Tag: Keeanu Benton

Wisconsin’s list of Big Ten Media Day attendees has been announced

Badgers head coach Paul Chryst will take one offensive player and two players from the defense to attend Big Ten Media Days next week:

With Big Ten Media Days set to take place at Lucas Oil Stadium next week on July 24-25, the conference formally announced a list of player attendees from each program.

Alongside Badgers’ head coach Paul Chryst, UW will have senior nose tackle Keeanu Benton, junior outside linebacker Nick Herbig, and redshirt junior quarterback Graham Mertz all in attendance, available to the media.

Wisconsin is expected to bounce back from a disappointing 9-4 season where the Badgers failed to win the Big Ten West for the second straight season.

It’s no secret that UW will be without many core pieces that helped lead the Badgers to the No. 1 ranked defensive unit in the country last season, but the cupboards are hardly bare in Madison.

In 2022, UW will replace eight preferred starters off Jim Leonhard’s defense and six on the offensive side of the ball.

You can see the Big Ten’s full press release of attendees below:

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion, and analysis. You can also follow Dillon Graff on Twitter @DillonGraff.

Iowa Hawkeyes 2022 schedule breakdown: Wisconsin

No game bigger for the Hawkeyes in 2022 than Wisconsin. With the West possibly on the line, what should Iowa fans expect from the Badgers?

This is the must-win game of the season for the Hawkeyes, at least you hope it is. As long as the season has stayed on course, and Iowa hasn’t dropped too many games to start, this is the game to circle on the calendar for Iowa.

While there is a revenge game to be played against Michigan and Ohio State is a huge matchup for any school, Wisconsin is easily the game with the most ramifications. As Iowa looks to secure a return spot in the Big Ten championship game, West division rival Wisconsin is easily their biggest roadblock in the way.

Paul Chryst’s squad is routinely a contender for the division crown and will once again provide an extremely tough challenge. This game could ultimately decide who wins the division.

Wisconsin NT among six lesser-known Big Ten players with high draft grades

Wisconsin nose tackle Keeanu Benton was named by ON3 as a lesser-known Big Ten player with a strong NFL draft grade:

Earlier this week, Matt Zenitz of ON3 named six lesser-known players in the Big Ten that have strong NFL draft grades going into next season, and Wisconsin nose tackle Keeanu Benton made the list.

Related: Wisconsin picks up the No. 46th-ranked IOL in the class of 2023

Benton has been absolutely phenomenal at clogging the middle for the Badgers’ defense over the last few seasons, and even though he might not get the statistics of the edge rushers, the Wisconsin NT finished as second-team All-Big Ten last season. Zenitz states that he is graded by NFL scouts right now as a Day 2 or Day 3 selection in the draft.

Hopefully, this season at the helm of the defense alongside outside linebacker, Nick Herbig, will help to cement Benton’s draft grades with NFL teams.

Three Badgers named to 2022 Phil Steele Preseason All-America Team

Phil Steele names three Wisconsin Badgers to his 2022 Preseason All-America Team:

On Thursday afternoon, Phil Steele of Phil Steel’s College Football Preview released his 2022 Preseason All-America Team, and he included three Wisconsin Badgers.

Related: WATCH: Wisconsin football drops a summer workout hype video

Outside linebacker Nick Herbig was the only Badger to make the first team, which is not surprising since he led Wisconsin in sacks last season. He was also added to the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List less than a month ago.

Sophomore running back Braelon Allen and senior nose tackle Keeanu Benton were named to Steele’s fourth team, after both finishing last year as second-team All-Big Ten.

I am excited to see what Herbig and Benton will do after taking the reins of the Badgers’ defense, and of course, expectations are high for Allen after his outstanding freshman season.

Seven Badgers named to preseason All-Big Ten list by Athlon Sports

Seven Badgers earn preseason All-Big Ten honors:

On Tuesday, Athlon Sports released their preseason All-Big Ten teams for the upcoming 2022 season, with seven total Wisconsin players receiving recognition. 

Among the Badgers listed on the All-Big Ten first team were running back Braelon Allen, outside linebacker Nick Herbig, and defensive tackle Keeanu Benton. 

Other Badgers named to the preseason all-conference lists were center Joe Tippmann (second team), offensive guard Tyler Beach (third team), offensive tackle Jack Nelson (fourth team), and safety Hunter Wohler (fourth team). 

Wisconsin football will open the 2022 season at the newly renovated Barry Alvarez Stadium against Illinois State on September 3rd.

You can read the full list of preseason All-Big Ten honors below:

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Wisconsin DT Keeanu Benton makes his NFL draft decision

Badgers star nose tackle Keeanu Benton makes his NFL decision.

After a 2021 season that saw Keeanu Benton named second team all-Big Ten, the junior nose tackle had a tough decision to make about his potential NFL future.

The former Janesville Craig standout ultimately decided it would be in his best interest to return for his senior season after receiving feedback from the NFL advisory committee.

This is massive news for Wisconsin’s defense as Benton’s return gives the Badgers one of the top nose tackles in college football. He’s a strong pass rusher for his position, and constantly does the dirty work to free up others to make splash plays for this defense.

As the anchor of the defensive line last season, Benton registered 25.0 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2.0 pass break-ups, 4.0 quarterback hits, and 2.0 fumble recoveries.

The Janesville native will now finish his career as a four year starter for his home state Badgers.

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

Wisconsin NT Keeanu Benton appears set to return for the 2022 season

Wisconsin NT Keeanu Benton appears set to return for the 2022 season

Several Wisconsin upperclassmen on the defensive side of the football spoke to the media today about the team’s prep for the Las Vegas Bowl and their plans for next season.

Many said they were still undecided between entering the NFL Draft or staying for another season at Wisconsin.

One player who did seem close to decided was nose tackle Keeanu Benton. He told media today that barring a first-round draft grade by the advisory board, he plans to be back at Wisconsin next season.

The key starter on defense has recorded 2 passes defended and 23 tackles thus far this year, including 5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

His potential return is massive news for a Wisconsin team that could lose several defensive starters after this season. We will wait and see after the team’s bowl game what every player decides.

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

Wisconsin OT Logan Bruss wins first Wisconsin Football Esports Showdown

Senior offensive tackle Logan Bruss wins the first-ever Wisconsin Football Esports Showdown!

Over the last week, Wisconsin football premiered its first-ever esports tournament on team social media featuring several Badgers including Faion Hicks, Logan Bruss, Jake Ferguson and Kendric Pryor. The eight players competed in the game Rocket League in a knockout-style tournament.

Related: Wisconsin’s offensive line has a new BBQ partnership

On Thursday, the Badgers released the tournament’s championship game and senior offensive tackle Logan Bruss dominated senior cornerback Faion Hicks 6-0 to take the championship. Bruss defeated junior defensive tackle Keeanu Benton 5-2 in the tournament’s opening round and narrowly edged out senior tight end Jake Ferguson 4-3 in the semifinals.

It is no surprise to see the Wisconsin offensive linemen dominating, and it will be exciting to see if Logan Bruss can hold his crown in future tournaments.

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

Nine Badgers make the PFF Preseason All-Big Ten Team

Nine Badgers make the PFF Preseason All-Big Ten Team!

On Monday morning, Pro Football Focus released their Preseason All-Big Ten Team and several Wisconsin Badgers made the list.

Related: Wisconsin LB Jack Sanborn named PFF Preseason All-American

In addition to being named as an honorable mention PFF All-American, senior Wisconsin linebacker Jack Sanborn was named as second-team All-Big Ten alongside his partner on defense Leo Chenal. The only Badgers to make the first team were tight end Jake Ferguson and offensive guard Josh Seltzner.

Although the Badgers were represented well in this year’s PFF Preseason All-Big Ten Team, it was surprising to see that no Wisconsin running backs or edge rushers made the cut.

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5 players to watch: Wisconsin football at Northwestern

The No. 10 Wisconsin Badgers have been nothing short of excellent so far this season, outscoring Illinois and Michigan by a combined…

The No. 10 Wisconsin Badgers have been nothing short of excellent so far this season, outscoring Illinois and Michigan by a combined 76 points.

They’ve only played two games, though, after they had two contests canceled due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the program. We can look back at the Illinois and Michigan wins all we want, but it’s fair to say that neither has been a good football team this season, or at least not nearly as good as the Badgers’ upcoming opponent–the 4-0 and No. 19-ranked Northwestern Wildcats.

This week we’ve already previewed the 2020 Northwestern team and gave five keys to a Wisconsin victory.

Here, now, are five players to watch when the two teams take the field on Saturday:

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