Tag: former badger

Badger Countdown: Steelers’ number 90 is Wisconsin all-time great

We are now 90 days away from the Badgers’ Week 1 matchup with Buffalo on Sept. 2 at Camp Randall. A former number 90 is a legend in the NFL.

We are now 90 days away from the Badgers’ Week 1 matchup with Buffalo on Sept. 2 at Camp Randall. A former Badger who wears number 90 in the NFL was both a legend with Wisconsin and now in the league.

T.J. Watt was with the Badgers for three seasons, two of which active, from 2014-2016. Bogged down by injuries, Watt didn’t really step into his own until his third and final season.

During the 2016 campaign, the edge/linebacker emulated his older brother J.J. Watt, recording 63 total tackles, including 11.5 sacks, over 14 games. His defensive effort helped Wisconsin finish the season 11-3, winning the Cotton Bowl over Western Michigan 24-16.

Watt went on to be selected 30th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers and has become one of the best players in the entire league.

Since his rookie year in 2017, Watt has recorded an NFL-high 77.5 sacks over six seasons, adding six interceptions, 23 forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries while making 243 total tackles in 87 contests.

He’s been a five time Pro-Bowl selection, a three time All-Pro and he won the 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.

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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 quarterback chooses new school

After he joined the Badgers as a walk-on last year, Marshall Howe entered the transfer portal in May. He has now announced the next school.

After he joined the Badgers as a walk-on for the 2022 college football season, Marshall Howe entered the transfer portal in May. He has now announced the next school he will be playing for, joining the Yale Bulldogs ahead of the 2023 campaign.

Howe worked as the third-string quarterback behind transfer quarterbacks Tanner Mordecai (SMU) and Braedyn Locke (Mississippi State) this spring, but he ultimately decided that leaving Madison was best.

Coming out of Avon, Connecticut, Howe was a two-star recruit received two Division 1 offers from Davidson and Eastern Illinois, though Yale was also connected to him.

It’s unclear if he’s set to compete for the starting job or not, but he’ll always be considered a Badger.

Badger Countdown: Former number 97 entering year three in NFL

As the Badger football season closes in, we are now 97 days away from the team’s first contest of the year Sept. 2 against Buffalo.

As the Badger football season closes in, we are now 97 days away from the team’s first contest of the year Sept. 2 against Buffalo. There have been many impactful players to wear number 97 in the history of Wisconsin football, but one in particular is entering his third NFL season.

Defensive lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk spent four seasons with the Badgers from 2017-2020, racking up 62 total tackles, including eight sacks, while also deflecting eight passes and forcing two fumbles over 31 career games.

He was a big part of the defensive effort during his time in Madison, going 3-1 in bowl games while most notably winning the 2017 Orange Bowl over Miami (FL).

Loudermilk went on to be selected in the 5th round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Over his first two seasons in the league, he has combined to make 30 tackles, including a sack, while deflecting three passes over 26 games (five starts).

Now in 2023, Loudermilk will be joined by two former teammates in defensive tackle Keeanu Benton (2nd round) and linebacker Nick Herbig (4th round), who were also picked by the Steelers.

New home for former Badgers head coach

As the Badgers gear up for their much-anticipated 2023 campaign, one of their former head coaches from the 2022 season found his new home.

As the Badgers gear up for their much-anticipated 2023 campaign under new head coach Luke Fickell, one of their former head coaches from the 2022 season picked his new home Sunday.

After eight years with the Badgers, Paul Chryst was let go in October. He is headed to Texas to join Steve Sarkisian’s staff as an offensive analyst. His role is interesting considering Wisconsin fans were often disappointed in his coaching on the offensive side of the ball.

Overall, Chryst produced a 67-27 record at the helm of the Badgers, winning six bowl games, including the 2017 Orange Bowl. He gets a fresh start in Texas and will always be credited with cultivating some of the best talent to ever call Camp Randall their home.

He was always effective at developing running backs, most notably turning Jonathan Taylor into one of the best in the country. Chryst will look to cushion the loss of Bijan Robinson and develop the next star in Texas’ backfield.

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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.

Badgers MBB highlights former athletes with great seasons in the BBL

Former Wisconsin men’s basketball players Sam Dekker and Jordan Taylor just completed a championship winning season with London in the BBL.

Former Wisconsin men’s basketball players Sam Dekker and Jordan Taylor just completed a championship winning season with the London Lions in the British Basketball League.

Dekker (2012-2015) was a member of the Badgers’ teams that made back-to-back appearances in the Final Four in 2014 and 2015, operating as five-star recruit from Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

Taylor (2008-2012) recorded 464 assists during his career with the Badgers, finishing second in school history with that figure while his 13.0 offensive win shares is the most by a Badger.

In a great season with the Lions, Dekker averaged 17.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists while playing in 21 games during the BBL regular season, earning the league’s Player of the Year award.

When it came to the playoffs, Jordan Taylor was the former Badger who took a step up, putting up 15 points, seven assists and five rebounds in the BBL Championship. The performance earned him Finals MVP.

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Watch: Former Badger MBB player reflects on cancer journey

Walt McGrory, a guard on Wisconsin’s men’s basketball team from 2017-2021, has been battling cancer and recently had his leg amputated.

Walt McGrory, a former walk-on guard for Wisconsin’s men’s basketball team from 2017-2021, has been battling cancer and recently had his leg amputated.

After leaving the Badgers following the 2020-2021 campaign, it was discovered that he had developed bone cancer in his left leg (osteosarcoma) and he has been battling for two years.

Ultimately, he was forced to have his leg amputated in early 2023, but he’s remained upbeat in his recovery and has spread a message of strength throughout the entire process.

He has put his head down and done everything he needs to do to move forward, appreciating all the support he’s gotten from Badgers and Wisconsin fans.

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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