Tag: jack nelson

An updated look at Wisconsin football’s highest NIL player valuations

An updated look at Wisconsin football’s highest NIL player valuations

Wisconsin football returns to the field for spring practice in late March.

It is then that we’ll get a first glimpse at some of the Badgers’ newcomers, including former Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, former Oklahoma running back Tawee Walker and former Arkansas linebacker Jaheim Thomas.

The spring period promises to be an active one after Wisconsin’s disappointing 7-6 campaign. Improvements are needed on both sides of the football as the program prepares to face one of the conference’s toughest schedules.

Related: Big Ten starting quarterback rankings for 2024

Before football itself returns, it’s time to check in on the latest name, image and likeness valuations for Wisconsin’s top players.

On3’s NIL valuation algorithm is based on four factors: on-field performance, social media influence, general exposure and data of existing NIL deals.

Below are On3’s top 10 NIL valuations on the 2024 Wisconsin Badgers:

(Remember, these are only valuations and not reported or confirmed NIL deals or numbers)

Wisconsin football gets massive offensive line news heading into next season

Wisconsin football gets massive offensive line news heading into next season

Wisconsin got massive offseason news for the offensive line as we head into 2024. On Wednesday, Wisconsin learned that offensive tackle Jack Nelson would be returning in 2024. There was a serious chance he would head to the NFL, but Nelson will be back in Madison next season. He appeared in all 12 games last season for the Badgers.

Nelson will be back to almost surely be Wisconsin’s starting left tackle in 2024. Throughout his Wisconsin career, the offensive lineman has appeared in 38 games with 37 of those appearances being starts.

The Badgers and Nelson have one more chance this season on New Year’s Day when they take on LSU in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

Wisconsin’s starting left tackle announces 2024 decision

Wisconsin’s starting left tackle announces 2024 decision

Wisconsin starting left tackle Jack Nelson announced today he’s forgoing the 2024 NFL Draft and returning to play for the Badgers next season.

The news is massive on many fronts. Nelson is a two-year starter, with 13 games at right guard in 2021 and 12 games so far in 2023 at left tackle. He’ll bring valuable experience back to a Badgers offense line that is set to lose several starters and is still working to adjust to the program’s new offensive system.

This move continues a crazy offseason of movement within a Wisconsin offense that, again, is still adjusting to life under OC Phil Longo. RB Braelon Allen and C Tanor Bortolini are off to the NFL, WRs Chimere Dike and Skyler Bell and OL Trey Wedig transferred out, RB Chez Mellusi and now Nelson are staying and QB Tyler Van Dyke, WR Tyrell Henry and TE Jackson McGohan are incoming portal additions.

Continuity is important for Fickell and Longo entering year two. Nelson’s return gives the line just that, as he also works to improve his stock entering the 2025 NFL Draft.

Full 7-round 2024 NFL mock draft: Patriots land elite QB-WR combo

Patriots land the offensive haul of the century in our latest seven-round 2024 NFL mock draft.

The New England Patriots are sitting at 3-10 and clearly need some help if they have any hopes of being competitive next season. It’s getting closer to the offseason, where the disappointment will end and the reboot will begin.

Assuming coach/general manager Bill Belichick is no longer with the team in 2024, there’s a strong likelihood that a new regime would want their own style of players that fit into their scheme. However, we’re not taking any of that into consideration in this mock draft.

We’re going to handle this mock as if the season ended today. As usual, this mock draft is more of a simulation of what could happen and what decisions we would make if we were in that position.

Here’s who the Patriots came away with in this full seven-round NFL mock draft.

Browns 2024 NFL mock draft: Re-tooling the offensive line

The Browns could look to address turnover on the offensive line

It looks like the Cleveland Browns have their right tackle of the future in rookie Dawand Jones out of Ohio State. But there could be even more turnover soon with Joel Bitonio getting older and Wyatt Teller’s contract situation. On top of that Jedrick Wills Jr. at left tackle hasn’t earned a second contract yet. Can they re-tool this Summer? That is what we attempt to do in this 2024 NFL mock draft.

For those reasons, I think an offensive lineman could likely be the top pick for Cleveland and they may even draft more than one. Andrew Berry has shown that he likes to draft answers a year or two in advance as opposed to the exact year you need to replace them.

For the upcoming year, Cleveland currently has a second-round pick, a third, two fifths, and three seventh-round picks. It s really early in the process with plenty of football and testing before any teams truly build their big boards. Here is a look at how I could see the Browns attack the first five rounds of next April’s draft.

Two Wisconsin Badgers make 247Sports’ ‘top 20 Big Ten players’ entering 2023

Only two Badgers were included:

Luke Fickell and the 2023 Wisconsin Badgers have a tremendous opportunity ahead. This season marks the last time the program will have a relatively easy path through the Big Ten West and hopefully into Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship.

2023 was always going to be one of Wisconsin’s best chances to win the conference before the sport’s landscape changes drastically. The program’s change at head coach last year added some hesitancy to that reality, as with coaching change in college football often comes roster change.

Well, thanks to Luke Fickell’s work this offseason, that is not the case. A strong argument can be made that this roster is stronger than last year, and maybe Wisconsin’s strongest since 2019.

247Sports ranked the top 20 players in the Big Ten entering 2023 and two Wisconsin Badgers made the list: RB Braelon Allen (6th) and OT Jack Nelson (17th).

I am not here to litigate each spot and which Badgers should’ve been included. But there is a point to be made here: even if Wisconsin lacks the top-end talent that Michigan, Penn State and Ohio State boast, depth is the roster’s true strength.

Training camp is nearly here. Only weeks separate us from seeing this Wisconsin team in action for the first time under Fickell.

Starting left tackle Jack Nelson returns to practice, expected to play vs. Illinois

The Badgers are expecting their starting LT back for this weekend’s matchup vs. Illinois:

According to a report from Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin’s starting left tackle, Jack Nelson, returned to practice and should be good to play in Saturday’s contest vs. Illinois.

For Wisconsin, this is highly encouraging. In my opinion, Nelson is Wisconsin’s best offensive lineman and helps bring stability, especially in pass protection.

In 174 snaps played, 76 of which were in pass protection, the Wisconsin native has yet to allow a single pressure and received elite marks from PFF.

Bob Bostad’s offensive line has endured a lot of shuffling this season due to injury or illness, so getting Nelson back is a breath of fresh air.

This week, the projected starters from left to right are Nelson, Tyler Beach, Joe Tippmann, Tanor Bortolini, and Trey Wedig.

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Left side, Strong side: Wisconsin’s Offensive Line Showing Improvement in Pass-Pro

Wisconsin shifted two offensive linemen to new positions during the offseason. So far, that decision is paying off in spades. #Badgers

Madison, Wis. – It’s no secret that Wisconsin’s offense struggled mightily in 2021. While quarterback Graham Mertz’s play didn’t help matters, you could argue that the offensive line’s struggles in pass protection also played a role in the dysfunction. 

According to Pro Football Focus, Wisconsin’s offensive line graded out as the No. 98 pass-blocking unit in the country last season (55.5).

When you consider that there are only 130 division one programs, that’s a pretty glaring issue for a team that prides itself on offensive line play.

To rectify their shortcomings, the Badgers coaching staff moved All-Big Ten honorable mention right guard Jack Nelson out to left tackle this offseason, a more natural position for the former four-star recruit.

In a corresponding move, Bob Bostad shifted multi-year starter Tyler Beach inside to left guard – a switch that allowed the Wisconsin native to play in a phone booth rather than in space.

Let’s unpack how those decisions have played out for Wisconsin thus far:

Badgers PFF grades: Top 5 offensive players from week 2 loss to Washington State

Here’s a look at the top 5 highest graded offensive players from Wisconsin’s 17-14 loss to Washington State, according to Pro Football Focus:

Weather, as they say, is the great equalizer in football. That held true on Saturday when the No. 19 Wisconsin Badgers (1-1) suffered a sloppy, unacceptable home loss against the Washington State Cougars (2-0) at Camp Randall Stadium.

If you were to only look at the box score, you’d probably be happy with what you saw from the offense. However, if you watched the game, it told a very different story.

Bobby Engram and company produced a balanced offensive attack for the second straight week, recording 401 total yards (227 passing, 174 running) but scoring only 14 points and turning the ball over three times.

At times, third-year starting quarterback Graham Mertz carried the Wisconsin Badgers offense, but his effort simply wasn’t enough to overcome untimely turnovers and sloppy play from all three phases.

Although he was far from perfect, Mertz completed 18-of-31 passes for 227 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Also worth noting is that 10 of his passes went for first downs. The Kansas native appears to have taken a step forward this season.

Wisconsin will look to get things back on track in a hurry, considering the Badgers are just two weeks away from a trip to Columbus to take on the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes.

Here’s a look at the top 5 highest graded offensive players from Wisconsin’s 17-14 loss to Washington State, according to Pro Football Focus.

Badgers PFF grades: Top 5 offensive players from week 1 victory over Illinois State

Here’s a look at the top 5 highest graded offensive players from Wisconsin’s 38-0 victory over Illinois State, according to Pro Football Focus:

The No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers (1-0) kicked off its season opener at Camp Randall on Saturday night with a 38-0 victory over the visiting Illinois State Redbirds.

Wisconsin’s new-look offense under Bobby Engram produced 440 total yards and scored 38 points with a balanced offensive attack.

Third-year starting quarterback Graham Mertz looked sharp against Illinois State, completing 14 of 16 passes for 219 yards and one touchdown with no turnovers.

Doak Walker hopeful Braelon Allen also carried the ball 14 times for 148 yards and two touchdowns, including one in the first half that went for 96 yards and gave the Badgers a 14-0 advantage that set the tone for the remainder of the game.

Here’s a look at the top 5 highest graded players from Wisconsin’s 38-0 victory over Illinois State, according to Pro Football Focus.