Tag: Tanner Mordecai

Former Wisconsin quarterback signs to San Francisco 49ers practice squad

Former Wisconsin quarterback signs to San Francisco 49ers practice squad

Former Wisconsin quarterback Tanner Mordecai was signed to the San Francisco 49ers practice squad on Wednesday.

This move comes after the 49ers released Mordecai during an extensive round of roster cuts. The former Badger was unable to supplant Brandon Allen as the team’s third-string QB on the active roster, but he made a strong enough impression this offseason to remain with the organization.

Related: Every former Wisconsin Badger to make an NFL 53-man roster entering 2024 regular season

Mordecai will start on the practice squad after initially joining the 49ers as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL draft.

He performed well in limited preseason action, throwing for 103 yards on 6 of 10 passing. That strong debut, paired with his top-tier athletic profile, should make him a priority for the 49ers moving forward. While he may not be NFL-ready immediately, the former Badger has the tools to help the organization down the road.

Mordecai is looking to find a stable NFL home after playing just one year for the Badgers (2023). He finished the year with 65% completion, 2,066 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions.

Those numbers came in an abbreviated season due to a broken hand suffered in Wisconsin’s Week 6 loss to Iowa. Mordecai’s 27 of 40 passing, 378-yard, three-touchdown performance in the team’s ReliaQuest Bowl loss to LSU better represents his ceiling, and what Badgers fans expected to see all season.

Mordecai is the third former Badger to sign with a team after going undrafted in April. Inside linebacker Maema Njongmeta made the Cincinnati Bengals’ 53-man roster, and tight end Hayden Rucci signed to the Miami Dolphins practice squad.

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

49ers adding rookie QB to practice squad after good preseason showing

The former Wisconsin passer is set to join the 49ers practice squad.

Behind franchise passer Brock Purdy, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback depth chart includes Joshua Dobbs and Brandon Allen. On Tuesday, the 49ers waived the final member of the quarterback room, rookie Tanner Mordecai.

However, after a solid preseason campaign, Mordecai is one of the first pieces the 49ers are bringing back to Santa Clara to build their practice squad. According to Matt Barrows of The Athletic, the 49ers are planning to add Mordecai to the practice squad.

Via @mattbarrows on Twitter:

In the preseason finale against the Raiders, Mordecai finished with 59 yards on 2-of-4 passing. In his other preseason appearance against the Saints, Mordecai threw for 36 yards on 7-of-10 passing in the 49ers’ lone preseason win.

Mordecai played six seasons of college football, with three coming at Oklahoma and two at SMU. Mordecai played his final season of college football in the Big 10 with Wisconsin. Mordecai threw for 2066 yards and nine touchdowns in 10 games with the Badgers last season.

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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San Francisco 49ers release former Wisconsin quarterback

San Francisco 49ers release former Wisconsin quarterback

The San Francisco 49ers released former Wisconsin quarterback Tanner Mordecai on Tuesday. The move comes as the 49ers trimmed their roster to the requisite 53 players by Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline.

Mordecai signed with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent after the 2024 NFL draft. He performed well in limited action this preseason, completing six of 10 passes for 103 yards.

Related: Every former Wisconsin Badger to make an NFL 53-man roster entering 2024 regular season

His strong debut and intriguing athletic profile were not enough to crack the 49ers top quarterback trio of starter Brock Purdy, backup Josh Dobbs and third-string Brandon Allen.

The former Badger, Oklahoma Sooner and SMU Mustang is an attractive option for the practice squad, however. He would be a good emergency quarterback with the long-term upside to make the active roster after gaining more NFL experience.

Mordecai played one year for the Badgers (2023). He performed well during his time on the field, though he missed a large chunk of the season after suffering a broken hand in the team’s loss to Iowa. His final stats included 65% completion rate, 2,066 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions.

The six-year collegiate veteran was one of the several members of the offense negatively affected by the growing pains experienced in Year 1 of Phil Longo’s air raid system at Wisconsin. His 378-yard, three-touchdown performance in Wisconsin’s ReliaQuest Bowl loss to LSU was more of what was expected entering the season.

Mordecai appears to have made a strong impression on the 49ers staff after signing this offseason. He’ll be a popular candidate to make the active roster entering 2025 and beyond.

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

NFL Watch: wild ending to Raiders vs 49ers preseason finale

You’re going to want to watch how the Raiders and 49ers preseason game ended!

Here at Seahawks Wire, we obviously focus primarily on the Seattle Seahawks. It’s sort of our thing! But every so often, another story or major moment from around the NFL catches our eye that we feel we need to write about. Usually it is a big game or major news, but sometimes it can just be a fun moment.

Such is the case for how the preseason finale between the Las Vegas Raiders and San Francisco 49ers ended. The biggest criticism of the preseason is always “oh, the games don’t matter.” Well, don’t tell the players that!

The two former Bay Area rivals took the field in Sin City to close out their finale exhibition game on Saturday night. After four quarters, the game was tied at 24-24. In the preseason, there is no overtime so a game that ends regulation with a tie score results in, well, a tie.

With seconds remaining, 49ers quarterback Tanner Mordecai hurled up a Hail Mary, and what happened next was, as the NFL’s twitter account put it… pure chaos.

For me, anytime I see more than one lateral work, my mind immediately goes to two places:

  • The Saints very nearly tying the Jaguars in Week 16 of the 2003 season, the River City Relay, where they eventually missed the PAT to send the game into overtime.
  • The iconic 1982 showdown between Stanford and Cal where the band was on the field.

Sometimes, football is just fun.

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Former Wisconsin QB excels in first NFL preseason action

Former Wisconsin and current San Francisco 49ers quarterback Tanner Mordecai performed well in his NFL debut on Sunday.

Former Wisconsin Badgers and current San Francisco 49ers quarterback Tanner Mordecai performed well in his NFL debut on Sunday.

The Badgers’ 2023 starter completed four of six pass attempts for 44 yards in limited action in the 49ers’ 16-10 preseason Week 2 win over the New Orleans Saints.

Related: Every former Wisconsin Badger currently on an NFL roster entering 2024 training camp

Mordecai is No. 4 on the 49ers’ depth chart behind starter Brock Purdy, backup Joshua Dobbs and third-string Brandon Allen. Purdy played the team’s first three series of Sunday’s game, giving way to Dobbs (21 pass attempts), Allen (10 attempts) and finally Mordecai.

“I thought he did a good job,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said of Mordecai after the game. “He got a couple chances with some throws. He ran the huddle very well. He got us in and out. I think he took us on that drive to get a field goal there at the end. Wish he’d got a little bit more, but did good with what we gave him.”

The 49ers kicked a field goal at the end of Mordecai’s one drive. He led the team to a first-and-10 at the Saints’ 20-yard line, but only gained two yards from that point.

The former Badger received such limited action due to his place on the team’s depth chart. He was only signed as an undrafted free agent after the 2024 NFL draft.

Mordecai is seeking an NFL job after spending the final season of his six-year college career at Wisconsin. He began his career at Oklahoma before transferring to SMU.

The veteran threw for 2,066 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions with the Badgers in 2023. He missed a chunk of the season with a broken hand suffered in an October loss to Iowa.

Wisconsin has one former quarterback playing in the NFL: program legend Russell Wilson. Mordecai looks to add to that number as the 2024 season progresses. He is a likely candidate to begin on the 49ers practice squad until other opportunities present themselves.

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

Former Wisconsin starting quarterback selected in 2024 UFL college draft

Former Wisconsin starting quarterback selected in 2024 UFL College Draft

Former Wisconsin quarterback Tanner Mordecai was selected by the D.C. Defenders in the ninth round of the 2024 UFL college draft on Wednesday.

After going undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft, Mordecai signed with the San Francisco 49ers as a free agent on April 27. Due to his status as an undrafted prospect, the Waco, Texas native was eligible for this year’s UFL draft.

Mordecai is currently listed as San Francisco’s fourth-string quarterback behind Brock Purdy, Joshua Dobbs and Brandon Allen. Given the NFL’s 53-man roster limitations, the UFL could serve as another professional outlet for the former Badger starter.

The Defenders went 4-6 in the UFL last season and were led by 2023 XFL Player of the Year Jordan Ta’amu.

During his one-year tenure in Madison, Mordecai started 10 games and completed 65.0% of his throws for 2,066 yards, nine touchdowns and just four interceptions. UW went 6-4 with him under center.

Prior to his pitstop at Wisconsin, Moredcai played two seasons at SMU and three at Oklahoma. He started 24 straight games for the Mustangs and departed SMU first in program history in passing TDs (72) and third in passing yards (7,152).

He now has multiple opportunities to begin his professional football career.

LOOK: Former Wisconsin Badgers QB at San Francisco 49ers minicamp

Former Badgers QB is battling to make the 49ers roster:

Former Wisconsin quarterback Tanner Mordecai began his NFL career last week at San Francisco 49ers rookie minicamp.

Mordecai signed with the defending NFC champions as an undrafted free agent after not hearing his name called during the 2024 NFL draft.

Related: Post-spring Big Ten football 2024 power rankings, starting quarterback rankings

The former Wisconsin, Oklahoma and SMU signal-caller spent one year with the Badgers. That year included 10 games played, a 65% completion rate, 2,066 passing yards, 6.6 yards per attempt, 9 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.

His six-year college career finished with 34 starts, 9,857 passing yards, 85 touchdowns, 27 interceptions, 606 rushing yards and 8 rushing touchdowns.

Mordecai enters the NFL as a wild card. He was one of the NFL draft’s most athletic prospects, receiving position comparisons to Robert Griffin III (Baylor), Geno Smith (West Virginia), Tyrod Taylor (Virginia Tech), Kordell Stewart (Colorado) and Taysom Hill (BYU).

But he signs with a 49ers team that returns Brock Purdy at starter and signed Josh Dobbs this offseason to be the backup. The former Badger could push to make the roster, but he might have a hard time jumping up the depth chart.

Mordecai had a chance to showcase his skills before the entire team is together this summer at preseason training camp. Here are some photos from his debut:

Wisconsin football in exclusive company since start of College Football Playoff era

Wisconsin football in exclusive company since 2014

The Wisconsin Badgers football team will conclude their spring practice schedule Thursday ahead of their 2024 campaign.

Luke Fickell and his staff will look to extend Wisconsin’s incredible streak of having a winning record in every season since 2001. The program is one of only 10 in the sport to boast that since the College Football Playoff began in 2014. The Badgers’ streak just happens to also go back another 13 years to the start of the century.

Fickell’s squad is coming off of a 7-6 season in 2023, which concluded with a 35-31 loss to LSU in the ReliaQuest Bowl in January. It was an up-and-down season for the Badgers, struggling to find consistency on both sides of the ball.

With offensive coordinator Phil Longo’s air raid offense, Wisconsin never really found its groove, something they’ll look to do with a new quarterback at the helm in 2024. With Tanner Mordecai moving on to the NFL, it will either be graduate transfer Tyler Van Dyke (Miami-FL) or redshirt sophomore Braedyn Locke operating as the team’s starting signal-caller.

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Other programs to have a winning record every year since 2014 include Ohio State and Iowa from within the Big Ten as well as juggernauts like Alabama, Georgia and Clemson.

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Former Wisconsin Badgers QB signs with San Francisco 49ers as undrafted free agent

Wisconsin’s 2023 starter has an NFL home:

Former Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Tanner Mordecai signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent after the 2024 NFL draft concluded on Saturday.

The former Badger, Oklahoma Sooner and SMU Mustang entered the draft after a six-year college career that consisted of 34 starts, 9,857 passing yards, 85 touchdowns, 27 interceptions, 606 rushing yards and 8 rushing touchdowns.

Related: Which Wisconsin Badgers will be selected in the 2025 NFL draft?

He started at Wisconsin in the 2023 season after transferring in for Luke Fickell and Phil Longo’s first year at the helm.

The quarterback joins a 49ers team that lost the Super Bowl in 2023. The organization has been the class of the NFC dating to 2019, but it doesn’t have a Super Bowl title to show for it.

The 49ers’ quarterback, Brock Purdy, was the last pick in the 2022 NFL draft. While Mordecai will need to battle to make the team, the organization has experience with unheralded QBs earning a big role. Mordecai will primarily compete with Josh Dobbs and Brandon Allen for a roster spot behind Purdy.

Mordecai is one of several former Badgers to sign after the conclusion of the 2024 NFL draft. Only three were selected during the event.

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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Star safety is Wisconsin’s highest-graded returning player

Who is Wisconsin’s best player entering 2024?

Wisconsin safety Hunter Wohler is the Badgers’ highest-graded returning player per PFF College’s latest post on X.

With the departures of running back Braelon Allen and quarterback Tanner Mordecai, Wohler is slated to lead the Badgers in his fourth season representing the Scarlet and Red. 

Wohler, a rising senior, spearheaded UW’s secondary a season ago. The Muskego native led all Big Ten defensive backs with 120 total tackles and was voted First-Team All-Big Ten by the Associated Press. 

His 74 solo tackles also ranked first among defensive backs across NCAA Division I college football, and he became the first Big Ten DB to post 110+ tackles, a sack and multiple INTs in the same season since 2010.

As one of the most intense athletes in Wisconsin’s defensive unit, Wohler will look to showcase his prowess against an expanded Big Ten conference next season. With games against Alabama, USC, Penn State and Oregon littered throughout UW’s schedule, the Badgers’ defensive anchor will look to do just that.