Tag: Linebackers

Former Wisconsin linebacker discusses breakout season with Eagles

Former Wisconsin linebacker discusses breakout season with Eagles

Former Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Zack Baun shared some insight on his breakout season with NFL Network’s Good Morning Football on Wednesday.

After registering a game-best 15 tackles in the Philadelphia Eagles’ win over the Washington Commanders on Nov. 14, Baun was named the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Week for Week 10.

While it was just one performance, the game served as a microcosm for his dominant 2024 season with the Eagles.

After playing four seasons with the New Orleans Saints from 2020-2023, Baun has assumed off-the-ball linebacker duties in Philadelphia. That change has led to Baun finding dominant form.

Through 10 games, Baun has recorded 102 total tackles, three forced fumbles and three sacks for Vic Fangio’s defensive unit. The West Bend, Wisconsin native spoke on how he’s found success in the new role.

“I was a receiver at West Bend East, then I was a quarterback at Brown Deer and an outside linebacker at Wisconsin,” Baun said. “It’s been the transitions all throughout that have helped me make this transition off the ball. The transition is nothing new for me. I’m just a football player. I love football, and I love the game. If I’m out there, I’m trying to be the best and do the best.”

At this trajectory, Baun will be an All-Pro at the linebacker position. He ranks fifth in the NFL in total tackles and is unquestionably the most impactful player on the Eagles’ defense.

At 8-2, the Eagles lead the NFC East and don’t appear to be slowing down. They will face a hungry Los Angeles Rams team on Nov. 24 on Sunday Night Football.

Badgers class of 2025 LB commit named Wisconsin’s top senior linebacker

Badgers class of 2025 LB commit named Wisconsin’s top senior linebacker

Wisconsin class of 2025 linebacker commit Cooper Catalano was named the 2024 recipient of the John Anderson Award on Wednesday.

The honor annually recognizes the most outstanding senior linebacker in Wisconsin. Catalano, who committed to UW’s program nearly one year ago, was the obvious choice for the honor.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound game-wrecker registered 178 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks, one fumble recovery, three forced fumbles and three interceptions for Germantown High School this season. On top of that, he became Wisconsin’s all-time career tackles leader in late September after he recorded tackle No. 463 with the program.

Since that point, he’s added over 100 more tackles to his total.

247Sports considers Catalano the No. 894 overall recruit, No. 92 linebacker and No. 7 recruit from the state of Wisconsin for the class of 2025. He earned offers from the likes of Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas, and Michigan State before ultimately deciding to join the Badgers.

Outside Catalano, two other class of 2025 linebackers have committed to Wisconsin — four-star Mason Posa and three-star Samuel Lateju.

The award is named after John Anderson, a former Waukesha South star in the 1970s who became the Green Bay Packers’ all-time leader in tackles before his retirement in 1989.

Former Wisconsin linebacker continues dominant 2024 season with Eagles

Former Wisconsin linebacker continues dominant 2024 season with Eagles

Former Wisconsin linebacker Zack Baun delivered another signature performance for the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday Night Football.

After being named the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Week on Wednesday, Baun captained the Eagles defense to its sixth straight win in a 26-18 victory over the division rival Washington Commanders.

Baun recorded 15 tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass deflection in the triumph. He also denied Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels from moving the chains on a key fourth-down play late in the fourth quarter.

Down 12-10 at the Eagles’ 26-yard line, Washington elected to go for it on the short fourth-down sequence with hopes of reaching the end zone and shaving time off the clock. Daniels fielded the snap and scrambled to the right before Baun fended off an offensive lineman and executed the tackle.

Here’s the full play:

On the season, Baun has now recorded 102 total tackles, an NFL-best 64 solo tackles, five tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two sacks and one interception.

The season for Baun is nothing short of incredible. In four seasons with the New Orleans Saints, Baun notched just 88 total tackles. In just one season, he has suddenly turned into one of the best inside linebackers in the NFL.

Baun will be back in action on Nov. 24 when the Eagles face off against the Los Angeles Rams.

Two former Wisconsin linebackers named NFL Players of the Week

Two former Wisconsin linebackers named NFL Players of the Week

Former Wisconsin linebackers Zack Baun and Leo Chenal were named NFL Players of the Week on Thursday.

Baun earned the ‘NFC Defensive Player of the Week’ designation for his contributions in the Philadelphia Eagles’ 34-6 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Nov. 10.

In that contest, the UW alumnus recorded eight tackles, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one tackle for loss. In nine games, Baun ranks No. 11 in the NFL in total tackles with 87. He has also notched two sacks and one interception as the Eagles’ most dominant linebacker this season.

ProFootballFocus has also awarded Baun with the highest grade of any linebacker across the NFL from Weeks 8-10.

Baun joined Arizona Cardinals’ quarterback Kyler Murray and Detroit Lions’ kicker Jake Bates on the NFC ‘Players of the Week’ batch of studs from Week 10.

Chenal, meanwhile, was almost a no-brainer for ‘AFC Special Teams Player of the Week’ after what he did against the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

He joined Baltimore Ravens’ quarterback Lamar Jackson and Buffalo Bills’ cornerback Taron Johnson in the AFC ‘Players of the Week’ cohort for this week.

Chenal, who played at UW from 2019-2021, clinched the Kansas City Chiefs’ 15th straight win with a blocked field goal as time expired at Arrowhead Stadium.

The sequence occurred when, with one second remaining, Broncos’ kicker Will Lutz squared up for a 35-yard field goal attempt and Chenal leaped through Denver’s offensive line to deny the attempt and secure the 16-14 win.

Through eight games this season, he has posted 33 total tackles, 22 solo tackles and three pass deflections.

Patrick Mahomes praises former Wisconsin linebacker after game-winning play

Patrick Mahomes praises former Wisconsin linebacker after game-winning play

Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes praised former Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Leo Chenal after his game-clinching field goal block on Sunday.

Shortly after Chenal blocked Denver Broncos’ kicker Will Lutz’s 35-yard field goal attempt to clinch the Chiefs’ 15th consecutive victory, Mahomes took to the podium and had this to say about his teammate:

“He’s extremely strong,” Mahomes said. “He’s got the strength of a [defensive] lineman, but he plays the linebacker position. You don’t want to be with that guy when he’s working out. We call him John Cena.”

Mahomes isn’t far off. At 6-foot-3, Chenal has 250 pounds of pure muscle. After starting 10 games in 2023, the UW alumnus has morphed into one of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s most lethal assets.

Through eight games this season, he has posted 33 total tackles, 22 solo tackles and three pass deflections. Defensive lineman Chris Jones and cornerback Trent McDuffie might grab the weekly headlines, but Chenal is unquestionably the most versatile player on Spagnuolo’s side of the ball.

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In terms of what the entire Chiefs defense provides, Fox Sports ranks the group as the No. 5 unit across the NFL with 293.6 yards per game and 16 touchdowns relinquished.

Kansas City will look to showcase that type of prowess in its highly-anticipated Week 11 game against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 17.

PFF: Former Wisconsin Badger is the NFL’s best linebacker over last three weeks

PFF: Former Wisconsin linebacker is the highest-graded LB from Week 8-10

Former Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Zack Baun is ProFootballFocus’ highest-graded linebacker from Weeks 8-10 of the 2024 NFL season

Through nine appearances with the Philadelphia Eagles this season, Baun has been nothing short of incredible. The UW alumnus is responsible for 87 total tackles, 55 solo tackles, three forced fumbles, two sacks and one interception as the Eagles’ mainstay in the linebacker room.

Baun has posted 30 total tackles, three forced fumbles, one interception and two pass deflections just in the last three contests.

His highest grade arrived in the Eagles’ Week 9 game vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars. His 10 tackles and two pass deflections were enough to earn him an overall grade of 92.6, the most among any qualified linebacker across the league.

Baun’s status as one of the NFL’s most elite in the middle of the defense is somewhat of a shocker. Prior to this season, the Brown Deer, Wisconsin native’s career high in tackles for a season was 30 with the New Orleans Saints. As of Nov. 11, he’s No. 11 in total tackles across the league.

Baun and the Eagles will be back in action against the Washington Commanders on Nov. 14 in Philadelphia.

Top-ranked class of 2026 linebacker target includes Badgers in final list

Wisconsin top-ranked class of 2026 linebacker target includes Badgers in final list

Wisconsin top class of 2026 target Tristan Phillips included the Badgers in his list of final schools on Monday.

Phillips joined fellow 2026 four-star recruit Ben Nichols as the second player to include Wisconsin in his final cohort on Monday.

Phillips, who received his offer from the Badgers on April 25, included Wisconsin as a finalist along with Washington, Oklahoma, Arizona State, Oregon and Utah.

When he received his offer, the Ventura, California native was 247Sports’ No. 199 player in the class of 2026, No. 12 linebacker and No. 24 recruit from the state of California. The outlet still considers the junior a top 200 recruit and a four-star prospect.

Like Nichols, Phillips does not hold a 247Sports crystal ball prediction at this stage of his recruitment. On3’s recruiting prediction machine isn’t sure either — UCLA is favored but only holds a 19.7% chance of landing his commitment.

Here’s what 247Sports’ National Recruiting Analyst Greg Biggins had to say about Phillips in his recruiting profile:

“Long athletic ‘backer who also plays basketball. Has a very projectable 6-3, 210 pound frame, is a fluid athlete, runs well and and can hit. Reactionary athlete with some quick twitch to him, can drop, comfortable in space, makes plays sideline to sideline and can get there in a hurry. Attacks line of scrimmage, stands up blockers and has a nice edge to him. Shows the positional versatility to play inside or outside ‘backer and could even move to edge rusher depending on how much bigger he gets over the next few years. High major Power 4 prospect with the talent to play for anyone out West.”

Phillips has certainly showcased this versatility throughout his senior campaign at Ventura High School. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound linebacker has registered 80 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, two sacks and one interception through 11 games.

Former Wisconsin linebacker snatches first interception of 2024 NFL season

Former Wisconsin linebacker snatches first interception of 2024 season

Former Wisconsin linebacker T.J. Edwards recorded his first interception of the 2024 season on Sunday vs. the New England Patriots.

The play arrived on a first-down sequence early in the first quarter of the Chicago Bears’ game vs. New England. When Patriots quarterback Drake Maye rolled to his right and tossed a jump pass to tight end Austin Hooper, Edwards leaped, snagged the attempt and skillfully got both feet down to secure the interception.

The play flipped possession in Chicago’s favor, but the Bears were unable to orchestrate a scoring drive and punted after three plays.

Nonetheless, the play encapsulates Edwards’ versatility. At 6-foot-1, 241 pounds, Edwards is excellent outside of the hashes. Whether it be making a tackle in the open field against a dynamic running back or defending a play-action pass, Edwards has the ability to alter the course of a game.

The former Badger led all defenders with 13 total tackles, including seven solo. Through nine games this season, the UW alumnus is responsible for 73 total tackles, 42 solo tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one interception, two pass deflections and four tackles for loss.

After spending three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, Edwards has become nothing short of a game-changer in Chicago He posted 155 total tackles and a career-high 2.5 sacks in 17 games during the 2023 season.

Edwards will again suit up at linebacker next week alongside Tremaine Edmunds and Jack Sanborn in the Bears’ tenth game of the season against the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 17.

Former Wisconsin linebacker dominates in Eagles’ win over Cowboys

Former Wisconsin linebacker dominates in Eagles’ win over Cowboys

Former Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Zack Baun was a key force in the Philadelphia Eagles’ blowout win vs. the Dallas Cowboys on Nov. 10.

After registering 10 total tackles, one tackle for loss, and an interception in the Eagles’ 28-23 win over Jacksonville last week, Baun recorded eight tackles, one tackle for loss, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery vs. the struggling Cowboys on Sunday.

As he appears to be every week, Baun was everywhere for the Eagles on Sunday. The play that personified his day arrived early in the fourth quarter when Baun made a solo tackle against fellow UW alumnus Jake Ferguson in the open field.

Edwards lowered his shoulder and caused the sturdy tight end to fumble, resulting in a Reed Blankenship recovery and possession flip in favor of the Eagles. Philadelphia would capitalize with a field goal on the ensuing drive to pull ahead 34-6.

Baun addressed his versatility with media following the dominant victory at AT&T Stadium.

“During my time in New Orleans people said I was an on-ball linebacker, but I was putting in the time, putting in just the same amount of work as the starters were to prepare for a moment like this,” Baun told reporters after the game.

Through eight appearances with Philadelphia this season, Baun has recorded 87 total tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception and one three forced fumbles.

This dominant form arrives in his just first season with the Eagles. Baun played four seasons with the New Orleans Saints from 2020-23 before transitioning to a starting role at inside linebacker with the Eagles.

Baun compared the change from NFL franchises to his high school football tenure.

“I compare it a lot to the time I transferred high schools. I was kind of uncomfortable…and when I transferred, I felt like I could be myself, and be me,” Baun said. “That’s exactly how I feel with this team. They embrace me so much. Everyone just accepts me, and the people in the building made it really easy for me to transition.”

His Eagles return to the turf for another division match on Nov. 14, this time against the Washington Commanders.

Former Wisconsin linebacker blocks field goal to extend Chiefs’ record win streak

Former Wisconsin linebacker blocks field goal to extend Chiefs’ record win streak

This story was updated to add new information.

Former Wisconsin linebacker Leo Chenal clinched the Kansas City Chiefs’ 15th straight win with a blocked field goal on Sunday.

The play arrived on the final sequence of the game in Arrowhead Stadium. After Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix orchestrated a 43-yard drive in the final six minutes of play, kicker Will Lutz squared up for a 35-yard field goal attempt with just one second remaining on the clock.

Immediately after the ball was snapped and Lutz kicked the attempt, Chenal darted between two Broncos offensive tackles, leaped with both hands outstretched and blocked the field goal to secure the Chiefs’ victory.

The team’s ongoing 15-game win streak dating back to December 2023, including both regular season and playoffs, is the eighth-longest in NFL history. It is only three games shy of five teams that reached 18 straight wins, including the 2007 New England Patriots and 1989-90 San Francisco 49ers. The all-time record is 21 straight wins, held by the 2003-04 Patriots.

Outside of the blocked kick, Chenal tallied four tackles on the day. Through eight games this season, he has posted 33 total tackles, 22 solo tackles and three pass deflections.

Chenal has emerged as one of the more dependable playmakers in arguably the best defensive unit across the NFL this season. Kansas City now improves to 9-0 on the season in pursuit of the organization’s third straight Super Bowl.