Tag: Keeanu Benton

PHOTOS: Wisconsin dominates Illinois State 38-0 in its season opener

Some of the best photos from Wisconsin football’s 38-0 victory over the Illinois State Redbirds:

Despite a slow start because of extended Illinois State drives, the Wisconsin Badgers dominated the Redbirds 38-0 in their season at Camp Randall Stadium.

Related: Wisconsin vs. Illinois State: Stream, injury report, broadcast info for Saturday

The Badgers showed their team identity with tough defense including a 100-yard pick-six, and by running the ball with Braelon Allen. The sophomore running back had an insane 96-yard touchdown run in the first half and finished with 148 yards rushing and two rushing touchdowns. Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz had a solid debut as well, ending the day 14-16 for 219 passing yards and a passing touchdown.

It was great to see the Badgers dominate in their season opener to build confidence and chemistry ahead of their week 4 matchup against Ohio State on the road.

Below are some of the best photos from Wisconsin football’s 38-0 victory over the Illinois State Redbirds:

Where Wisconsin Badgers land in PFF’s 2023 NFL Draft Big Board

See where Wisconsin Badgers’ Nick Herbig and Keeanu Benton landed in PFF’s preseason 2023 NFL draft top 100 big board:

Last week, Pro Football Focus draft analyst, Michael Renner, released his preseason top 100 big board for players potentially entering the 2023 NFL draft. Wisconsin outside linebacker Nick Herbig and defensive tackle Keeanu Benton both earned spots in PFF’s big board.

Related: Wisconsin faces ACC opponent in the latest USA TODAY Sports bowl projections

Benton and Herbig were already named to the 2022 Bronko Nagurski Watch List after combining for 89 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks in 2021. Although they are not at the top of the big board yet, another year as the leaders of Wisconsin’s defense could skyrocket their draft stock.

Here are where Wisconsin Badgers’ Nick Herbig and Keeanu Benton landed in PFF’s 2023 NFL draft preseason top 100 big board:

Wisconsin football’s complete Week 1 defensive depth chart

The Badgers defensive depth chart in Week 1

It may be a cast of many new characters for Wisconsin defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, but there is still every reason to believe that the Badgers can once again build one of the nation’s best defenses.

Wisconsin will be relying heavily on transfers in the secondary, headlined by UCLA transfer cornerback Jay Shaw and Kentucky transfer Cedric Dort.

The Badger do have returning stars along the defensive line led by senior leader Keeanu Benton. The overall star of this Wisconsin defense? Junior linebacker Nick Herbig who will be tasked with a little bit of everything for the Badger group. Here is a look at the Week 1 defensive depth chart that the Badgers put out this morning:

5 Wisconsin Badgers named to the Reese’s Senior Bowl Watchlist

Keeanu Benton and Chez Mellusi headline a list of five Badgers selected to the Reese’s Senior Bowl Watchlist:

The 10th Annual Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List for the upcoming season was announced on Wednesday.

Their scouting department’s first publication of said list includes 484 position players, all of which are 2018 high school graduates or true fourth-year seniors at their respective programs.

Last season, seven Badgers were named to the Senior Bowl Watchlist; however, tight end Jake Ferguson, now a member of the Dallas Cowboys, was Wisconsin’s lone representative in the aforementioned Senior Bowl.

This year, the University of Wisconsin had five players named to the Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List for the upcoming season; let’s take a look at who they are:

Eight Badgers named to PFF’s Preseason All-Big Ten Team

Take a look at the Wisconsin Badgers named to PFF’s All-Big Ten Team:

On Monday afternoon, Pro Football Focus writer, Anthony Treash, released PFF’s 2022 Preseason All-America and All-Conferences teams. Wisconsin football had eight Badgers make the cut on Treash’s All-Big Ten team.

Related: Updated Big Ten football recruiting rankings for early August

Only one Badger made first-team All-Big Ten, while four were named to the second team and three as honorable mentions. One of the most notable players on the list is outside linebacker, Nick Herbig, who was ferocious in his second year as a starter in 2021 finishing with 61 total tackles and nine sacks.

Although these are just preseason awards, it shows how high expectations are for this talented Wisconsin team going into this upcoming season.

Below are the Wisconsin Badgers named to PFF’s All-Big Ten Team:

A pair of Badger stars named to prestigious preseason watch list

A pair of Badgers earn preseason honors

The two expected leaders of Wisconsin’s 2022 defense are both on national notice as the year begins. Keeanu Benton and Nick Herbig were named to the 2022 Bronko Nagurski Award watch list, an annual honor that goes to the best defensive player in college football.

The pair of Badgers are looking to build off of tremendous individual and collective 2022 campaigns. Herbig started all 13 games for Wisconsin in 2021, and led the Badgers with 9.0 sacks (4th in the Big Ten).

Benton has started 24 games throughout his Wisconsin career and earned All-Big Ten second team honors last season according to the conference coaches.

The two will hope to continue the success of 2021’s vaunted defense as the Badgers get things started in a few short weeks.

WATCH: Keeanu Benton and Nick Herbig ‘rave’ about Braelon Allen at Big Ten Media Days

In an interview with Big Ten Network at Big Ten Media Days, Wisconsin NT Keeanu Benton and OLB Nick Herbig talked about RB Braelon Allen:

On Wednesday, some Wisconsin football players spoke with the media at the Big Ten Media Days. In an interview with Wisconsin On BTN, senior nose tackle Keeanu Benton and junior outside linebacker Nick Herbig raved about the play of sophomore running back Braelon Allen.

Related: The Big Ten’s stance on College Football Playoff expansion

In the interview, Benton and Herbig talked extensively about Allen’s exceptional strength on the field and their empathy for opposing defenders who have to try to bring him down. The junior outside linebacker also mentions Allen’s outstanding work ethic, which put him in a place to succeed last season.

If the Wisconsin defenders’ interview is any indication of where Braelon Allen is at going into his second year, Badger fans should be excited for another historical season from the Wisconsin rushing attack.

LOOK: Wisconsin football players travel in style to Big Ten Media Days

Several Wisconsin Badgers players arrived for Big Ten Media Days on Tuesday afternoon after traveling in style to the annual event:

Several Wisconsin Badgers players arrived for Big Ten Media Days on Tuesday afternoon after traveling in style from Madison, Wis., to the annual event.

Related: 15 schools the Big Ten should consider adding

A picture posted on Twitter by Wisconsin outside linebacker Nick Herbig shows himself along with nose tackle Keeanu Benton and quarterback Graham Mertz aboard a privately-chartered flight to Indianapolis, Ind. Wisconsin had a different surprise for its players at last year’s media days, where they each received custom-tailored suits.

The three players, along with head coach Paul Chryst, will be the Badgers’ representatives to the press on Wednesday. It is great to see Wisconsin taking care of its players, and it will be exciting to hear what they have to say to the media about the upcoming season.

Two Wisconsin interior linemen named to Outland Trophy Watch List

Two Wisconsin interior linemen were named to the Outland Trophy Watch List earlier this week. The Badgers’ last Outland Trophy winner was OT Gabe Carimi back in 2010.

Earlier this week, the Football Writer Association of America released their initial watch list for the Outland Trophy which is awarded to the best interior lineman in college football every year. Fortunately, the Wisconsin Badgers were able to land an interior lineman from offense and defense on the list.

Junior center Joe Tippman and senior nose tackle Keeanu Benton were selected for the award after having breakthrough seasons in 2021. Tippman started 10 out of the 11 games for Wisconsin and helped to create space for the Badgers’ outstanding run game last year.

On defense, Benton disrupted up the middle and is already nominated for several watch lists and preseason awards. The senior nose tackle did it all for Wisconsin in 2021 and finished with 25 tackles, five tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

The Badgers have had two Outland Trophy winners in the past with offensive tackles Gabe Carimi and Joe Thomas in 2010 and 2006.

Two Wisconsin Badgers named to Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List

Two Badgers were named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List on Tuesday morning, which is awarded to the best defensive player in the country:

Just ahead of the start of the Wisconsin football’s fall camp, two Badgers were named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, which is awarded to the best defensive player in the country every year.

Related: Wisconsin CB Jay Shaw named in ON3’s most impactful DB transfers of 2022

Senior nose tackle Keeanu Benton and junior outside linebacker Nick Herbig were added to the watch list after having fantastic 2021 seasons on one of the best defenses in the country. In addition, the two have already been named to Phil Steele’s Preseason All-America team and to Athlon’s Sports Preseason All-Big Ten list.

Even though the Badgers will be losing a lot of experience going into this season, the Wisconsin defense could still be one of the best units in the country with its incoming and returning talent.