Tag: former badger

Former Badgers O-Lineman achieves rare feat in NFL

Zeitler becomes a member of rare club

The Badgers football team has had many great players over the years, but offensive guard Kevin Zeitler is one of the more unheralded stars. Zeitler has now achieved the rare feat of beating all 32 NFL teams during his career.

A member of the Badgers from 2008-2011, Zeitler was named a first-team all-american in his final campaign, joining teammates running back Montee Ball and fellow offensive guard Peter Konz.

He was drafted 27th overall in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals and he has spent time with the Browns, Giants and Ravens (current team) as well. He’s been one of the best offensive guards in the league throughout his entire career.

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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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WATCH: Former Badgers guard goes over rookie year

Johnny Davis on his rookie year

Former Badgers standout guard Johnny Davis sat down with Wes Hall of Monumental Sports Network to discuss his 2022-2023 rookie campaign with the Wizards.

After being selected 10th overall in the 2022 NBA Draft by Washington, it took Davis a little time to adjust to his new life, especially his growing family as he welcomed the birth of his first child.

In his rookie season, Davis appeared in 28 games, averaging 5.8 points and 2.3 rebounds while playing 15.1 minutes per game, but he finished the season with an especially strong stretch.

He started the last five games, averaging 17.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.8 blocks while playing 36 minutes per contest.

Now with Bradley Beal in Phoenix and Kristaps Porzingis with the Celtics, Davis could be amongst those that step into larger roles in 2023.

LOOK: Former Badger set to be added to NFL team’s Ring of Honor

Former Badger set for Texans’ Ring of Honor

Former Badgers defensive lineman J.J. Watt is set to be added to the Houston Texans’ Ring of Honor on Sunday and he put a full-page ad in Houston Chronicle. After 10 seasons with the Texans, Watt finished his last two years in Arizona before retiring this season.

The former Badger compiled an impressive 531 tackles, including 101 sacks, over his 10 campaigns in Houston. He will become just the third player to be added to the team’s Ring of Honor, joining legendary wideout Andre Johnson and team founder Bob McNair.

There’s no doubt about it, Watt will be an NFL Hall of Famer and he’s arguably the greatest former Wisconsin football player to play in the NFL.

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Former Badger impresses in NFL debut

Strong debut for former Badger

Even though the Jets lost to the Patriots 15-10 in the NFL’s Week 3 on Sunday, former Badgers lineman Joe Tippmann impressed in his debut. The rookie drew the start at right guard and didn’t allow a pressure.

Selected in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft by New York, Tippmann had to wait to make his professional debut, but he certainly made it worth it.

With the Jets running 42 pass plays, the rookies ability to hold of Bill Belichick’s defense is rather impressive and it seems likely that Tippmann could be a regular starter moving forward.

New York faces the Chiefs this Sunday in a Week 4 matchup.

WATCH: Badgers legend sets record, scores TD in win

Wisconsin legend sets Steelers all-time record

The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Cleveland Browns 26-22 on Monday night and former Badgers linebacker T.J. Watt accomplished two great feats.

The first feat was when he sacked Deshaun Watson in the second quarter, notching sack number 81.5 for him in his seven-year NFL career, a Steelers all-time record.

Later in the fourth quarter, Alex Highsmith recorded a strip sack and Watt was able to pick up the fumble and return it for a touchdown, notching his first touchdown of the season.

Watt finished the contest with four tackles (two solo), two of which were for a loss (including the sack), while also deflecting a pass in the victory.

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Badger Countdown: Tight end reels in 135 catches over UW career

The CFB season is around the corner and the Badgers are now 35 days away from their 2023 opener versus Buffalo on Sept. 2 at Camp Randall.

The college football season is around the corner and the Badgers are now 35 days away from their 2023 opener versus Buffalo on Sept. 2 at home. A former Wisconsin tight end caught 135 passes during his time in Madison.

Troy Fumagalli was a member of the Badgers from 2014-2017, becoming a top pass-catcher with the squad over his collegiate career. He was immediately an active player as a freshman, catching 14 passes for 187 yards over 13 games that year.

In total, in his four campaigns with Wisconsin, Fumagalli turned his 135 catches into 1,627 yards and seven scores. The receptions rank ninth all-time in Badger history.

The tight end went on to selected in the fifth round (156th overall) by the Denver Broncos in the 2018 NFL Draft and he’s currently a member of the San Francisco 49ers’ organization.

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Former Badger QB appears set to start at new school

The Badgers have moved on at quarterback in 2023, but their former signal-caller appears set to start under center for his new program.

The Badgers have moved on at quarterback in 2023, but their former signal-caller appears set to start under center for his new program this season. After four years with Wisconsin, Graham Mertz is likely to be at the helm of Florida’s offense in 2023.

Head coach Billy Napier gave a hint that Mertz will be his starter in Gainesville this year. Mertz was the starter in Madison for two full seasons, producing 4,094 passing yards and 29 touchdowns while throwing 21 interceptions over 25 combined games between 2021 and 2022.

He headed to the SEC, a conference even more competitive than the Big Ten, though the defenses he faces could be similar in difficulty.

In Madison, transfer QB Tanner Mordecai (SMU) will replace Mertz as the primary signal-caller for Luke Fickell’s Badgers this season.

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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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Highest-rated former Badgers in Madden 24

Which Badgers are rated the highest in Madden 24?

The 2023 NFL season is on the horizon and the annual Madden video game is set to be released in August. It’s always a big deal across the internet and in all forms of media, which players are rated too high or too low.

For a long time, former Wisconsin defensive lineman J.J. Watt was the highest rated Badger in Madden, but he’s now retired and a new breed of Wisconsin athletes have taken over the NFL.

There are many former Badger football players in the league, some better than others. Here’s how the top-rated current NFL players in Madden 24 at each position from Wisconsin stack up: