Tag: Tight Ends

BREAKING: Wisconsin starting tight end enters transfer portal

BREAKING: Wisconsin starting tight end to enter transfer portal

Wisconsin Badgers starting tight end Riley Nowakowski announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on Monday.

Wisconsin’s two-deep depth chart continues to dwindle during the winter transfer portal window. The veteran pass-catcher joins quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, defensive lineman Curt Neal, defensive lineman James Thompson Jr. and wide receiver Trech Kekahuna as prominent members of the team’s two-deep to enter.

“I want to thank coach (Paul) Chryst and coach (Chris) Haering for giving me the opportunity to live out my childhood dream of being a Badger,” Nowakowski wrote on X. “I would also like to thank coach (Luke) Fickell and coach (Nate) Letton for helping me continue to grow on and off the field.

“I could not be more appreciative of this program and wish nothing but the best for Badger nation. I have put a lot of time into this decision and it has not been easy. With that being said, I will be entering the transfer portal with one year of eligibility remaining.”

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Nowakowski arrived in Madison as one of Paul Chryst’s class of 2020 acquisitions after pocketing the John Anderson Award for the top senior linebacker in Wisconsin.

Nowakowski played five seasons in Madison and logged his two most productive seasons in his final two campaigns. From 2023-24, he snared all 18 of his receptions for 131 total yards and one touchdown as one of the program’s primary starters at the position.

The Milwaukee native will search for more touches elsewhere in his sixth year of collegiate eligibility. While he may not have torched opposing defenses with enlarged statistical outputs, he was synonymous with Wisconsin football during his tenure.

Rising junior Tucker Ashcraft, who has reeled in 20 catches for 168 yards and two scores in his two seasons for Wisconsin, will likely assume starting tight end duties for the Badgers.

This could also be a position of need as Wisconsin continues its transfer portal recruiting pursuits.

For more on UW’s departing talent, bookmark our 2024 transfer portal tracker.

Saints have begun using their tight ends again under Darren Rizzi

The Saints tight ends have stepped up after injuries decimated the wide receiver corps. It’s a positive trend from Darren Rizzi’s time as interim head coach:

The promotion of Darren Rizzi to interim head coach has had its ups and downs, but ultimately the New Orleans Saints are 3-1 and the team has been able to close out most of their games. And that’s happened despite some real adversity challenging them.

With the injury to Chris Olave and previous injuries to Bub Means and Rashid Shaheed, the offense has had to find a variety of ways to succeed in the passing game, and in the last four games, that has meant heavy involvement of the tight ends in the receiving game. Juwan Johnson, Foster Moreau, and even Dallin Holker have each stepped into larger roles offensively.

Since Rizzi has taken over, here are the receiving stat lines for the tight ends in each game (including Taysom Hill):

  • Vs. Atlanta Falcons: 4 receptions on 7 targets for 58 yards
  • Vs. Cleveland Browns: 14 receptions on 17 targets for 130 yards and 1 touchdown
  • Vs. Los Angeles Rams: 12 receptions on 18 targets for 79 yards
  • At New York Giants: 7 receptions on 8 targets for 100 yards and 1 touchdown

The average over this span is approximately 9 receptions on 12 targets for 92 receiving yards and a touchdown every other game. In the last three of those games, two of the top three Saints receivers in yards have been tight ends as well, which was most certainly not the case pre-Rizzi promotion and Olave injury. We will see how things shake out and if this remains the case long-term, but for now they have been the focal point of the receiving game in recent matchups.

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Wisconsin high school product, Badgers’ top class of 2022 target to enter transfer portal

Wisconsin high school product, Badgers’ top class of 2022 target to enter transfer portal

Former Wisconsin high school star and the Badgers’ top class of 2022 tight end target Jerry Cross will enter the transfer portal, per Rivals’ Adam Friedman.

Cross attended Rufus King High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, before committing to Penn State in July 2020. He chose the Nittany Lions over the Badgers, who at that time were fresh off a stellar run from 2015-19 under head coach Paul Chryst.

As a prospect, Cross was considered the No. 15 tight end and No. 5 recruit in Wisconsin for the class of 2022, per 247Sports. In three years at Rufus King, Cross logged 49 catches for 1,300 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns as a pass-catcher. He was considered a consensus four-star recruit by every major recruiting outlet.

His tenure at Penn State did not reflect his high school career. Cross redshirted his freshman season and tallied just seven total games from 2023-24. He did not record an offensive statistic in those appearances.

Outside of Wisconsin, Cross’ high school offer sheet included Iowa State, Michigan State, Michigan, Purdue, Arizona State, Iowa and Northern Illinois.

UW’s current tight end room is headlined by sophomore Tucker Ashcraft. With redshirt senior Riley Nowakowski slated to say goodbye to Luke Fickell’s program, the Badgers are in need of some depth at the position.

Given his hometown ties to Milwaukee and former top recruiting billing, Cross could fill that void.

Former Wisconsin tight end returns from injury, leads team in receiving yards

Former Wisconsin tight end returns from injury, leads team in receiving yards

Former Wisconsin tight end Jake Ferguson was everywhere during the Dallas Cowboys’ 28-25 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

After missing Dallas’ previous game against the New Orleans Saints with a left leg injury, Ferguson returned to the turf for his team’s second straight home game. This time, it was against the dynamic QB Lamar Jackson, bruising running back Derrick Henry and steady head coach John Harbaugh.

Ferguson reeled in six of his 11 targets during the game for 95 receiving yards, by far the most of any Cowboys pass-catcher. To put that into context, superstar wide receiver CeeDee Lamb finished with four catches for 67 receiving yards.

Whenever the 6-foot-5 tight end is available, franchise quarterback Dak Prescott simply plays better. Prescott finished with 379 yards and two touchdowns on the day and primarily utilized Ferguson as a downfield threat throughout the contest.

The 2023 Pro Bowl selection suffered a left leg injury with just over six minutes to play in the third quarter of Dallas’ Week 1 game against the Cleveland Browns. Fortunately, he avoided any serious injury.

If he remains healthy, Ferguson will continue to serve as one of Prescott’s most targeted weapons in 2024. The talented tight end is fresh off a 71-catch, 761-yard and five-touchdown season in 2023.

Ferguson pocketed 145 total receptions, 1,618 receiving yards (an average of 404.5 per season) and 13 touchdowns as a Badger from 2018-21.

Former Wisconsin tight end dodges severe injury in Week 1 win over Browns

Former Wisconsin tight end dodges injury bullet in Week 1 win over Browns

Former Wisconsin tight end Jake Ferguson appears to have avoided a serious injury in the Dallas Cowboys’ Week 1 victory over the Cleveland Browns.

Ferguson, a Pro Bowl selection in 2023, suffered a left leg injury with just over six minutes to play in the third quarter after attempting to hurdle Browns’ linebacker Jordan Hicks.

He landed awkwardly and immediately grabbed for his left knee area before being assisted off the field and onto the sidelines.

Dallas would ultimately secure the 33-17 victory over Cleveland in Ohio, but Ferguson was forced to head to the locker room before receiving an evaluation on the leg.

Fortunately, the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Ferguson avoided an ACL tear based on initial tests. X-Rays were negative, and the former Badger will undergo an MRI on Monday.

The talented tight end is fresh off a productive 2023 campaign with the Cowboys, a season in which he logged 71 catches, 761 yards and 5 touchdowns. He also snagged 10 catches for 93 yards and three scores in Dallas’ playoff loss to Green Bay.

He, alongside star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, have become the go-to options for the NFL’s highest paid QB Dak Prescott. Barring a catastrophic result from his MRI, Ferguson figures to be a valuable resource for America’s Team for the remainder of the season.

The grandson of former UW Athletic Director Barry Alvarez, Ferguson pocketed 145 total receptions, 1,618 receiving yards (an average of 404.5 per season) and 13 touchdowns as a Badger from 2018-21.

LOOK: Former Wisconsin tight end Hayden Rucci dons Miami Dolphins uniform

LOOK: former Wisconsin tight end Hayden Rucci dons Miami Dolphins uniform

Wisconsin football fans received a glimpse of former Wisconsin tight end Hayden Rucci donning a Miami Dolphins uniform in his X post on Monday.

After five seasons representing the Wisconsin Badgers football program, Rucci signed with the Miami Dolphins after going undrafted during the 2024 NFL draft. He will wear No. 49 for Miami after sporting No. 87 with the Badgers.

The Lititz, Pennsylvania native is among seven former Badgers to make the jump to the NFL this season, joining quarterback Tanner Mordecai (San Francisco 49ers), long snapper Peter Bowden (Green Bay Packers), linebacker Maema Njongmeta (Cincinnati Bengals), cornerback Jason Maitre (Miami Dolphins), interior offensive lineman Tanor Bortolini (Indianapolis Colts) and running back Braelon Allen (New York Jets).

After redshirting his 2019 freshman campaign, Rucci appeared in 35 games for Wisconsin from 2020-23. The Warick high school alumni paced UW tight ends with 11 catches for 125 yards during his senior season and scored his first career touchdown in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl at the end of the 2022 campaign.

At 6-foot-4, 247 pounds, Rucci will likely fight for a roster spot before the Dolphins name their 53-man roster by 4:00 p.m. ET on Aug. 27. Tight ends Jonnu Smith, Durham Smythe, Julian Hill and Jody Fortson Jr. are all listed above the former Badger in Miami’s 2024 depth chart, per ESPN.

Wisconsin football offers top-ranked class of 2026 tight end

Wisconsin football offers top-ranked class of 2026 tight end

The Wisconsin Badgers extended an offer to fast-rising class of 2026 tight end Jack Janda on Monday.

As UW begins to shift its focus from its 2025 cycle to the class of 2026, Janda becomes the latest offensive weapon to earn an offer from the Badgers. The Orchard Lake, Michigan product joins the group of RB Jaeden Hill, WR Madden Williams, ATH Jakob Weatherspoon, WRs Kennan and Jarod Pula, ATH Sharroid Whitehead and ATH Brandon Brown Jr. as players that have received a Wisconsin over the last few weeks.

The 6-foot-6, 230-pound three-star represents Catholic Central High School in Michigan. 247Sports ranks him as the No. 24 tight end, No. 9 recruit from Michigan and No. 426 overall recruit for the class of 2026.

Like so many of his contemporaries, Janda also holds several offers from some of the most high-profile programs in the nation thus far. Miami (Florida), Michigan, Oregon, Purdue, Illinois, Cincinnati and Kentucky are among the list thus far.

247Sports’ crystal ball prediction links Janda to the Wolverines. The forecast derives from Michigan insider Steve Lorenz with medium confidence. On3’s recruiting prediction machine also heavily favors Michigan and assigns the 2023 National Champions nearly a 53% likelihood to secure the rising junior.

With Janda, Wisconsin has now offered 13 tight ends for its class of 2026. Rivals has Luke Fickell’s class of 2025 at No. 6 in the nation with 19 players committed thus far.

Cowboys TE Jason Witten’s record set to be broken in 2024 by Bears veteran

From @ToddBrock24f7: Bears TE Marcedes Lewis will return for a 19th NFL season. He’ll set a new record for games played by a TE, passing the legendary Witten.

Cowboys legend Jason Witten will still be the franchise’s all-time leader in game appearances when the 2024 season ends. But his current record of 271 career games played by an NFL tight end looks to be broken in late September of this season.

Marcedes Lewis has re-signed with Chicago for an incredible 19th season in the pros, it was announced Monday. The first-round draft pick back in 2006 has appeared in 268 contests since then, putting him just three back from Witten.

Assuming the 40-year-old Lewis gets into each of the Bears’ games to start the coming season, he’ll break the record in Week 4 when Chicago hosts the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 29. There’s little reason to believe the dependable Lewis won’t stick to that timeline; he hasn’t missed a game since the 2020 season.

Lewis saw his first NFL action on September 18, 2006. For perspective on how long he’s been an active player, current Cowboys rookie Caelen Carson was four and a half years old that day. And an unknown backup quarterback named Tony Romo was still four weeks away from being thrown into a Monday night game versus the Giants in relief of Drew Bledsoe.

Lewis played for 12 years in Jacksonville, then joined the Packers in 2018, where he was coached by Mike McCarthy until the head coach was fired in December of that year. Lewis stayed in Green Bay until the conclusion of the 2022 season; this record-setting campaign will be his second year in Chicago.

If Lewis plays in all 17 of the Bears’ games, he’ll end the season in the NFL’s all-time top 20 in terms of career games played.

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Witten broke the career games record for tight ends in his final NFL tilt in 2020, his only season with Las Vegas. His appearance as a starter in the Raiders’ season finale that year gave him one more game than Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez, who had retired after the 2013 season with 270 game appearances.

Witten played 255 regular-season games with the Cowboys, missing only one game- in his rookie season- over 16 years in the silver and blue. Long snapper L.P. Ladouceur is second in team history, with 253 games in the silver and blue. Of current Cowboys, guard Zack Martin is the active leader, with 152 game appearances for the franchise.

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Wisconsin football secures unofficial visit with 2026 five-star tight end

Wisconsin football secures unofficial visit with five-star tight end

Five-star class of 2026 tight end Brock Harris announced his plans to unofficially visit the Wisconsin Badgers this summer, according to his post on X.

Alongside Wisconsin, Harris will unofficially venture to a cohort of the most prestigious programs in the nation. The list includes Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Miami, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Oregon.

The program offered the five-star recruit in June 2023. At 6-foot-6, 235 pounds, the rising junior representing Pine View High School in St. George, Utah.

247Sports’ Harris ranked as the No. 22 player in the class of 2026, No. 3 tight end and No. 1 recruit from his home state of Utah.

The rising junior has received a staggering 34 Division 1 offers to this point, including from Ohio State, Alabama, Texas, LSU, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, USC, Penn State, Michigan, Florida State, Oregon, Georgia and Washington.

In just 10 games as a sophomore, Harris caught 55 passes and reached the end zone eight times. He also performed well at 2023’s Under Armour Camp Series stop in Salt Lake City and even received a bid to the 2026 All-American Bowl.

Harris unofficially visited Texas A&M, Utah, Alabama and Washington in 2023. He has yet to schedule an official visit, per 247Sports.

247Sports has yet to release a crystal ball prediction, but On3’s recruiting prediction machine has USC and Oregon as the most likely landing spots at this early stage in the cycle.

Wisconsin’s current tight end room consists of Tucker Ashcraft, Riley Nowakowski, Jackson McGowan, Robert Booker and Grant Stec. Luke Fickell is still working to revamp the room now entering year two at the helm.

What Condition the Position is in: Assessing Raiders level of need at TE ahead of free agency

What Condition Raiders Position is in: Tight end

With free agency under a month away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ tight end position to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

Starter: Michael Mayer
Depth: Zach Gentry, Cole Fotheringham, John Samuel Shenker
Free Agents: Austin Hooper, Jesper Horsted

Mayer didn’t come bursting out the gates as some thought he might as the 35th overall pick in the draft. But around midseason, he started to show some of the skills that were expected of him, before being lost to injury late. The veteran Hooper was the team’s number two tight end. All others played sparingly or not at all.

Condition: Stable

Even if Hooper leaves in free agency, the team is set with Mayer as their starting tight end. He is no sure thing, but expect the Raiders to ride with him for now to see if he can develop. They would simply look to bolster the position with a mid level free agent or mid round draft selection, which shouldn’t be difficult.