Tag: Tuf Borland

Wisconsin promotes former Ohio State standout to assistant linebackers coach

Wisconsin promotes former Ohio State standout to assistant linebackers coach

Wisconsin promoted former Ohio State standout linebacker Tuf Borland to assistant linebackers coach on Thursday.

Borland’s promotion was part of a trio of moves, accompanied by the program hiring Joe Ludwig and Blake Rolan to assistant tight ends and assistant wide receivers coach, respectively.

Borland has been on the Badgers staff as a graduate assistant since 2023. He entered the coaching profession after a five-year career with the Buckeyes (2016-20) that included 49 appearances, 31 starts, 229 total tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 6 1/2 sacks and two interceptions. According to the program, he is one of two players in Ohio State history to be named a three-time team captain.

Luke Fickell played at Ohio State, then coached for the program from 2002-16. He and Borland overlapped in one season (2016), Borland as a true freshman linebacker and Fickell as the Buckeyes’ co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.

Borland will work under Wisconsin defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach Mike Tressel. Since Tressel runs the entire defense, the first-year assistant coach could grow into a significant role with the position group.

Wisconsin enters 2024 with Christian Alliegro and Tackett Curtis as its starting inside linebackers. Western Carolina transfer Antarron Turner also figures to compete for snaps. The position is one to watch as Tressel works to improve his defensive unit after the 2024 unit finished with averages of 342.7 yards allowed (No. 41 in the nation), 23.08 points allowed (No. 47), 1.42 sacks (No. 120) and one turnover forced (No. 110) — all far below Wisconsin’s typical standing.

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Former Ohio State linebacker joins Luke Fickell at Wisconsin

A former captain three-time captain will join the Badger’s coaching staff.

Just a few short months ago, former Ohio State great Luke Fickell was named head football coach at Wisconsin. Now the Badgers have grabbed another former Buckeye to join the coaching staff: Tuf Borland. He will be a defensive grad assistant on Fickell’s staff after a short stint in the NFL.

Borland went to high school in Bolingbrook, Illinois, just a little over two hours from Madison. Borland also has Badger blood running through his veins as the son of former Wisconsin linebacker Kyle Borland. who played at Camp Randall in the early 80s.

Tuf Borland, of course, was a three-time captain at Ohio State, a very exclusive club in Buckeye lore. He and J.T. Barrett are the only two players to have the honor of being a captain for the OSU football team for three years.

Coach Fickell knows Borland well. He was the one who recruited the Bolingbrook native to Ohio State. Fickell only coached Borland for one year before he headed south on I-71 to coach the Cincinnati Bearcats.

Fickell looks to get Wisconsin back to dominating the Big Ten West in his first season as the Badgers’ head coach. Ohio State travels to Madison in late October for what could be a Big Ten Championship game preview.

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Vikings sign undrafted rookie William Kwenkeu, release Tuf Borland

Vikings have a small shake-up at linebacker

The Minnesota Vikings are shaking things up a bit at linebacker with Monday’s announced signing of undrafted rookie free agent William Kwenkeu.

It’s quite the remarkable story for Kwenkeu, who followed his mother to the United States from Cameroon back in 2012. He officially became an American citizen and racked up six tackles and two sacks in Temple’s Gasparilla Bowl victory over Florida International on back-to-back days in 2017.

Last season, he finished off his collegiate career with the Owls by snagging 51 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, three sacks and one forced fumble recovered for a touchdown.

If that version of Kwenkeu shows up, he could be a player worth keeping an eye on as a future contributor.

Regardless of what happens, no one encompasses the American dream more than Kwenkeu, who has now forged a path to the NFL with the Vikings.

In a corresponding move to the signing, the team also announced the release of linebacker Tuf Borland.

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Vikings elevate two players for Week 14

The Vikings elevated two players from the practice squad for Week 14.

Minnesota made a familiar roster call-up for its game against Pittsburgh.

The Vikings elevated DE Kenny Willekes to the active roster for the Thursday game. Minnesota also elevated LB Tuf Borland.

Willekes has four QB hits in just three games this year. He showed promise in the preseason, which landed him a spot on the practice squad. With the Vikings lacking depth on the defensive line — Danielle Hunter is out for the year and Everson Griffen is on NFI list — Willekes has made the most of his new role.

The Vikings currently have LB Blake Lynch tabbed as questionable for the Steelers matchup. He had a big game last week in the absence of linebackers Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr. Lynch had two sacks and a forced fumble. But the Vikings can’t count on him for this week, because he’s dealing with a hip injury.

At 5-7, Minnesota need this game if the team wants to keep most of its playoff hopes alive. Maybe Willekes and Borland can make an impact.

Vikings LB Tuf Borland listed as team’s most exciting undrafted free agent

Do you think Vikings LB Tuf Borland is Minnesota’s best undrafted free agent addition?

Minnesota struggled with depth at linebacker this past season. The Vikings have tried to rectify that by signing Nick Vigil and drafting Chazz Surratt.

The team also went out and landed an undrafted free agent, who has a chance to come in and work his way up the linebacker depth chart. That player is LB Tuf Borland, out of Ohio State. Bleacher Report thinks Borland is Minnesota’s most exciting undrafted free agent addition. Here’s what Alex Kay of the outlet said about the choice:

“While he’s not an every-down linebacker, he could shine situationally and as a backup. He’d also add value as a special teamer with his strength and ability to shed blocks. That, coupled with his relentless motor, could make him a Pro Bowler.”

Minnesota could, of course, use more linebackers for further down the depth chart. Not only that, but the team’s special teams struggled in many different phases of the game, so maybe Borland could help the group improve in 2021.

Four undrafted free agents who could get reps in 2021

The Minnesota Vikings have some enticing undrafted free agents for 2021. Here are four who could get reps during the NFL season.

Last offseason, Vikings wideout Adam Thielen said that he probably wouldn’t be in the NFL if the pandemic occurred amid his rookie season.

As many already know, Thielen was an undrafted free agent. He worked his way up the Vikings roster before not only landing a starting wide receiver spot, but ending up as one of the better wideouts in the league.

Minnesota has a knack for developing undrafted free agents. This 2021 undrafted free agency class certainly has some enticing prospects.

Vikings Wire picked out four names who could be looking at serious reps in 2021, despite not being taken in the NFL draft. We tried to be realistic — a lot of these players don’t end up making it with the team they signed with originally. However, there are a few with legitimate shots.

Here they are:

Tuf Borland signs with Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings have signed former Ohio State Buckeye Tuf Borland as an undrafted free agent.

[lawrence-newsletter]The 2021 NFL draft is over and now the chaos of undrafted free agency begins. Names are moving fast and furiously and another former Ohio State player has finally found his new home.

It should come as no surprise that linebacker Tuf Borland will be going to the NFC North and joining the Minnesota Vikings. The brother of former Ohio State legend, Chris Spielman is currently the general manager of Minnesota and once Borland went undrafted, Rick Spielman moved fast.

By now everyone has seen the abysmal pro day numbers from Borland and due to his lack of athleticism he is going to have a hard time finding a spot in the NFL.

Ohio State football 2021 draft comparisons – Linebacker Tuf Borland

Who are the best comparisons for Ohio State linebacker Tuf Borland? We dive into one former Buckeye and one all-around NFL player.

The 2021 NFL draft kicks off in less than two weeks and we are trying to provide a breakdown of what the potential expectations are for each prospect coming from the Ohio State University. The first day will likely only see one Buckeye hear their name called in Justin Fields, but days two and three should supply plenty of action.

We’re next taking a look at one of the multiple linebackers that could go in the draft for Ohio State, Tuf Borland. He was a former four-star recruit from the state of Illinois, and despite some of his limitations from a fast-twitch athletic standpoint, was a very productive collegiate player for the Buckeyes.

It’s time to take a look at some comparables for Borland, first from former Ohio State players, then from an all-around NFL perspective.

Player Profile

Name: Tuf Borland

Position: Outside Linebacker

Height: 6 feet, 0 inches

Weight: 229 pounds

NEXT … The closest all-around comp to Borland

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Ohio State LBs put on an athletic show at the Buckeyes pro day

Browns GM Andrew Berry watched Baron Browning and Pete Werner put on a show

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The Cleveland Browns could still be on the lookout for some help at linebacker. GM Andrew Berry saw some impressive ones firsthand at Ohio State’s pro day on Tuesday.

Berry was among the NFL contingency in Columbus for the Buckeyes workout. While QB Justin Fields stole the show with an amazing display, a pair of Buckeye linebackers also proved they were exceptional athletes to go with their impressive football resumes.

Baron Browning, who could be in play for the Browns first pick at No. 26 overall, proved to be one of the most exceptionally athletic linebackers to ever test at a pro day. Measuring in at over 6-foot-2 and 246 pounds, Browning posted eye-popping speed and agility numbers that prove his on-field exploits were no fluke.

In his media session (via Zoom) after his workout, Browning noted that several teams view him as a potential EDGE and not necessarily an off-ball LB like he played for Ohio State.

Pete Werner, generally projected in the third or fourth round, also notched an impressive athletic workout. Werner clocked a speedy 4.58 in the 40-yard dash and then jumped very well with a 38.5-inch vertical, plus an outstanding 3-cone of 6.90 at 238 pounds.

Okay, not every Buckeye LB had a great workout. It was not a good showing for Tuf Borland, who wound up being one of the worst-testing LBs athletically in the last 35 years.

The Browns could certainly tap into the nearby college powerhouse at least once in next month’s draft.

Ohio State football 2021 pro day reflections

We take a moment to reflect on Ohio State’s 2021 pro day. What were some of the measurements, who had a big day, and who needed to do more?

The Ohio State football team held its pro day on Tuesday in front of a plethora of NFL scouts and coaches — and some other recognizable onlookers. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NFL scouting combine was canceled and pro days around the country have become an even larger staple for the evaluation process.

Ohio State had a total 14 prospects take part in all of the festivities, and if you are interested in seeing the results, Jim Nagy has done a great job of compiling the official results and tweeting them out to the world. Nagy is the Executive Director of the Reese’s Senior Bowl and the results thread starts below.

We also wanted to highlight one stud and one OSU player that needed to do more from what we saw on Wednesday at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. It’s important to remember that a pro day is not the end all be all of a team’s evaluation.

NEXT … The Buckeye Stud

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