

With new college name, image, and likeness laws in place, Wilder might just be taking the hat to new heights. Barstool Sports’ popular “Pardon My Take” podcast named Wilder one of their nominees for the “ podcast’s Football Guy of the Week Award and suggested on Twitter that they might just be releasing the hats to the public:

Stay tuned, as Badger fans may soon be able to become part of “The Grit Factory.”

LOOK: Wisconsin gives The Heartland Trophy a new look

The Badgers return the trophy to Madison

Wisconsin’s defense, as they have done all year long, showed up in the Badgers’ 27-7 win over Iowa.

Iowa turned the football over three times and failed to pick up a first down on their first six drives of the game. As a result, Wisconsin took The Heartland Trophy back to Madison.

The Badger defense showed off a new tradition on Saturday, when they brought out a turnover trucker hat. Whenever a Wisconsin player came up with a turnover, they got to wear the prestigious hat.

Where did the hat end up? Well, of course it ended up on the trophy. Wisconsin safety Collin Wilder shared a picture of “the grit factory,” hat proudly worn by the bull:

Four Wisconsin Badgers are listed as questionable to play against Notre Dame

Four Badger players are listed as questionable headed into Week 4:

Wisconsin’s preliminary status report for Week 4’s matchup with Notre Dame is out, and there are four Badger players listed as questionable, two of which are usual starters on the defense.

While CB Al Ashford III, TE Cole Dakovich, and LS Duncan McKinley are all out for the season, a number of Wisconsin players are unsure of their status headed into Saturday.

This week marks one of the biggest games of the Badger season, as ESPN College GameDay and FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff travel to Chicago to see Wisconsin take on Notre Dame at Soldier Field. Here is a look at the Badger names who are questionable headed into the beginning of Notre Dame week:

Wisconsin’s game-week depth chart sees three key starters return

Good news for the #Badgers:

No. 18 Wisconsin has released its depth chart for Saturday’s battle with No. 12 Notre Dame. Included in the two-deep are inside linebacker Leo Chenal, cornerback Faion Hicks and safety Collin Wilder, all players who missed the Badgers win over Eastern Michigan.

Chenal was out the first two weeks with COVID-19, while Hicks and Wilder were unavailable only for Week 2’s victory.

The return of the three impact starters is key for Jim Leonhard and his plans to stop Jack Coan and the Notre Dame offense, especially the two players in the back end.

[lawrence-related id=36416,36406,36391,36381]

We will now wait and see as the week progresses whether Wisconsin will indeed be fully healthy entering Saturday. It is worth noting that in the team’s initial injury report both Hicks and Wilder are listed as questionable.

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

[listicle id=36403]

PHOTOS: Wisconsin football gets ready for the 2021 season

Some of the best photos of the latest Wisconsin football team as they gear up for the upcoming season

With the start of the season less than two months away, Wisconsin football is gearing up for the start of fall camp with many new and familiar faces.

Related: Wisconsin TE Hayden Rucci partners with Cameo

Before the start of every season, players often get to check out the new uniforms and model them to make promotional videos and graphics for the season. Many Badgers including senior wide receiver Danny Davis and sophomore tight end Hayden Rucci posted some of their favorite photos to their social media.

Here are some of the best photos of the latest Wisconsin Badgers team as they gear up for the upcoming season: