Tag: john torchio

Badger Countdown: Number 15 has impressive 2022 campaign

Number 15 put on a show in 2022

The 2023 college football season is on the horizon and the Badgers are now 15 days away from their opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2 at home. Wearing number 15 with Wisconsin in 2022, safety John Torchio filled up the stat sheets.

During the season, Torchio was able to record 56 total tackles, including a sack, while intercepting five passes and deflecting six others. Additionally, the “Jewelry Thief” returned to of the picks for touchdowns.

After the season, Torchio declared for the NFL Draft, but he went unselected. As of right now, he is still looking for his first opportunity in the league and if he gets a shot, he’ll likely operate as a practice squad option.

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Badger Countdown: Wisconsin has 52 all-time wins over Big Ten rival

The 2023 college football season is slowly approaching and the Badgers are now 52 days away from their opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2.

The 2023 college football season is slowly approaching and the Badgers are now 52 days away from their opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2. With Luke Fickell now in charge, many expect Wisconsin to be amongst the best in the Big Ten this year.

Heading into the 2023 campaign, the Badgers hold a very impressive streak versus a Big Ten foe, winning 16 consecutive matchups against Purdue. Overall, Wisconsin holds a 52-29-8 all-time record versus the Boilermakers.

The two squads met in October last season and the Badgers came out on top 35-24 at Camp Randall. Quarterback Graham Mertz threw for 203 yards and two touchdowns while running back Braelon Allen churned out 114 yards and a score on the ground.

On defense, John Torchio recorded two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown in the first quarter. Overall, the defense forced three interceptions and held the Boilermakers in check.

Wisconsin and Purdue will meet up again in 2023, this time on September 22 in West Lafayette, a location in which the Badgers haven’t lost at since 1997.

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Wisconsin linebacker ranked in top 50 by Big Game Boomer

Big Game Boomer ranked the top 50 linebackers heading into the 2023 college football season, one Badger was listed in the top 25 overall. 

Big Game Boomer ranked the top 50 linebackers heading into the 2023 college football season, one Badger was listed in the top 25 overall.

The Wisconsin football team will be operating without some of their top defensive assets from 2022, losing linebacker Nick Herbig, defensive lineman Keeanu Benton and safety John Torchio to the NFL.

Maema Njongmeta lead the Badgers in tackles in 2022 and he came in at 22nd overall on Big Game Boomer’s list. After notching 95 tackles, including 3.5 sacks, while intercepting a pass and deflecting another over 13 games last season, the linebacker enters his final year with Wisconsin as arguably their best defensive player.

Looking across the Big Ten, Njongmeta comes in as the eighth highest ranked linebacker, sitting behind the likes of Tommy Eichenberg (Ohio State), Cal Haladay (Michigan State) and Junior Colson (Michigan) amongst others.

Which Badgers would’ve been EA Sports’ NCAA Football cover athletes since 2014?

Which Badgers would’ve been cover athletes on EA’s NCAA Football video game?

The last time that EA Sports released their NCAA Football game was 2013 and the game is set to return in 2024. Many have speculated which college football athletes would’ve been selected as cover athletes for the game over the last decade and for the sake of it, I’ve compiled a Badgers only list.

Wisconsin has had many “star” players in the Big Ten and many hometown favorites, but the program has also churned out some of the absolute best players in the country over the last 10 years.

Listed below, I selected the Wisconsin players that I felt most deserved to be on the cover for each of the Badgers’ last 10 seasons, choosing to go without any repeats.

Wisconsin Football congratulates six college graduates

Six outstanding football student athletes earned their degree this weekend.

The Wisconsin Football team is gearing up for a much-anticipated 2023 campaign with new head coach Luke Fickell taking over for his first full season at the helm. That being said, some of the returning athletes and some that have gone on to the next level earned one of life’s highest honors this weekend, they became graduates of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

In what was a tumultuous 2022 season for the Badgers, the team finished 7-6 and won the Guaranteed Rate Bowl in December over Oklahoma State. Operating under both Paul Chryst and Jim Leonhard at head coach, the team had to be level-headed in the tough year.

Balancing both athletics and academics is certainly no easy feat, here’s each of the athletes that were honored for their degrees on the Badgers’ official Twitter:

Wisconsin safety John Torchio participated in an NFL minicamp over the weekend

Wisconsin safety John Torchio participated in an NFL minicamp over the weekend

Wisconsin safety John Torchio not only earned his master’s degree this week, but also participated in the Tennessee Titans minicamp over the weekend.

Torchio was one of 21 players invited to take part on a tryout basis, as he plans to pursue an NFL career after recently earning his Badger master’s degree.

Torchio is a California native who had five interceptions in the 2022 season. He had career-high numbers not only in interceptions, but in total tackles (54) and passes defended (6) during a breakout campaign in 2022. Here is a look at the complete list of players that Torchio went up against over the weekend:

Wisconsin safety John Torchio earns NFL minicamp invite

Wisconsin safety John Torchio earns NFL minicamp invite

Former Wisconsin safety John Torchio will get an NFL chance this offseason. The rookie earned a minicamp invite with the New York Jets.

During his Badger career, the ball always seemed to find the Wisconsin safety, and he had five interceptions in 2022 to lead the Badgers. He also had six pass-breakups and 56 tackles during his final season with the Badgers.

If the Jets minicamp tryout doesn’t work out, Torchio also has an offer to go to Titans minicamp. Despite not being selected in the 2023 NFL Draft, the professional chapter of the story isn’t over for one of Wisconsin’s most impactful defensive players last season.

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Watch: Badgers host 2023 pro day

The Badgers’ football team hosted their 2023 pro day on Thursday, showcasing the talents of eight potential NFL draft selections.

The Badgers hosted their 2023 pro day on Thursday, showcasing the talents of nine potential NFL draft selections.

After a 7-6 season that ended with a Guaranteed Rate Bowl victory over Oklahoma State in late December, some of Wisconsin’s top players elected to move on to the next level.

Among those participating Thursday were offensive lineman Joe Tippmann, interior defensive lineman Keeanu Benton and linebacker Nick Herbig. They are expected to be the first former Badgers off the board in the 2023 draft.

Here are the brief highlight reels the team’s official Twitter account produced and released after the pro day.

Who left Wisconsin football following the 2022 season?

A look at transfers, players leaving for the draft, and coaches who have moved on from Wisconsin football

This offseason has been filled with excitement for Badger fans as new head coach Luke Fickell has brought in a whole new staff and over a dozen players via the transfer portal.

With the addition of offensive coordinator Phil Longo and his “Air Raid” offense, Wisconsin has earned the commitments of three quarterbacks and four wide receivers, including C.J. Williams from USC, the highest rated WR in modern program history.

That being said, with everyone paying so much attention to those coming into the program, it’d be easy to lose track of the players that have decided to move on from the Badgers following the 2022 campaign.

Here’s where the departures have ended up:

 

Report: Linebacker Goetz returning in 2023

C.J. Goetz is expected to return and play for the Badgers in 2023 after finishing third on the team in tackles this season.

With Nick Herbig, Keeanu Benton and John Torchio heading to the NFL after the conclusion of the Badgers’ 2022 campaign, the Badgers’ defense will look much different in 2023, but the team will retain a key starter in linebacker C.J. Goetz next season. The Muskego native will exercise an additional year of eligibility with Wisconsin and will likely operate in a leadership role on Mike Tressel’s defense.

Goetz played in all 13 of the Badgers’ games this season, recording 62 tackles, including two sacks, while also deflecting two passes over those contests.

Along with Jordan Turner and Maema Njongmeta, the return of Goetz in 2023 will provide Wisconsin with each of their top three tackle-getters from this campaign once again next year.

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