Tag: Nick Herbig

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 Badgers Receive Preseason All-Big Ten Honors

Two Badgers received Preseason All-Big Ten honors on Monday:

Ahead of Big Ten Media Days at Lucas Oil Stadium, a media panel selected a 10-member 2022 Preseason All-Big Ten honors list, with five players representing the East and West Divisions.

On Monday, sophomore running back Braelon Allen and junior outside linebacker Nick Herbig, coming off breakout campaigns, received 2022 Preseason All-Big Ten honors.

In 2021, Allen, a Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin native, was a Freshman All-American and second-team All-Big Ten member after amassing 1,268 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns on the ground last season on 6.8 YPC.

And Herbig, who led the Badgers in sacks last season, totaled 57 tackles, 37 pressures, nine sacks, and six QB hits in 2021. Per PFF, the Badgers’ star LB also had a 27.3% pass rush win rate, leading all Big Ten edge rushers last season.

Wisconsin, who enters 2022 as the betting favorites to win the Big Ten West, will rely heavily on its returning star power to make a trip back to Indianapolis after two seasons falling short of those expectations.

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.

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.

Nick Herbig mentioned in CFB’s projected major 2022 award winners

Badgers junior OLB Nick Herbig projected as a finalist for a prestigious postseason award:

Earlier this week, Will Backus of 247Sports projected every major 2022 award winner for the upcoming season.

The lone Badger mentioned was junior outside linebacker Nick Herbig, who was on the short list of defenders in contention for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which is essentially the College Football Defensive Player of the Year.

After breaking out as a sophomore, Herbig will become the face of Jim Leonhard’s defensive unit and assume the role of one of the premier pass-rushers in all of college football.

Last season, the 6-foot-2, 227-pound OLB totaled 57 tackles, 37 pressures, nine sacks, and six QB hits.

Per PFF, the Badgers’ star LB also had a 27.3% pass rush win rate which led all Big Ten edge rushers last season.

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.

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.

LOOK: Wisconsin football’s player photos for the 2022 season

Take a look at some of Wisconsin football’s new fre

Earlier this week, Wisconsin football took its player photos for the upcoming season and some Badgers released their personal favorites on social media.

Related: Breaking down every position along Badgers’ offensive line entering fall camp

There were several cool previews for next season in the posts, including the first look at some of Wisconsin’s incoming freshmen and transfers fully suited up in their uniforms. A photo from running back Braelon Allen also shows Chez Mellusi wearing No. 1 compared to being No. 6 last year.

Even though it is not quite fall camp yet, seeing the players in their uniforms makes me anticipate Wisconsin’s opener against Illinois State on Sept. 3 even more.

Here are some of the Badgers’ player photos for the upcoming 2022 season:

Wisconsin OLB Nick Herbig makes PFF’s Top 10 LBs for 2023 NFL draft

PFF writer Mike Renner predicts Wisconsin OLB Nick Herbig as an early top 10 linebacker for the 2023 NFL draft:

On Tuesday morning, Pro Football Focus released writer Mike Renner’s early top 10 ranking of linebackers ahead of the 2023 NFL draft, and Wisconsin OLB Nick Herbig made the list at No. 6.

Related: A look at Wisconsin football’s entire coaching staff for the 2022 season

Herbig is coming off an outstanding 2021 season where he led the Badgers in sacks and is already predicted by Phil Steele as a first-team All-American for next season. The Wisconsin edge rusher is not the only Big Ten player in the top 10, as Iowa linebackers Jack Campbell and Jestin Jacobs landed at No. 3 and No. 9.

After such a phenomenal year last year; hopefully, Herbig can keep the momentum moving into this season and take over the Wisconsin defense.

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.