Tag: wisconsin badgers football schedule

Wisconsin FB John Chenal accepts invitation to New York Jets rookie camp

The Badger fullback is headed to New York for rookie camp

Wisconsin fullback John Chenal will be getting an NFL chance this summer. The Grantsburg native is headed to New York to participate in rookie camp with the New York Jets.

As a Badger, Chenal had multiple memorable moments including a touchdown in the 2021 Las Vegas Bowl win over Arizona State.

Chenal finished his Wisconsin career with 5 total touchdowns on the ground and a number of highlight blocks for exceptional Badger running backs. His brother Leo is headed to the Kansas City Chiefs after being selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft. There are officially two Chenal’s headed to NFL camps this summer.

Here’s how many Badgers have been drafted in the Paul Chryst era

The Badgers have sent a number of players to the next level under Chryst

Since Paul Chryst took over the head coaching duties of Wisconsin football in 2015, the Badgers have not only had tremendous on-field success, but also been one of the countries best at preparing players for the next level.

During seven seasons as the Badgers’ head man, Chryst has led Wisconsin to a 65-23 record, while going 43-16 in Big Ten play. His teams have included reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt, one of the NFL’s best running backs Jonathan Taylor, and many other productive NFL talents.

Overall, the Badgers have sent 21 players to the NFL during Chryst’s time as the head coach of Wisconsin football. That number will rise through the weekend as the 2022 NFL draft carries on.

WATCH: Wisconsin players look to turn NFL dreams into reality

Wisconsin prospects ready to realize their NFL dreams

With the NFL draft beginning on Thursday night, Wisconsin football released a video walking through the history of Badgers in the NFL.

Although, as expected, Wisconsin did not have a player selected in the first round, Friday and Saturday should be filled with 2022 Badger prospects on both sides of the football.

The consensus highest-rated Badger heading into the draft festivities has been LB Leo Chenal, who is coming off of a First-Team All-Big Ten season in Madison.

There is rich history when it comes to success for Wisconsin Badgers in the NFL, whether it be early picks or undrafted gems. Courtesy of Wisconsin football, here is a look through the history of Badgers in the draft as a new class gets ready to realize their dreams:

Report: Wisconsin hires Bobby Engram as their new offensive coordinator

The Badgers have their next offensive coordinator

After being linked to Wisconsin for the past few weeks, the Badgers have reportedly made Baltimore Ravens tight ends coach Bobby Engram their next offensive coordinator.

The news was first reported by Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel earlier this afternoon.

Engram has spent the last seven seasons on the Ravens staff, first as a wide receivers coach and then as a tight ends coach. As a player, the former Penn State star receiver would go on to play 14 NFL seasons during which he spent time with the Bears, Seahawks, Chiefs, and Browns.

The Wisconsin connections are easy to see, as Engram’s son Dean is a current Badger cornerback. Engram was also part of Paul Chryst’s staff at Pittsburgh from 2012-13, where he coached current Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd.

Connections to Oklahoma transfer quarterback Caleb Williams, who the Badgers have reportedly been targeting, are also prevalent with Engram. Engram’s son Dean went to Gonzaga High School in Maryland with the former Oklahoma star and current top transfer in the nation. Engram is also close with Carl Williams, Caleb’s father.

Engram replaces former Wisconsin OC/OL coach Joe Rudolph, who left to become the offensive line coach at Virginia Tech in early January.

Wisconsin football’s entire 2022 schedule

A look at Wisconsin’s 2022 football schedule

It’s never too early to look at what’s ahead for Wisconsin football come this fall. The Badgers finished off their 2021 campaign with a Las Vegas Bowl win over Arizona State, and now look towards a 2022 season where they will face Ohio State and Michigan State in Big Ten play.

While the Badgers lose a number of pieces from a 2021 defense that was near the top in nearly every statistical category, there are key contributors returning on both sides of the ball.

It all begins on Saturday, September 3 as Wisconsin takes on Illinois State at Camp Randall. How does the rest of the schedule shape up? Here is a complete look at Wisconsin’s 2022 football schedule:

Braelon Allen named a freshman All-American by PFF, 247Sports

Allen is named a Freshman All-American:

The breakout star of Wisconsin’s 2021 season is earning well-deserved national honors. Star freshman running back Braelon Allen was named to both the 2021 PFF college football All-True Freshman team and the 247Sports True Freshman All-America team this week.

Allen’s numbers speak for themselves, as the Badger running back eclipsed 1,100 yards and had 12 rushing touchdowns on the season. The Fond Du Lac native burst onto the scene against Illinois, putting together the first of what would be seven consecutive games where he reached at least 100 yards on the ground.

Originally recruited as a safety and having played both sides of the ball in high school, Allen eventually joined what was initially a deep 2021 running back room. After injuries and Jalen Berger’s dismissal from the team, the freshman took advantage of his opportunity.

Five reasons why Wisconsin fell short at Minnesota

Why the Badgers came up short in their quest for a Big Ten West title

With everything in front of Wisconsin football, the Badgers fell flat in a disastrous second half that ultimately decided their fate. Holding onto a 10-6 lead at the break, the Badgers were outscored 17-3 in the second half as the Gophers took the Axe back.

The 23-13 loss gave Iowa an outright Big Ten West division title and sent the Hawkeyes to Indianapolis where they will face Michigan.

Saturday felt like deja vu to how Wisconsin’s season began. The journey of the season was a wild ride that dropped passengers off in the same place they started. The Badgers ended exactly how they began.

Wisconsin’s offense simply sputtered, as the Badgers failed to run the football effectively with Graham Mertz and the passing game unable to pickup the slack.

After seven straight wins, it was a shock to the system to see the Badgers revert back to who they were during the first few weeks of the season. What went wrong in the Twin Cities? Here are five reasons why Wisconsin won’t be traveling to Indianapolis:

Braleon Allen’s career day powers Wisconsin past Northwestern

Braelon Allen and the Badgers put away Northwestern early in a 35-7 route

Wisconsin opened their battle with Northwestern by sticking to their formula for the last few weeks. They gave freshman running back Braelon Allen and got out of the way.

The Badgers (7-3, 5-2 BIG) blitzed the Wildcats after a slow start to the tune of 35 unanswered points in a 35-7 route. After Northwestern marched down the field on 19 plays during a first-quarter drive that lasted 7:43, the Badgers snatched momentum back with a Caesar Williams interception in the end zone. Northwestern quarterback Andrew Marty made a crucial mistake, as he tried to force a pass in the red zone and it would signify things to come for the Wildcats.

After Wisconsin’s defense got their opening stop, Allen did the rest. On the ensuing drive, the freshman running back had 7 carries for 86 yards and finished it off with a 2-yard touchdown scamper to give Wisconsin a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter.

Five consecutive Northwestern punts would follow, as Wisconsin’s defense dominated a struggling Wildcats offense.

Graham Mertz dialed up a number of perfect throws over the middle of the field, completing his first 8 passes of the afternoon. A 13-yard strike to Danny Davis III gave the Badgers a 14-0 lead less than halfway through the second quarter.

Despite a red zone interception late in the first half, Mertz and the Badgers cruised to a 21-0 halftime lead.

Wisconsin’s defense would pick off Marty two more times in the second half, as the Badgers turned both into touchdowns. Northwestern’s only points came on a Julius Davis fumble that the Wildcats were able to scoop and score early in the fourth quarter.

The Badgers picked up their sixth-straight win, and sit firmly in the Big Ten West drivers seat on top of the standings. Up next, Nebraska travels to Camp Randall to face Wisconsin.

LOOK: Wisconsin gives The Heartland Trophy a new look

The Badgers return the trophy to Madison

Wisconsin’s defense, as they have done all year long, showed up in the Badgers’ 27-7 win over Iowa.

Iowa turned the football over three times and failed to pick up a first down on their first six drives of the game. As a result, Wisconsin took The Heartland Trophy back to Madison.

The Badger defense showed off a new tradition on Saturday, when they brought out a turnover trucker hat. Whenever a Wisconsin player came up with a turnover, they got to wear the prestigious hat.

Where did the hat end up? Well, of course it ended up on the trophy. Wisconsin safety Collin Wilder shared a picture of “the grit factory,” hat proudly worn by the bull:

What Paul Chryst said about Iowa during Monday’s press conference

Wisconsin’s head coach touches on Iowa during Monday’s presser:

Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst held his weekly press conference on Monday fresh off of the Badgers’ biggest win of the young season. Wisconsin’s 30-13 win over Purdue was the initial topic of conversation, but the questions later turned towards the Iowa game this Saturday.

The Hawkeyes present a serious challenge for Wisconsin’s offense, as Iowa has been one of the strongest defenses in the country early on in the college football season.

The winner of Saturday’s matchup will control their Big Ten West fate moving forward in a game that could very well decide the division and determine who is playing in Indianapolis.

Chryst touched on Iowa’s defense, preparation for the week, and the team finally clicking: