Tag: selection

Wisconsin Badgers RB Braelon Allen selected by New York Jets in 2024 NFL draft

Former Wisconsin RB Braelon Allen has his NFL home:

Former Wisconsin Badgers running back Braelon Allen was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft with the No. 134 pick by the New York Jets.

The star running back entered the draft after rushing for 3,494 yards and 35 touchdowns during his three-year college career. Those marks have him ranked No. 9 on Wisconsin’s all-time rushing yards leaderboard.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 spring transfer portal window tracker

He joins a Jets team that struggled in 2023 after Aaron Rodgers’ Achilles’ injury. Breece Hall returns to lead the backfield, though there could be an available opportunity for Allen to get immediate carries.

Allen was the 10th running back selected in the draft. He was also the third former Badger taken, following Tanor Bortolini to the Colts and Isaac Guerendo to the 49ers. The rest of the Wisconsin players in the draft are expected to be signed as undrafted free agents.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion. Follow Ben Kenney on X.

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Wisconsin Badgers OL Tanor Bortolini selected by Indianapolis Colts in 2024 NFL draft

Former Wisconsin OL Tanor Bortolini gets first NFL home:

Former Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman Tanor Bortolini was selected with the No. 117 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts

Borolini entered the draft after a productive collegiate career playing all across the offensive line. He finished with 27 starts over four years — 13 at center, 13 at left or right guard and one at tight end. The versatile lineman started all 12 games at center for the 2023 Badgers under new offensive coordinator Phil Longo, and allowed only one sack in 477 chances according to PFF.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 spring transfer portal window tracker

He joins a Colts team in need of a resurgent season after a 9-8 2023 campaign.

Bortolini is the first former Badger to be selected in this year’s draft, with running back Braelon Allen likely to follow. Other former Wisconsin players project to be signed as undrafted free agents.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion. Follow Ben Kenney on X.

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Ravens set to meet with Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba ahead of 2023 NFL draft

The Ravens are set to host Ohio State wide receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba for a pre-draft visit

After signing wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. over the weekend the Baltimore Ravens are looking to grow their stable of pass catchers even more in the upcoming NFL draft. The team is set to host standout Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba this week as they solidify their draft board.

Smith-Njigba was a key cog in the Buckeyes’ offense last year and is one of the most prized prospects in the 2023 draft class. His ability to make contested catches and rare athleticism have attracted the attention of scouts across the league, and some analysts have predicted that he will be the first wideout to come off the board when the annual selection meeting commences later in April.

Though their aspirations of securing his talents are certainly warranted, the Ravens will be lucky if Smith-Njigba falls far enough in the first round for Baltimore to make a play on him. Unless the team has a plan in place to trade up, Ravens fans should view this visit as nothing more than a formality for Baltimore, which is simply doing its due diligence on one of this year’s most promising wideouts.

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2021 NFL draft: The Buffalo Bills select Wisconsin CB Rachad Wildgoose No. 213 overall

The Bills select a Badger CB

The wait is over for former Wisconsin cornerback Rachad Wildgoose. He was selected 213th overall by the Buffalo Bills on Saturday afternoon.

The former Badger was the second Wisconsin player off of the board. Isaiahh Loudermilk went earlier to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Wildgoose was followed by Badger offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen being taken by Green Bay at No. 214.

Buffalo got a late-round steal from Jim Leonhard’s defense:

Eric Burrell and Garrett Groshek are Badger names to watch as the draft comes to a close.

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

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College Gameday picks for Wisconsin vs. Minnesota

The Wisconsin Badgers and Minnesota Gophers are set to battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe later today. ESPN College Gameday gave their picks…

It’s game day in Madison as the Wisconsin Badgers get set to face the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the annual battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe.

It’s been an up-and-down season for Paul Chryst’s team, with two straight blowout victories to start the season, three games canceled due to COVID-19 protocols and now three straight losses against tough Northwestern. Indiana and Iowa teams.

No matter how bad a season is going, however, a win against rival Minnesota has a way to fix the sentiment surrounding the season and give at least some sort of consolation prize.

Related: Wisconsin vs. Minnesota: 10 players to watch

Although ESPN College Gameday was in Charlotte, North Carolina for the ACC title game, the battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe was still a talked-about topic on the show.

Related: Five things the Wisconsin Badgers must do to keep Paul Bunyan’s Axe

Here is who the hosts picked to come away with a victory:

Kirk Herbstreit: Wisconsin

Lee Corso: Wisconsin

Desmond Howard: Wisconsin

David Pollack: Wisconsin

Guest picker Joel McHale: Wisconsin

The game will kick off at 3 p.m. CST and be available on the Big Ten Network and the FOX Sports app.

 

Minnesota preview:

Five things the Wisconsin Badgers must do to keep Paul Bunyan’s Axe

Minnesota team preview

What Minnesota HC P.J. Fleck is saying about Wisconsin before the game

HC Paul Chryst gives an update on the status of WRs Kendric Pryor and Danny Davis

Film room: The good, the bad and the questionable from Graham Mertz’s performance against Iowa

Wisconsin is a big favorite according to BetMGM

Florida Gators TE Kyle Pitts selected in first-round of Todd McShay’s latest mock draft

Tight end Kyle Pitts was the only Florida Gator to appear in this mock first-round, going off the board to the Buffalo Bills at No. 23.

While we apparently will not see some of the names in action this fall due to the Big Ten and Pacific-12 Conferences postponing their 2020 seasons, ESPN’s Todd McShay released his latest 2021 National Football League Mock Draft on August 12 (subscription required).

The Jacksonville Jaguars, coached by former Syracuse Orange head man Doug Marrone, led the way, selecting Clemson Tigers junior quarterback Trevor Lawrence at No. 1.

“OK, let’s begin with a no-brainer,” McShay started.

“Lawrence is a once-in-a-decade type of quarterback prospect who currently has our highest Scouts Inc. grade on a QB since Andrew Luck in 2012 (99).

“Jacksonville dealt Nick Foles in the offseason, leaving it with just Gardner Minshew II and Mike Glennon, and Lawrence would step right in for the Jaguars as an immediate game-breaking starter.

“With a big arm, great mobility for his 6-foot-6 frame, excellent poise under pressure and off-the-charts intangibles, it wouldn’t be long before he was among the game’s best.”

The “Washington Football Team,” formerly the Redskins, occupied the No. 2 spot, taking Alabama Crimson Tide junior cornerback Patrick Surtain II.

A Plantation native, Surtain earned Southeastern Conference (SEC) All-Freshman Team honors from the league’s coaches in 2018, and, along with LSU Tigers sophomore Derek Stingley, Jr., has a case to be made for best cornerback in the conference.

Oregon Ducks offensive tackle Penei Sewell, Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields, and LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, all also juniors, rounded out McShay’s top-five to the Cincinnati Bengals, Carolina Panthers, and Miami Dolphins, respectively.

Tight end Kyle Pitts, another junior, was the only Florida Gator to appear in this mock first-round, going off the board to the Buffalo Bills, who recently signed head coach Sean McDermott to a contract extension, at No. 23.

“Stefon Diggs gives Josh Allen help outside, but what about the tight end position?” McShay posed.

“Dawson Knox had flashes in his rookie season, but Buffalo still has a long way to go in seeing what it has in its 2019 third-rounder. Even if Knox pans out, adding a versatile matchup piece like Pitts to the mix would be huge.

“He should continue to get bigger and stronger as a blocker, but his combination of length, speed and route running makes him a first-round talent. Pitts, who led the Gators with 54 catches last season, is the most dangerous seam-stretching tight end in the country.”

Other notable selections include Ohio State redshirt junior cornerback Shaun Wade to the New York Jets at No. 8, Alabama wideouts DeVonta Smith (senior) to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 10 and Jaylen Waddle (junior) to the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 11, North Dakota State Bison redshirt sophomore quarterback Trey Lance to the Chicago Bears at No. 14, and Michigan Wolverines senior receiver Nico Collins, a Pinson, Alabama native, to the Green Bay Packers at No. 18.

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Seahawks select Stanford tight end Colby Parkinson at No. 133 overall

The Seattle Seahawks have selected Stanford tight end, Colby Parkinson, at No. 133 overall in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Seattle Seahawks have selected Stanford tight end, Colby Parkinson, at No. 133 overall in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Saints trade up for Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Zack Baun

The New Orleans Saints traded a 2021 draft pick to help move up and pick Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Zack Baun, a potential first-rounder.

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The New Orleans Saints traded up in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, giving up their third-round pick in 2020 (88th overall) and a third rounder in 2021 so that they could acquire the 74th overall pick from the Cleveland Browns.

And they used that pick on Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Zack Baun. Baun started 27 of the 39 games he played in college, peaking as a senior with 12.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss. He has a solid athletic profile at 6-foot-2 and 238 pounds, boasting a 78 1/4-inch wingspan and a 4.65-second time in the 40 yard dash.

Baun’s addition addresses the biggest position of need for New Orleans, giving them someone to rely on while projected starters Alex Anzalone and Kiko Alonso return from season-ending injuries. He’s done his best work while playing up at the line of scrimmage, making him a natural fit for the strongside linebacker duties handled by A.J. Klein last season.

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NFL announces 99 players granted special eligibility for 2020 draft

The league has announced 99 players who have been granted special eligibility for the 2020 NFL draft, set for April 23-25 in Las Vegas.

Super Bowl 54 is still over a week out but preparations for one of the NFL’s other most popular events are well underway. The league has announced 99 players who have been granted special eligibility for the 2020 NFL draft.

To qualify, a player must have met the NFL’s three-year eligibility rule and renounced any remaining college football eligibility. The league must have received written notice from the player by January 17.

This year’s NFL draft will be held April 23-25 in Las Vegas.

Here are the 99 players who are now eligible for selection:

Salvon Ahmed, RB, Washington
Cam Akers, RB, Florida State
Grayland Arnold, CB, Baylor
Devin Asiasi, TE, UCLA
Trajan Bandy, CB, Miami
Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
Tyler Biadasz, C, Wisconsin
Ross Blacklock, DT, TCU
Lynn Bowden Jr., WR, Kentucky
Marcus Brown, DE, Missouri Western
Hunter Bryant, TE, Washington
Quintez Cephus, WR, Wisconsin
K’Lavon Chaisson, edge rusher, LSU
Saahdiq Charles, OT, LSU
Ezra Cleveland, OT, Boise St.
Nick Coe, edge rusher, Auburn
Trystan Colon-Castillo, OT, Missouri
Isaiah Coulter, WR, Rhode Island
Kamren Curl, S, Arkansas
DeeJay Dallas, RB, Miami
Cameron Dantzler, CB, Mississippi St.
Gabriel Davis, WR, Central Florida
Kyle Davis, WR, Florida Atlantic
Grant Delpit, S, LSU
A.J. Dillon, RB, Boston College
J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State
Jacob Eason, QB, Washington
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU
Jordan Elliott, DL, Missouri
A.J. Epenesa, edge rusher, Iowa
Darrynton Evans, RB, Appalachian State
Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia
Jonathan Garvin, DE, Miami (Fla.)
Willie Gay Jr., LB, Mississippi St.
Yetur Gross-Matos, edge rusher, Penn St.
Peter Guerriero, RB, Monmouth
Javelin Guidry, CB, Utah
K.J. Hamler, WR, Penn St.
Harrison Hand, CB, Temple
C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida
Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
Isaiah Hodgins, WR, Oregon St.
Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn
Austin Jackson, OT, USC
Trishton Jackson, WR, Syracuse
Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Dalton Keene, TE, Virginia Tech
Solomon Kindley, OG, Georgia
Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame
CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
Javon Leake, RB, Maryland
James Lynch, DT, Baylor
James Lynch, DL, Baylor
Justin Madubuike, DT, Texas A&M
Cole McDonald, QB, Hawaii
Anthony McFarland Jr., RB, Maryland
Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
Thaddeus Moss, TE, LSU
Netane Muti, OG, Fresno State
Thomas Newman, DB, Virginia-Lynchburg
Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, Missouri
Colby Parkinson, TE, Stanford
Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Michigan
Jacob Phillips, LB, LSU
James Pierre, CB, Florida Atlantic
Patrick Queen, LB, LSU
Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
Debione Renfro, CB, Texas A&M
Amik Robertson, CB, Louisiana Tech
Kenny Robinson, DB, West Virginia
Kendrick Rogers, WR, Texas A&M
Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
Cesar Ruiz, center, WR, Michigan
Darnell Salomon, WR, South Florida
Stanford Samuels III, CB Florida State
Josiah Scott, CB, Michigan St.
Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado
Arryn Siposs, P, Auburn
Geno Stone, S, Iowa
D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia
Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
Tabyus Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
Jeff Thomas, WR, Miami
Michael Turk, P, Arizona St.
Michael Warren II, RB, Cincinnati
Quez Watkins, WR, Southern Miss
Curtis Weaver, edge rusher, Boise St.
Cody White, WR, Michigan St.
Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama
Isaiah Wilson, OT, Georgia
Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Minnesota
Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
David Woodward, LB, Utah St.
Chase Young, edge rusher, Ohio State
Toren Young, RB, Iowa

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