Tag: Tanor Bortolini

Tanor Bortolini’s versatility proved invaluable for the Badgers

Red-shirt freshman Tanor Bortolini showed impressive versatility along the offensive line this past season. Should be well positioned to push for a starting spot in 2022.

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Tanor Bortolini out of Kewaunee (Wisc.) wasn’t the most highly regarded offensive lineman recruit in the 2019 recruiting class. In fact, he was Wisconsin’s lowest rated offensive lineman that year per 247. But that didn’t stop the 954th ranked player in the nation from getting to work and proving people wrong.

Despite the lack of fanfare, the 6-foot-4 306lb red-shirt freshman quickly rose up the program’s depth chart, and found his way onto the field in year two.

Due to injury, Bortolini started three games for the Badgers this season at right tackle, and also started one game at left guard against Rutgers.

The former Kewaunee high school star has proven to be one of Wisconsin’s most important reserves on the offensive line this season due to his impressive versatility.

During the season, Bortolini appeared in nine games, playing 329 total snaps. The Wisconsin native saw time at left guard (58 snaps), right guard (16 snaps), and right tackle (229 snaps). He even provided 26 snaps as the sixth lineman/inline tight end in games against Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota.

Per PFF, the red-shirt freshman finished the season as the Badgers top graded offensive lineman (87.0). Bortolini would also finish the season with the highest run blocking grade (89.5) in 240 snaps as a run blocker. The young Badgers lineman allowed just 5 pressures and one sack this season.

Borolini’s versatility was on full display this season, filling in wherever he was needed and playing at an extremely high level. The experience gained from cross-training at multiple positions should have Bortolini well positioned to push for a starting spot next season.

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It looks like Wisconsin will have a new starter at left guard today at Rutgers

It looks like Wisconsin will have a new starter at left guard today at Rutgers

Wisconsin started Josh Seltzner at left guard for the first seven games of the season. Then Michael Furtney slotted in for the team’s win last week against Iowa.

Today at Rutgers, it looks like there will be a third starter at left guard in as many weeks. Multiple reports from the game are saying redshirt freshman Tanor Bortolini is taking the first-team reps at left guard during warmups.

Related: There is a scenario where four teams tie at the top of the Big Ten West

Bortolini played in two games during his redshirt season last year including one start at center against Iowa.

He and the rest of the Wisconsin offensive line will look to continue the team’s momentum in the run game against a Rutgers defense that has proven to be solid against the rush.

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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Breaking Down Wisconsin’s 2020 Signing Class

Taking a closer look at how Wisconsin’s 2020 recruiting class breaks down by position and by state.

MADISON, Wis. – After signing 19 scholarship players and two walk-ons during the early signing period in December the Badgers saw their scholarship class officially grow to 20 players while adding four more preferred walk-ons to the program during national signing day on Wednesday. The Badgers class ranks 25th by 247 Sports, 26th by ESPN, and 27th nationally by Rivals.

Here’s an overview of the class. Click the player’s name for a more in-depth breakdowns on that specific player.

Scholarship Commits by State

Arizona (1): Malik Reed

Colorado (1): Max Lofy

Hawaii (1): Nick Herbig

Illinois (1): Dylan Barrett

Massachusetts (1): Cam Large

Michigan (1): Jordan Turner

Minnesota (2): Kaden Johnson, Aaron Witt

New Jersey (1): Jalen Berger

North Carolina (1): Devin Chandler

Ohio (1): James Thompson

Pennsylvania (1): Preston Zachman

Tennessee (1): Isaac Smith

Wisconsin (7): Ben Barten, Tanor Bortolini, Cole Dakovich, Chimere Dike, Cade McDonald, Jack Nelson, Trey Wedig

Commits By Projected Position

QB: None

RB: Jalen Berger

WR: Devin Chandler, Chimere Dike, Isaac Smith

TE: Cole Dakovich, Cam Large

OL: Dylan Barrett, Ben Barten, Tanor Bortolini, Jack Nelson, Trey Wedig

DL: Cade McDonald, James Thompson Jr.

ILB: Malik Reed, Jordan Turner, Preston Zachman

OLB: Nick Herbig, Kaden Johnson, Aaron Witt

DB: Max Lofy

Specialists: None

UW walk-ons: Inside Linebacker Ross Gengler, Offensive Lineman Kerry Kodanko, Long Snapper Duncan McKinley, Outside Linebacker Riley Nowakowski, Offensive Lineman Sean Timmis, Kicker Jack Van Dyke

Breaking Down Wisconsin’s 2020 Signing Class

Taking a closer look at how the 2020 recruiting class came together and where each player projects to play.

MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin football officially announced 19 scholarship players and two preferred walk-ons in its 2020 signing class during the early signing period on Wednesday. The Badgers class ranks 26th nationally by both ESPN and 247 Sports and 32nd by Rivals.

Here’s an overview of the class. Click the player’s name for a more in-depth breakdowns on that specific player.

Scholarship Commits by State

Arizona (1): Malik Reed

Colorado (1): Max Lofy

Hawaii (1): Nick Herbig

Illinois (1): Dylan Barrett

Massachusetts (1): Cam Large

Michigan (1): Jordan Turner

Minnesota (2): Kaden Johnson, Aaron Witt

North Carolina (1): Devin Chandler

Ohio (1): James Thompson Jr.

Pennsylvania (1): Preston Zachman

Tennessee (1): Isaac Smith

Wisconsin (7): Ben Barten, Tanor Bortolini, Cole Dakovich, Chimere Dike, Cade McDonald, Jack Nelson, Trey Wedig

Commits By Projected Position

QB: None

RB: None

WR: Devin Chandler, Chimere Dike, Isaac Smith

TE: Cole Dakovich, Cam Large

OL: Dylan Barrett, Ben Barten, Tanor Bortolini, Jack Nelson, Trey Wedig

DL: Cade McDonald, James Thompson Jr.

ILB: Malik Reed, Jordan Turner, Preston Zachman

OLB: Nick Herbig, Kaden Johnson, Aaron Witt

DB: Max Lofy

Specialists: None

UW walk-ons: Long Snapper Duncan McKinley, Offensive Lineman Sean Timmis

Wisconsin Signing Class Preview – Tanor Bortolini

Wisconsin received Tanor Bortolini’s national letter of intent as part of the early signing period on Wednesday.

With the early signing period for high school football players beginning on December 18, Badgers Insider takes a closer look at the recruits that signed with the Wisconsin football program.

In this edition, we examine Kewaunee (WI) High School offensive lineman Tanor Bortolini.

Note: All notes and stats provided by uwbadgers.com

Bortolini chose Wisconsin over other Offers from: Air Force, Central Michigan, Eastern Kentucky, Iowa, Miami (Fla.), Northern Illinois, Syracuse, Temple, and Western Michigan

Bortolini High School Accolades: Three–star recruit by 247 Sports and ESPN…First–team all–state on offense and honorable mention all–state on defense by Wisconsin Football Coaches Association as a senior in 2019…Conference Defensive Player of the Year as as senior in 2019…Two–time Packerland Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year and Defensive Lineman of the Year

Bortolini’s Impact as a Badger: Bortolini at 6’5″ and 250 pounds projects to the inside for Wisconsin as he could play either guard or center for the Badgers. As Bortolini has the chance to be the next under-recruited offensive lineman turned into an All-Big Ten player.

Bortolini is a good athlete for his size and his ability to potentially play multiple positions will only allow him to get on the field quickly for the Badgers.

It isn’t easy for offensive lineman to know each spot on the offensive line and their respective responsibilities. But Bortolini also held offers from a handful of Ivy League schools too, which shows that he has a high IQ and that he’s capable of learning multiple positions along the offensive line.

Bortolini is coming from a smaller conference where he was able to consistently win his battle in the trenches due to his strength and being more talented. Due to the competition he was facing on a weekly basis there will be a transition for him to get use to the competition that he’s about to face once he arrives in Madison.

Offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Joe Rudolph will be able to coach him up and give him the tools he needs in order to have success along the offensive line. Making it important that Bortolini uses his redshirt year to his advantage as he’ll need to continue to gain strength in addition to polishing his technique.

If he can maximize his redshirt year he could find himself as a starter early on in his career. But that will begin with himself continuing to work on his footwork in addition to polishing his technique so he can consistently hold at the point of attack during Big Ten play.