Tag: Jake Chaney

Three Wisconsin Badgers accept 2025 Hula Bowl invitations

Three Wisconsin Badgers accept 2025 Hula Bowl Bowl invitations

Wisconsin’s Nyzier Fourqurean, Jake Chaney and Jaheim Thomas accepted invitations to the 2025 Hula Bowl on Thursday.

The trio join Badger safety Hunter Wohler and offensive lineman Jack Nelson as upperclassmen to accept postseason showcase invitations this winter. Both Wohler and Nelson accepted invitations to the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl on Wednesday.

Started in 1946, the Hula Bowl game acts as an all-star game for NFL, CFL and UFL hopefuls. Scouts from all three pro leagues will be on-site in Orlando, Florida in early-January to watch 100 of the top senior athletes compete.

All three of UW’s 2025 Hula Game participants started at their respective positions this season. Following a 39-tackle, two-sack campaign in 2023, Fourqurean logged 51 total tackles, one interception and two tackles for loss at cornerback with the Badgers in 2024.

Thomas, who transferred to UW after a 2023 season with Arkansas, registered 53 total tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack at linebacker. Chaney, another linebacker mainstay for Wisconsin’s defense, notched 55 total tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack and one forced fumble this season.

All three head to the Hula Bowl aiming to showcase their talents to those connected to franchises at the next level.

Alabama will be without an impact starter during first half against Wisconsin

Alabama will be without an impact starter during first half against Wisconsin

Those tuned into Wisconsin’s 27-13 win over South Dakota saw Badgers senior linebacker Jake Chaney get ejected for targeting. The ruling, coming in the second half, means he will also miss the first half of the team’s upcoming battle with No. 4 Alabama.

The decision is a big blow to Wisconsin’s chances against the Crimson Tide. Chaney is by far the Badgers’ best inside linebacker. He emerged toward the end of the 2023 season, finishing with 80 tackles, seven tackles for loss and three sacks. Next up will be USC transfer Tackett Curtis, who performed well in limited action during the team’s Week 2 win.

Related: Updated game-by-game predictions for Wisconsin after Week 2 win over South Dakota

That is on the Wisconsin side. Those who spent their Saturday night watching Alabama struggle to pull away from South Florida saw the Crimson Tide suffer a similar fate.

Impact linebacker Justin Jefferson, the team’s third leading tackler, was also ejected for targeting. His penalty carries the same implication as Chaney’s, as he’ll miss the first half of Saturday’s game.

Jefferson recorded 12 tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack during the Crimson Tide’s 2-0 start to the season. He is listed as a backup on the team’s depth chart, but he is starting to emerge as one of its more impactful second-level defenders.

Wisconsin and Alabama will take the field in Madison at noon ET, 11 a.m. CT on Saturday. We will then wait until the second half to see Chaney and Jefferson enter the game.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion. 

Wisconsin DC Mike Tressel: Badgers leadership is ‘completely different’ entering 2024

Wisconsin DC Mike Tressel: Badgers ‘leadership is completely different’ entering 2024

Wisconsin defensive coordinator Mike Tressel is impressed with what he’s seen from the team’s veterans on defense entering the 2024 season.

He shared his sentiment with the Big Ten Network crew as they made their annual trip to the Badgers fall training camp. The focus: the presence of senior safety Hunter Wohler and linebacker Jake Chaney.

Related: Projecting Wisconsin Badgers two-deep depth chart heading into Week 4 of 2024 fall camp

“I think the leadership is completely different in terms of those guys really hold their teammates accountable,” Tressel said. “It’s so much better when the players hold each other accountable than when the coaches get involved in that. That is so much better.”

Wohler and Chaney both return after finishing 2023 as two of the Badgers’ statistical leaders. That season, as explained by many, was unique in that it was an adjustment period for everybody, head coach on down. It’s reasonable to assume that setting created an unusual dynamic, especially for the previous leaders under Paul Chryst and Jim Leonhard who elected to stay after Fickell’s hire.

That dynamic is all gone entering 2024. Wohler and Chaney are two of the team’s senior leaders on defense, and have clearly left a positive impression on their coordinator.

“The other thing is we’ve challenged them to be problem solvers. We’ve put them in positions to see some things that they haven’t seen during practice or on film,” Tressel continued. “And have them communicate and be the problem solvers. Because we weren’t great in opening scripts last year. That’s when you see the stuff you haven’t seen in practice. So we’ve put that on their plates and they’ve done well.”

Tressel, Wohler and Chaney are looking to lead the Wisconsin defense to an improvement after a solid performance in 2023. That unit finished ranked No. 21 in the nation in scoring defense (20.2 points per game) and No. 39 in total defense (344 yards allowed per game). The 2024 group is expected to be better with another year of continuity, aided by a host of transfer additions at linebacker and defensive line.

That improvement, in Tressel’s eyes, will also come due to the growing leadership of Wohler and Chaney at the center of the unit.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion. 

Wisconsin football stars list Badgers potential breakout players for 2024 season

Wisconsin football stars list players Badger fans should monitor this season

Wisconsin football stars Jake Chaney, Jack Nelson and Hunter Wohler praised a handful of promising teammates during their Big Ten media day appearance on Tuesday.

During their select panel interview with Big Ten Network, the Wisconsin trio was asked about which incoming players UW fans would know by the end of the 2024 slate.

Right off the bat, Chaney listed former Arkansas linebacker Jaheim Thomas, USC transfer linebacker Tackett Curtis and former North Carolina linebacker Sebastian Cheeks as players who may break out this season. He later named sophomore Christian Alliegro, referring to him as “an athletic freak.”

Chaney also shared a truly genuine sentiment about his position group before explaining why each athlete works so well with UW.

“I could write a book about how much I love those guys and how good they are,” Chaney said.

Next, Nelson listed redshirt sophomore Joe Brunner as someone to monitor next season.

After playing 11 games in 2023 for Wisconsin’s special teams unit, Brunner is set to start at left guard.

Nelson on Brunner:

“He’s just somebody that’s awesome to play next to… He’s got a little bit of nastiness to him. I can appreciate that playing next to him, and I’m really excited to this season.”

Wohler cited young wide receiver Trech Kekahuna, who appeared in Wisconsin’s final five games as a true freshman in 2023. He caught four balls for 64 yards, his entire season output, against No. 13 LSU in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

“I think he’s going to be a standout this year, and I think he’s going to put the world on notice that he’s here. He’s going to make a lot of plays for us,” Wohler said.

Wisconsin begins its 2024 campaign on Aug. 30 vs. Western Michigan at Camp Randall.

PHOTOS: Wisconsin Badgers at 2024 Big Ten media days

PHOTOS: Wisconsin Badgers at 2024 Big Ten media days

Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell and select player representatives spoke to the assembled media at 2024 Big Ten media days on Tuesday.

Fickell was one of the first at the main podium. He conducted more of a press release than a press conference, as his opening statement took up 13 minutes of the available 15-minute time slot.

Related: Where Wisconsin lands in USA TODAY Sports 2024 Big Ten football preseason poll

He continued with a smaller, non-televised press conference before player representatives safety Hunter Wohler, left tackle Jack Nelson and linebacker Jake Chaney all took to the podium.

The media days event included news, including Wisconsin making player personnel director Max Stienecker the youngest general manager in the Power 4. It also included a large inflatable Oregon Duck mascot floating down the White River, plus more useful insight into what to expect when the Badgers take the field on Aug. 30 to kick off their 2024 season.

The event marks the beginning of true preseason preparation with the season now a little more than a month away.

Before the Badgers travel to UW-Platteville to conduct training camp, here is a look at Fickell and the team’s leaders representing the program at the new-look Big Ten media days:

WATCH: First look at Wisconsin’s pass rush in EA Sports College Football 25

WATCH: First look at Wisconsin’s pass rush in EA Sports College Football 25

Wisconsin football displayed starting inside linebacker Jake Chaney strip-sacking USC’s starting quarterback in the upcoming EA Sports College Football 25 video game on Tuesday.

In the short clip, USC quarterback Miller Moss fakes a handoff before dropping back for a play-action look. The Trojans’ running back misses his assignment, and UW LB Chaney blitzes and strips Moss before linebacker Jaheim Thomas scoops up the loose ball.

Before Moss takes the snap, Wisconsin’s ‘stadium pulse’ is recorded in the top right corner of the frame in a fascinating on-screen feature. The ‘camera’ also appears to be shaking, alluding to a deafening volume heard throughout Camp Randall Stadium.

During actual games, UW’s student section typically ignites the stadium noise during defensive possessions. This sequence features a strikingly similar sound, which certainly enhances the user experience for Badger fans.

Both Chaney and Thomas spearhead UW’s inside linebacker ratings with an 82 OVR in EA Sports College Football 25. Backups include Christian Alliegro (76 OVR), Tackett Curtis (75 OVR) and Sebastian Cheeks (78 OVR).

Over the past few weeks, several EA Sports College Football 25 clips have been made public before the game releases worldwide on July 19. Anticipation will surely continue to bubble before users can play with Wisconsin across the globe.

Wisconsin football announces 2024 Big Ten media days representatives

Wisconsin football announces 2024 Big Ten media days representatives

Wisconsin football announced on Thursday that starting left tackle Jack Nelson, safety Hunter Wohler and inside linebacker Jake Chaney will represent the program at Big Ten media days later this month.

The Badgers will be heard from on July 23 during the three-day event. They will take the stage that day along with Ohio State, Purdue, Rutgers, Northwestern and Illinois.

Related: Ranking every wide receiver corps in the Big Ten Conference entering 2024 season

Nelson is entering his redshirt senior season in 2024 after joining the Wisconsin program as a five-star recruit in the class of 2020. He started 13 games at right guard in 2021, 12 games at left tackle in 2022 and 13 at left tackle in 2023. He is again the Badgers’ starting left tackle in 2024, leading an offensive line that is looking to improve in year two under offensive coordinator Phil Longo.

Wohler, meanwhile, enters his senior season in 2024. The star safety was the Badgers’ best defender in 2023 with 120 total tackles. He has contributed in every season with the program, and again profiles to be one of the sport’s better players this fall

Chaney, finally, is stepping into an increased role in 2024 after 2023 starting ILBs Maema Njongmeta (Cincinnati Bengals) and Jordan Turner (Michigan State) both moved on after last season. He is an ascending player and will be one of the integral pieces of what projects to be a strong defensive unit.

All three players are seniors or older, each joining the program during the Paul Chryst era.

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LOOK: Wisconsin starting linebacker to switch to single-digit number for 2024

LOOK: Wisconsin starting linebacker to switch to single-digit number for 2024

Wisconsin starting inside linebacker Jake Chaney will switch his jersey number from No. 36 to No. 1 this fall, per his recent Instagram post.

After starting in nine of UW’s 13 contests a season ago, Chaney is poised to lead Wisconsin’s left insider linebacker group in 2024. The Cape Coral, Florida native enters his fourth season in Madison as a staple in the middle of Mike Tressel’s defensive unit.

As a junior, the 5-foot-11, 210-pounder tallied 80 tackles in 2023, ranking second in the category behind star safety Hunter Wohler. Chaney registered a career-best 11 tackles against Iowa on Oct. 14 and notched seven tackles in the Badgers’ primetime matchup vs. Ohio State on Oct. 28.

The senior appeared in 12 games as a sophomore 2022, totaling 38 tackles and 4 tackles for loss. He made his collegiate debut at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois against Notre Dame in 2021.

Jaheim Thomas projects to be the starting inside linebacker along side Chaney. Christian Alliegro, and transfer additions Tackett Curtis and Sebastian Cheeks project to round out the unit.

With contests against Alabama, USC and Oregon on UW’s 2024 schedule, Chaney and company will have their hands full against some of the nation’s top offenses. Transfer additions of outside linebackers Leon Lowery (Syracuse) and John Pius (William & Mary), paired with returning stars Wohler and Ricardo Hallman, will give the unit a much-needed boost.

WATCH: Badgers linebacker blows up Buffalo’s option play

Junior linebacker starts off season with a bang

The Badgers are coming off of a 38-17 win over Buffalo in Week 1 this past weekend and an unheralded star from the game was linebacker Jake Chaney. Chaney finished the contest with five tackles, including one for a loss.

Chaney is entering his third season with Wisconsin and he seems poised to take a step up in his junior campaign. Operating in a Badgers defense that no longer has top edge rusher Nick Herbig (Steelers), Chaney could be the explosive outside linebacker that slides into that role.

Wisconsin went without a sack in the 21-point victory over Buffalo, but they will need to get after the quarterback this week versus Washington State on the road and beyond.

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Badger Countdown: Number 36 set for expanded role in 2023

The 2023 college football season is on the horizon and the Badgers are now 36 days away from their opener versus Buffalo on Sept. 2.

The 2023 college football season is on the horizon and the Badgers are now 36 days away from their opener versus Buffalo on Sept. 2. A player expected to have a significant role with Wisconsin’s defense is number 36 linebacker Jake Chaney.

Chaney is set for a bigger workload with linebacker Nick Herbig moving on to the NFL. Chaney played in 12 games last year, recording 38 tackles, including a sack, while also intercepting a pass.

He’s expected to serve as a top interior linebacker with Maema Njongmeta alongside Jordan Turner and Darryl Peterson at outside linebacker on the Badgers defense in 2023.

As a 5-foot-11, 230-pound athlete seems like the next undersized Wisconsin player to breakthrough and become a star.

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