Tag: Tanor Bortolini

Wisconsin offensive lineman has social media impressed with Reese’s Senior Bowl performance

A former Badger OL is turning some heads in Mobile, Alabama:

Former Wisconsin offensive lineman Tanor Bortolini is off to a strong start at Reese’s Senior Bowl practice.

The multi-year starter brings impressive versatility to the collegiate all-star game, and will eventually to the NFL. He started games at left guard, right guard and center in 2022 before being the team’s full-time center in 2023.

He is one of two former Badgers in attendance at the Senior Bowl this week, joining long-snapper Peter Bowden.

Related: Wisconsin football social media is not happy about Alex Grinch being named Badgers’ co-DC

Bortolini is currently projected to be a Day 2/Day 3 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Though if his performance at the Senior Bowl is any indication, that stock could be on the rise.

Here are first-hand accounts from many at the practices:

2024 NFL draft: 6 offensive players for Chargers to watch at Senior Bowl

Here are six offensive players to keep an eye on for the Chargers at the Senior Bowl.

The predominant all-star game in college football, the Reese’s Senior Bowl has long showcased top draft talent in a common setting, allowing evaluators to compare peers as they finalize their draft boards directly. Practices kick off on Tuesday, with the game to follow on Saturday.

Last season, the Chargers added Derius Davis and Max Duggan from the offensive roster in Mobile, AL.

Here are six players to watch as potential draft picks this April.

List of National team offensive linemen at 2024 Senior Bowl

List of National team offensive linemen at 2024 Senior Bowl

As we continue getting a quick look at the Senior Bowl players this year, we now check out the offensive linemen for the National team. With offensive line a major need for the Jets this offseason, this group could be heavily focused on by general manager Joe Douglas and company. A good week in Mobile for these guys will go a long way toward deciding where and when they will ultimately get drafted.

Included in this group is a name already tagged as potential option at No. 10 for the Jets, Oregon State offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga. He has a chance to really stand out this week and solidify his standing among the top offensive tackles in this class.

Coaching the National team offensive line this year are Chris Cook of the Cardinals and Jim Dray of the Bears.

A starting Wisconsin OL will not play in ReliaQuest Bowl vs LSU

A starting Wisconsin OL will not play in ReliaQuest Bowl vs LSU

Wisconsin starting offensive lineman Tanor Bortolini declared for the NFL Draft earlier this week. His plan was initially made clear when Reese’s Senior Bowl announced he had accepted an invitation, and then later confirmed with an official announcement on his X profile.

The next question was whether the veteran offensive lineman would suit up for the Badgers’ bowl game against LSU. That was answered earlier today when BadgerExtra’s Colten Bartholomew passed along the message that he will not suit up.

None of this news is much of a surprise. The versatile lineman has started 27 games over the last three years and appeared in several more, those spots coming at center, left guard, right guard and even tight end. ProFootballFocus and some NFL Draft experts see him as one of the sleeper linemen entering draft season.

What’s next for the Badgers? Former Cincinnati transfer Jake Renfro will play center for Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl where both the Badgers and LSU Tigers figure to look much different than they did during the regular season.

Wisconsin offensive lineman declares for NFL Draft

Badgers OL moves on to NFL

Just one day after accepting an invitation to the Senior Bowl in February, Badgers offensive lineman Tanor Bortolini has declared for the 2024 NFL Draft. It was a likely move after his decision to play in the Senior Bowl, but nonetheless, his decision became final Wednesday.

Bortolini spent four seasons with Wisconsin, playing both offensive guard and center in his time with the Badgers, even playing a little tight end occasionally.

His 6-foot-4 frame lends well to his chances to be successful in the NFL, plus Wisconsin has a track record of great pros coming through their program.

Bortolini joins running back Braelon Allen in deciding to declare of the upcoming NFL Draft.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyzzyj3n3jt6m7 player_id=none image=]

Badgers offensive lineman accepts Senior Bowl invitation

Badgers OL heading to Senior Bowl

The Badgers football team is gearing up to take on LSU in the Reliaquest Bowl on Jan. 1, but offensive lineman Tanor Bortolini will also be heading to the Senior Bowl.

Bortolini is more of a traditional offensive guard, but he started at center for Wisconsin in 2023 out of necessity. It’s unclear if he intends on playing in the team’s matchup with the Tigers, but the Senior Bowl will take place just one month later on Saturday, Feb. 3.

Part of him playing in the contest is the fact that he will now (likely) leave the Badgers in an attempt to go pro and be selected in the 2024 NFL Draft.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyzzyj3n3jt6m7 player_id=none image=]

Three Badgers crack Offensive All-Big Ten team

Three offensive players receiver All-Big Ten honors

The 2023 college football regular season has come to an end and the Badgers had three offensive athletes be selected to the All-Big Ten Team. Running back Braelon Allen, wide receiver Will Pauling and center Tanor Bortolini were those players.

Starting with Allen, he selected for All-Conference 2nd Team, finishing his third and final season in Madison with 984 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 181 carries while also reeling in a career-high 28 catches for 132 yards.

Pauling had an impressive first season with Wisconsin after transferring from Cincinnati ahead of the year, securing 66 receptions for 694 yards and four touchdowns. He was selected to the conferences offensive 3rd Team.

Joining Pauling on the 3rd Team was Tanor Bortolini, who operated as the team’s starting center in each of their contests this year. He made the transition from offensive guard to center in 2023 following Joe Tippmann’s departure.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyzzyj3n3jt6m7 player_id=none image=]

A Wisconsin OL could be a big sleeper entering the 2024 NFL Draft

Look out for this Wisconsin OL as NFL Draft pundits start crafting their big boards:

The title “Offensive Line-U” is often thrown around loosely whenever a program sees a few linemen get drafted. Whether Wisconsin is fifth in that list or first, the program has undeniably been one of the nation’s best at producing stellar players at the position.

The latest is center Joe Tippmann, a second-round pick of the New York Jets in the 2023 NFL Draft and the team’s projected starter this season.

Although many things changed about Wisconsin football this offseason, line play and development should continue into the future.

Sitting here in June, consensus boards are already eyeing left tackle Jack Nelson for next year’s draft process. The senior started 12 games for the team last year, finished with a PFF pass-blocking grade of 83.1 and was named among the Big Ten honorable mention recipients at the end of the year. With a strong final season in Wisconsin’s new high-flying offense, Nelson should be one of the first tackles taken off the board in April.

The name NFL Draft pundits may not yet be familiar with is projected starting left guard Tanor Bortolini.

The Senior Bowl’s Jim Nagy had a terrific analysis of his current situation and why he may rise when the season arrives:

“Bortolini, who started games at both OG spots, OC, and TE last year, is one of most versatile prospects in this class and we doubt he’ll stay a sleeper for long.”

All attention will be on the Badgers if the Phil Longo offense is as advertised. The offensive line would be at the heart of that success, especially if Braelon Allen has the year we all expect him to. With Bortolini’s versatility and ascending play, he should be a name we hear called at the NFL Draft next April.

Badgers PFF grades: Top 5 offensive players from the win over Maryland

Here’s a look at the top 5 highest graded offensive players from Wisconsin’s victory over Maryland, according to Pro Football Focus:

Madison, Wis. –  It took until early November, but the Wisconsin Badgers finally did it; they won back-to-back games for the first time this season.

In less than ideal playing conditions, interim head coach Jim Leonhard and the Wisconsin Badgers (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten) jumped out to an early lead over Maryland and never looked back, winning 23-10 at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Wisconsin out-gained Maryland in total yardage, dominated in the running game, and took care of the football en route to a beatdown of the visiting Terrapins. 

Coming out of the bye week, Bobby Engram’s offense had to get one-dimensional, registering 355 total yards (77 passing, 278 rushing) on 5.5 yards per play.

The one-two punch of Bralon Allen and Isaac Guerendo, each topped 100-plus yards rushing and found paydirt against Maryland – hard to ask for more than that on a rainy day at Camp Randall.

Following Saturday’s win, the Badgers are now 4-0 all-time against the Terrapins, including 3-0 at Camp Randall Stadium.

Here’s a look at the five highest-graded offensive players from Wisconsin’s victory over Maryland, according to Pro Football Focus.

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

Here’s a full breakdown with analysis of every position along the Badgers offensive line:

At a school like Wisconsin, the offensive line is the heart and soul of the entire program. Football games are won and lost in the trenches, dating back to the Barry Alvarez era – a strategy that hasn’t been deviated from since.

Things could look slightly different along the offensive line next season as the Badgers gear up for fall camp. After several years working with the inside linebackers, Bob Bostad has returned to his rightful place as the Badgers’ offensive line coach.

According to PFF, Wisconsin’s O-line ranked No. 3 in the country as a run-blocking unit (88.6). However, their pass-blocking ranked No. 98 (55.5) out of 130 division one programs in 2021.

Coach Bostad is a no-nonsense coach that expects perfection. The program desperately needs the offensive line play to return to the Wisconsin standard, and he’s precisely what the Badgers need to iron things out.

Wisconsin saw two significant departures this offseason in starting RT Logan Bruss and LG Josh Seltzner, both of whom are now in the NFL. Thankfully for Paul Chryst and company, they’re talent-rich along the offensive line. At the moment, Wisconsin has eight scholarship offensive linemen rated as four or five-star prospects coming out of high school.

Coach Bostad differs in philosophy from former offensive line coach Joe Rudolph. Instead of cross-training, he likes to find a specific position for his players to specialize in where they can work to master their craft.

Here’s a full breakdown with an analysis of every position along the offensive line as Coach Chryst and Bostad work to find the best starting five for week one: