Tag: tj bollers

Former Wisconsin defensive lineman commits to an ACC newcomer

Former Wisconsin defensive lineman commits to an ACC newcomer

Former Wisconsin defensive lineman T.J. Bollers committed to ACC newcomer Cal on Thursday.

Bollers previously entered the portal on April 15 after three years with the Badgers.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 spring transfer portal window tracker

He originally joined the program as a four-star edge rusher in Wisconsin’s decorated class of 2021 — specifically ranked as the No. 159 overall recruit in the class, No. 11 edge rusher and No. 2 recruit from his home state of Iowa. The former outside linebacker was unable to find a role on the field, however, as he never perfectly fit into Jim Leonhard’s 3-4 defense or Mike Tressel’s 3-3-5 approach.

The Badgers tried moving Bollers to defensive line after he couldn’t crack the field at outside linebacker. Despite the program being razor-thin along the defensive line entering 2024, Bollers still entered the portal to seek a starting role elsewhere.

He finished his Wisconsin career with two total tackles in 16 games of action — most of that action coming on special teams.

The former top recruit now joins a Cal program that went 6-7 in its final year in the Pac 12 in 2023. It is now joining the new-look ACC along with Stanford.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, is still searching in the portal for help along the defensive line. The program has recently added offensive line depth, with defensive improvements sure to follow.

For more on Wisconsin’s transfer portal activity this spring, check out our 2024 spring transfer portal window tracker.

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 transfer defensive lineman T.J. Bollers receives several D-I offers

Wisconsin transfer defensive lineman T.J. Bollers receives several D-I offers

Wisconsin transfer defensive lineman T.J. Bollers is receiving plenty of interest from D-I programs.

He has already received offers from New Mexico, Kent State, Ohio, Northern Iowa, Miami (Ohio) and Cal after entering the transfer portal just four days ago.

Conference realignment makes this exercise a challenge. But that’s an offer from the Mountain West, four from the MAC and one from the ACC.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 spring transfer portal window tracker

Bollers entered the portal after three unproductive years as a Badger. He was a four-star recruit in Wisconsin’s decorated class of 2021 — ranked as the No. 159 overall recruit in the class, No. 11 edge rusher and No. 2 recruit from his home state of Iowa.

Wisconsin attempted to move him from a 3-4 outside linebacker in Jim Leonhard’s old system to a defensive lineman in Mike Tressel’s hybrid 3-3-5. Neither role perfectly fit his game, as he’s better served as a 4-3 defensive end. That was seen in Bollers’ lack of playing time in his three years with the program.

His transfer is likely due to the fit on the field and finding a location with consistent playing time available.

Wisconsin is becoming increasingly thin along the defensive line. Only James Thompson Jr. and Curt Neal are back as experienced contributors, plus Albany transfer Elijah Hills. Luke Fickell and his staff need to find upgrades and depth at the position before the spring transfer portal window grinds to a halt.

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 football projected starting defensive lineman to enter transfer portal

Wisconsin may be losing a starter to the transfer portal

Wisconsin football projected starting defensive lineman T.J. Bollers is entering the transfer portal when the spring window opens on April 16, according his post on X.

Bollers was slated to play a major role for the Badgers along the defensive line after moving from outside linebacker following the 2023 season. The team is shallow at the position at this stage in the spring, and this news only makes that situation worse.

Related: Ranking Wisconsin football’s incoming transfers by expected impact in 2024 season

Bollers joined the program as a four-star recruit in the class of 2021. He was the No. 159 recruit in the class, No. 11 edge rusher and No. 2 recruit from his home state of Iowa. He barely saw the field throughout his career in a crowded Wisconsin outside linebacker room, finding most of his playing time on special teams.

The converted outside linebacker is a bit of an odd fit in Mike Tressel’s 3-3-5 defense. That could be a part of the reason behind the move, as he’d be better served as a 4-3 defensive end.

Related: Projecting Wisconsin football 2024 defense spring ball depth chart

Bollers still has his high billing from his high school recruiting days. That had people looking at 2024 as a potential breakout season for the Tiffin, Iowa, native, though that will have to come with another program.

Wisconsin is sure to be active in the transfer portal window with defensive line a likely priority.

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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PHOTOS: Wisconsin football gets ready for the 2021 season

Some of the best photos of the latest Wisconsin football team as they gear up for the upcoming season

With the start of the season less than two months away, Wisconsin football is gearing up for the start of fall camp with many new and familiar faces.

Related: Wisconsin TE Hayden Rucci partners with Cameo

Before the start of every season, players often get to check out the new uniforms and model them to make promotional videos and graphics for the season. Many Badgers including senior wide receiver Danny Davis and sophomore tight end Hayden Rucci posted some of their favorite photos to their social media.

Here are some of the best photos of the latest Wisconsin Badgers team as they gear up for the upcoming season:

One Badger identified as potential Big Ten impact freshman by 247Sports

Wisconsin is a developmental program. Even when big-time talent enters the program out of high school, seldom do players step in on Day 1.

Wisconsin is a developmental football program. Even when big-time talent enters the program out of high school, it’s rare we see them step on the field on Day 1 and make a significant impact.

There are obvious exceptions — Jonathan Taylor’s 1,977-yard freshman season in 2017 and Nick Herbig excelling at outside linebacker in 2020.

So when 247Sports outlined 100 true freshmen to watch this season, it makes sense the list wasn’t full of Wisconsin Badgers. Their program-best class of 2021 will make its mark soon enough, but this fall probably will not be that time.

247Sports included one Badger in its list: four-star defensive end T.J. Bollers, who is the No. 155 player in his class, No. 9 defensive end and No. 2 recruit from his home state of Iowa.

Here’s what the piece had to say about the Wisconsin early enrollee:

Wisconsin is a developmental program, yet the coaching staff has long shown a willingness to play true freshmen, particularly in the front seven. Bollers could be that guy in 2021. A muscled-up 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, Bollers entered Madison with college-ready size and the versatility to play both outside linebacker and defensive end. The Badgers are stacked at outside linebacker with Nick Herbig and Noah Burks returning. Wisconsin DC Jim Leonhard has already mentioned Bollers as a young player who could push for playing time.

Bollers will play outside linebacker for the Badgers, joining a rotation led by Herbig, Noah Burks, Spencer Lytle and C.J. Goetz.

He has the talent to see the field this season. When he does (along with ILB/S Braelon Allen, I’ll add), the future of the defense will be on full display.

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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LOOK: Wisconsin football class of 2021 early enrollees arrive on campus

The 2021 early enrollees arrive on campus

Wisconsin football’s highest-rated class of the modern recruiting era is beginning to step foot on campus.

The Badger football class of 2021, which features 21 signees and is ranked as the No. 16 overall class in the nation by 247Sports, has early enrollees beginning their Wisconsin journey this week.

While the rest of the class will join this summer after high school graduation, Wisconsin football’s official Twitter gave us a look at the seven members already on campus:

Pictured above are class of 2021 signees (from left to right) TE Jack Pugh, DE TJ Bollers, CB Al Ashford III, DE Mike Jarvis, OL Riley Mahlman, and LB Jake Chaney.

On the far right is long snapper Duncan Mckinley, who was not technically a December 2021 signee.

This group of Badgers are ready to get to work and lead Wisconsin football to new heights. Their story at Wisconsin has officially begun.

 

2021 Wisconsin Football Preview: Early breakout players, true freshmen to watch

The Wisconsin Badgers’ 2020 football season saw sophomore ILB Leo Chenal, freshman RB Jalen Berger, freshman OLB Nick Herbig and others…

The Wisconsin Badgers’ 2020 football season saw sophomore ILB Leo Chenal, freshman RB Jalen Berger, freshman OLB Nick Herbig and others break onto the scene and make their names known.

The team would not have had the same success without these guys and what they did on the field, as Chenal and Herbig were two of the driving forces on defense and Berger was far-and-away the best option in the backfield.

Going into any season there will be hype given to certain players and positions, hype which I expect the three names above to receive as well as QB Graham Mertz, WR Chimere Dike and NT Keeanu Benton.

Related: The Badgers’ projected 2021 depth chart on offense, defense

But aside from the names that every Badger fan knows and players that we know will take a step forward, who else should you watch and keep on your radar?

I set out to answer that question in this week’s edition of way-too-early breakout players and freshmen to watch for the 2021 football season.

For 2020 season review:

Wisconsin recruiting: Times to know for early signing period

Many members of the Wisconsin Badgers’ class of 2021 will announce or broadcast their signings at a set time later today.

Today marks the start of early signing period in college football, a time where players who have committed to a school are able to sign their letter of intent and officially join the program.

There have already been eight Wisconsin Badger commits that have signed their letters, the most notable ones being five-star offensive tackle Nolan Rucci, four-star defensive end T.J. Bollers, four-star offensive tackle Riley Mahlman and four-star tight end Jack Pugh.

The signings will be announced throughout the day and you can follow live updates on who signs their letter at our live signing day tracker.

There are some commits, though, that announced a time later today when they will broadcast putting the pen to paper.

Here are times to know for the early signing period:

  • WR Markus Allen will broadcast his signing at 6:00 p.m.

  • DE Ayo Adebogun will be signing his letter at 1:30 p.m.
  • DE T.J. Bollers will sign at noon

 

Fab Four: Selecting Wisconsin football’s Mount Rushmore of all-time recruits

Wisconsin football recruiting tracker: Live updates on early signing period

The Wisconsin football Class of 2021 is taking shape. Follow here as Badger recruits officially commit on early signing day.

Today marks the beginning of the early signing period and the Wisconsin Badgers’ class of 2021 is beginning to officially take shape.

For the next three days, members of the Badgers’ incoming recruiting class will be signing their official letters of intent, making their previous commitments to the school official.

Among the players that we’re monitoring are five-star offensive tackle Nolan Rucci, four-star offensive tackles J.P. Benzschawel and Riley Mahlman, four-star safeties Hunter Wohler and Braelon Allen, four-star tight end Jack Pugh, four-star defensive end T.J. Bollers and four-star quarterback Deacon Hill.

The class as a whole is currently ranked by 247Sports as the No. 16 class in the country and No. 3 in the Big Ten–the highest ranking a Wisconsin recruiting class has ever received.

Follow along as we monitor the players in the class and update this page as they sign their letters of intent and officially become Wisconsin Badgers.

Fab Four: Selecting Wisconsin football’s Mount Rushmore of all-time recruits

WATCH: Highlights from Wisconsin commit TJ Bollers’ game

Friday night, 247sports insider Evan Flood covered the second game of four-star Wisconsin commit TJ Bollers in Ceder Rapids, Iowa…

Friday night, 247sports insider Evan Flood covered the third game of four-star Wisconsin commit TJ Bollers in Ceder Rapids, Iowa.

Bollers played well in the highlights from Flood and showed great power in his game for Clear Creek Amana. The four-star recruit has been able to play his senior season in his home state of Iowa, unlike many other Wisconsin commits in states like California. The Tiffin, Iowa native had offers from Alabama, UC-Berkeley, Florida, Iowa, Notre Dame, Penn State, and others before his verbal commitment to Wisconsin in June. In his conversation with Flood after the game, Bollers stated, “I feel like I found my home.”

It is great to see an incoming edge rusher for Wisconsin play with such physicality and gets me even more excited to see what the class of 2021 can do when they get to Madison.