Tag: Tanner Mordecai

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.

Former Wisconsin Badger one of 2024 NFL draft’s most athletic prospects

Former Wisconsin Badger one of 2024 NFL Draft’s most athletic prospects

Former Wisconsin quarterback Tanner Mordecai is one of the most athletic prospects entering the 2024 NFL draft.

The one-year starter with the Badgers did not receive an invite to the NFL combine, although did go through extensive workouts and measurements at Wisconsin’s pro day last Friday.

The result: an RAS score of 9.69 — mostly thanks to an elite 4.48-second 40-yard dash, 36.5-inch vertical jump and 9-foot-11 broad jump.

Related: How every Badger performed at the 2024 Wisconsin football pro day

Mordecai’s athletic comparisons at the position: Robert Griffin III (Baylor), Geno Smith (West Virginia), Tyrod Taylor (Virginia Tech), Kordell Stewart (Colorado) and Taysom Hill (BYU).

The NFL hopeful recorded 2,066 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions with the Badgers in 2023 despite missing several games with a hand injury. He rushed for 302 yards and four touchdowns on 90 carries.

Mordecai is projected as a late-round selection or post-draft free agent signing. His impressive numbers could see that stock rise as teams search for an athletic difference-maker at the position.

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 pushed LSU into making a big change after ReliaQuest Bowl performance

Wisconsin pushed LSU into making a big change after ReliaQuest Bowl performance

Wisconsin had its best offensive day of the season in its ReliaQuest Bowl loss to LSU earlier this week.

The Badgers totaled 31 points, 22 first downs, 506 total yards, 378 passing yards and 9.5 yards per passing attempt. In Tanner Mordecai’s final game as a Badger, it was the best he and the Phil Longo offense looked.

For Wisconsin fans, that dominance along with the stellar performances by wide receivers Will Pauling and Bryson Green as fans excited for what 2024 can hold in year two of the system.

For the LSU program which just allowed that career day, it fired its defensive coordinator Matt House.

The headline is written facetiously, as LSU’s defense was a problem all season and this move had been coming for months. The Tigers had the No. 105 defense in the nation. It in large part wasted a Heisman season from quarterback Jayden Daniels.

But in the eyes of Wisconsin fans, let’s agree the Badgers were the reason LSU fired its defensive coordinator.

Wisconsin QB Tanner Mordecai had one of the nation’s best bowl performances

Wisconsin QB Tanner Mordecai had one of the nation’s best bowl performances

Wisconsin quarterback Tanner Mordecai closed his Badger career on a high note in the ReliaQuest Bowl against LSU. He completed 27/40 passes for 378 yards and three touchdowns, becoming the Badgers’ first 300-yard passer since Jack Coan in 2019.

Despite the final drive, the senior’s performance deserved to be complemented with a win. It was by far the best game of his Wisconsin career, and on the short list of his best games ever.

ProFootballFocus recently released its top-graded offensive bowl game performances and Mordecai fell at No. 9 with a grade of 85.7.

He was only surpassed by the following performances:

  • Washington QB Michael Penix Jr: 29/38, 430 yards, two touchdowns
  • Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart: 25/40, 379 yards, three touchdowns, eight carries, 14 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown
  • Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins: nine receptions, 214 yards, one touchdown
  • USC QB Miller Moss: 23/33, 372 yards, six touchdowns, one interception
  • Oregon QB Bo Nix: 28/35, 363 yards, five touchdowns
  • Oklahoma State QB Alan Bowman: 34/49, 402 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions
  • Oregon WR Tez Johnson: 11 receptions, 172 yards, one touchdown
  • Notre Dame WR Jordan Faison: five receptions, 115 yards, one touchdown

Despite Wisconsin’s loss to LSU, Tanner Mordecai went out with his best performance of the season

The Badger quarterback saved his best for last

Tanner Mordecai saved his best performance as a Badger for last and deserved to go out with a win that Wisconsin did not get. LSU outlasted the Badgers for a 35-31 win in the ReliaQuest Bowl, but the Air Raid offense finally showed up for Wisconsin.

Mordecai finished 27-40 for 378 passing yards and a trio of touchdowns on the day, and had a number of elite throws down the field to Will Pauling and Bryson Green.

Mordecai made Badger history books in multiple categories on Monday, as he had the fifth-most passing yards in a game in Wisconsin history, the second-most passing yards in a bowl game in Badger history, and the most passing touchdowns he had as a Badger all year. Head coach Luke Fickell was emotional when talking about his senior leader postgame:

Wisconsin football social media reacts to a 35-31 loss to LSU in ReliaQuest Bowl

Wisconsin football social media reacts to a 35-31 loss to LSU in ReliaQuest Bowl

Despite the Air Raid offense showing up in Florida, Wisconsin fell after a late LSU surge to drop the ReliaQuest Bowl 35-31.

Tanner Mordecai had brilliant moments in his final collegiate game, finishing the day with 378 yards and a trio of touchdowns, two of which were thrown to slot receiver Will Pauling.

Wisconsin led 28-14 in the third quarter after a Jackson Acker 33-yard scamper for a touchdown, but LSU would put together three touchdown drives over the final quarter and a half to steal one late in Florida. Here is how Wisconsin football social media reacted to the loss that ended the[anyclip-media thumbnail=”undefined” playlistId=”undefined” content=”dW5kZWZpbmVk”][/anyclip-media] season:

Wisconsin WR Will Pauling entered record books with bowl performance vs LSU

Wisconsin WR Will Pauling entered record books with bowl performance vs LSU

Wisconsin had its most impressive offensive day of the season earlier today in its 35-31 ReliaQuest Bowl loss to No. 13 LSU. The Badgers’ 31 points came along with 506 total yards, Tanner Mordecai’s 378 passing yards and memorable days from top wide receivers Will Pauling and Bryson Green.

Green, first, caught seven passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. Pauling, on the other hand, had eight catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns. According to Dave Heller, it was the Badgers’ second bowl game with two 100-yard receivers, along with the 2012 Rose Bowl.

Pauling’s incredible day capped off an impressive first season at Wisconsin. His day brought his year-long total to 74 catches, 837 yards and six touchdowns. That eight-catch day will go down as the third-most in Badgers bowl game history, while his 74 total receptions is one catch short of tying Lee Evans (2001) and Travis Beckum (2007) for the third-most receptions in a single year in program history.

Lot of numbers and different contexts to share from today’s game. The general message: Will Pauling’s first year in Madison greatly exceeded expectations, and he seems to be in store for a gigantic 2024 campaign.

Tanner Mordecai joins former Wisconsin QB Jack Coan with passing mark set against LSU

Tanner Mordecai joins former Wisconsin QB Jack Coan with passing mark set against LSU

Wisconsin quarterback Tanner Mordecai is having a day against LSU. At the time of writing this, the Badgers lead the No. 13-ranked Tigers 31-28 entering the fourth quarter. Mordecai is up to 303 passing yards and three touchdowns on the day, having undoubtedly his best day as a Wisconsin Badger.

Believe it or not, Mordecai today became the first Wisconsin passer with 300+ passing yards since September 7, 2019, when Jack Coan threw for 363 yards against Central Michigan.

There are several more instances of this happening between 2010 and 2019 leading into Coan as a starter, including Joel Stave setting the mark three times and Russell Wilson twice. But from Coan to Mordecai, which included 34 games played by Graham Mertz, the Badgers never had a 300+ yard passer.

Mordecai is ending his short Wisconsin career on a high note today as the program moves into 2024 and welcomes in former Miami QB Tyler Van Dyke as its new signal-caller. Careers aren’t made in bowl games, but Mordecai’s performance today should be applauded for years to come.

WATCH: Wisconsin WR Will Pauling is going off against LSU

WATCH: Wisconsin WR Will Pauling is going off against LSU

As this article is being written, the Wisconsin Badgers currently hold a 28-21 lead over the No. 13 LSU Tigers in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

Yes, many top LSU players including Heisman Trophy winner QB Jayden Daniels opted out of the game. But the Badgers were double-digit underdogs entering the contest, yet might be playing their best game of the season.

One big piece of that is outgoing QB Tanner Mordecai. He is 18/27 for 259 yards and three touchdowns midway through the third quarter. Another bright spot and someone who will be a huge piece of the team next year: wide receiver Will Pauling.

Pauling went off in the first half, catching five passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns.

His burst and explosion made it look like Wisconsin was the SEC power with the nation’s top wide receivers, instead of LSU on the opposing sideline.

 

Wisconsin and LSU have gone back and forth offensively day, making for an entertaining product. For the Badgers going forward, it’s great news big contributors like Pauling look primed for a huge 2024.

Wisconsin vs. Nebraska: Prediction, point spread, odds, best bet

Can Wisconsin snap their three-game skid?

The Badgers (5-5) play the Nebraska (5-5) at home on Saturday and if you’re looking to do some last-minute betting research, you’re in luck! We’ll give you the latest point spread, money line odds and over/under number, as well as the information you’ll need to make the smartest bet.

The game starts at 6:30PM and can be seen on NBC Sports.

Wisconsin is coming off of a 24-10 loss to Northwestern. In that game, the Badgers quarterback Tanner Mordecai made his return to the field after missing three games with a hand injury, passing for 255 yards.

Nebraska lost to Maryland last weekend, falling to the Terrapins 13-10 at home. The Cornhuskers struggled to get their offense going, as their quarterback Jeff Sims compiled only 62 passing yards while throwing two interceptions.

Wisconsin will look to beat Nebraska for a 10th straight time and this is how BetMGM sees the game going:

  • Point spread: Wisconsin -7
  • Money line: Wisconsin -275 / Nebraska +225
  • Over-under: 37

It’s unclear exactly what injuries each team are dealing with but here’s the most recent info:

Wisconsin:

  • Braelon Allen, RB: questionable (leg)
  • Chimere Dike, WR: questionable (leg)
  • Grady O’Neill, WR: questionable (undisclosed)
  • Cam Large, TE: questionable (undisclosed)
  • Chris Brooks Jr., WR: out indefinitely (foot)
  • Tommy McIntosh, WR: out indefinitely (undisclosed)
  • Isaiah Mullens, DE: out indefinitely (knee)
  • Max Lofy, CB: out indefinitely (undisclosed)
  • Aaron Witt, LB: out indefinitely (leg)
  • Trech Kekahuna, WR: out indefinitely (undisclosed)
  • Cam Fane, WR: out indefinitely (undisclosed)
  • Jack Pugh, TE: out indefinitely (personal)
  • Chez Mellusi, RB: out for season (leg)
  • Jackson Trudgeon, S: out for season (undisclosed)
  • Angel Toombs, TE: out for season (undisclosed)

Nebraska:

  • C. Purdy, QB: Ques Sat – Undisclosed
  • J. Fleeks, WR: Ques Sat – Undisclosed
  • Q. Newsome, DB: Ques Sat – Undisclosed
  • H. Haarberg, QB: Ques Sat – Ankle
  • T. Corcoran, OL: out for season – Undisclosed
  • E. Piper, OL: out for season – Undisclosed
  • M. Washington, WR: out for season – Knee
  • D. Singleton, DB: Out indefinitely – Knee
  • A. Gilbert, TE: Out indefinitely – Eligibility
  • D. Bootle II, DB: out for season – Shoulder
  • G. Ervin Jr., RB: out for season – Hip
  • R. Johnson, RB: out for season – Shoulder
  • I. Garcia-Castaneda, WR: out for season – Knee
  • M. Noonan, LB: out for season – Knee
  • B. Tagaloa, DL: out for season – Knee

Wisconsin has their backs against the wall and their only advantage is the fact that they’re at home Saturday. Neither team can get out of their own way and both are in danger of failing to qualify for a bowl game. The Badgers need it more, so have the slightest edge.

Prediction: 20-14 Wisconsin wins

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.