Tag: Wisconsin Badgers

Badgers in the NFL: Andrew Van Ginkel returns to practice

Former Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel has been designated to return to practice by the Miami Dolphins.

The Miami Dolphins designated former Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel to return to practice following a 10-week stint on the injured reserve.

Van Ginkel was placed on the injured reserve on September 6, and will be eligible to make his NFL debut on December 1 when the Dolphins take on the Eagles.

Van Ginkel was a fifth-round pick by the Dolphins in 2019 after two successful seasons at Wisconsin. The Iowa Western CC transfer was a third-team All-BIG 10 selection in his senior year with the Badgers, recording 59 combined tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, three passes defended and two forced fumbles.

Van Ginkel’s designation to return to practice is a good sign that he will be a factor for Miami down the stretch, as the team had multiple players eligible to return this season, but they made him one of just two chosen to return.

However, while he is expected to compete for a role as a core special teamer for the Dolphins, he is unlikely to carve out a role on the defense until 2020 at the earliest.

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Who are Three Defensive Players to Watch when Wisconsin Travels to Nebraska?

Badgers who could play an important role in Wisconsin’s success against Nebraska. Zack Baun OLB, Keeanu Benton NT, Caesar Williams CB

Here are three defensive players for the Badgers who could play an important role in Wisconsin’s success against Nebraska:

1) Zack Baun, OLB

In the win over Iowa, Baun finished the game with six tackles but for the first time this year, he failed to make either a tackle for loss or register a sack. In order for Wisconsin’s defense to have success in defending Adrian Martinez and Nebraska’s offense, he can’t afford to have another game where he doesn’t make a play in the backfield. Nebraska is allowing 2.2 sacks over conference play, and Baun will have a chance of being able to make a play in the backfield if he can keep containment of Martinez. That’s easier said than done, considering Martinez’s 399 rushing yards leads the team. Even if Baun can’t register a sack, he still has the ability to speed up Martinez’s decision making or force him to throw the football away. Martinez has shown he’s a threat with his legs, but he also has two capable playmakers in wide receivers JD Spielman and Wan’Dale Robinson, who can beat Wisconsin’s secondary for a big play.

2) Keeanu Benton, NT

Wisconsin will have a chance of limiting Martinez if they are capable of creating rushing lanes for Wisconsin’s linebackers to create pressure in the backfield. That will begin with Benton and him getting the better push. Despite being a true freshman, Benton has been able to hold his own throughout the season. Thanks to his wrestling background and him being a standout wrestler for Janesville Craig High School, he understands leverage as it has also allowed him to shed his blocker and register three tackles for loss and one sack on the season thus far.

3) Caesar Williams, CB

Outside of limiting the success Martinez has on offense, the Badgers defense will need to be ready to defend wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson if he’s available to play. Robinson left the Purdue game two weeks ago with an injury and he might not play the Cornhuskers on Saturday. If Robinson can go, he has shown to be a threat in not only catching the football, but also rushing it too. Robinson has 453 receiving yards on 40 receptions, which leads the team. He also has rushed for 326 yards on 85 carries. If Robinson can’t go, it will take away one of Nebraska’s most consistent playmakers on offense. The Cornhuskers do have JD Spielman who they can rely on in the passing game, as he has caught 35 passes for 689 yards. Williams’ ability to make plays on the football as he has four pass breakups on the year will go a long way in helping slow down Nebraska’s passing attack that’s averaging 208.3 yards over Big Ten play.

Who are Three Offensive Players to Watch when Wisconsin Travels to Nebraska?

Badgers who could play an important role in Wisconsin’s success against Nebraska. Quintez Cephus WR, Cole Van Lanen LT, Jack Coan QB

Here are three offensive players for the Badgers who could play an important role in Wisconsin’s success against Nebraska.

1) Quintez Cephus WR

Cephus had a productive game for Wisconsin against Iowa as he caught five passes for the second time over the last three games. On the year Cephus has caught 32 passes for 504 yards both career highs. Cephus will look to continue to add to those numbers when Wisconsin plays Nebraska as the Cornhuskers are allowing an average of 201.5 passing yards per game. Cephus will have his opportunities to have success against the Cornhuskers secondary as it will be up to him creating that separation and possibly helping stretch the field too.

2) Cole Van Lanen LT

Wisconsin will rely on the running game to help control the time of possession but that won’t happen if Wisconsin doesn’t have success along the line of scrimmage. Wisconsin’s offensive line will have a chance of accomplishing that due to the Cornhuskers allowing 219.5 rushing yards over conference play, which ranks 13th. The Badgers will run toward Van Lanen’s side at times making it important that Van Lanen consistently gets the better leverage and creating rushing lanes to allow for Jonathan Taylor to have success.

3) Jack Coan QB

Coan was up and down against Iowa and in order for the Badgers to stop their two game road losing streak, Coan will need to deliver a more consistent performance. Coan had two turnovers in Wisconsin’s win over Iowa extending his streak of at least one turnover in three straight games. Nebraska has registered five interceptions over conference play. Coan can’t kill offensive drives by turning the football over and allow Adrian Martinez a chance of creating something for the Cornhuskers offense that’s averaging 402 yards of total offense over Big Ten play.

Wisconsin Drops a Spot in College Football Playoff Rankings

Wisconsin dropped a spot to No. 14 in latest college football playoff rankings.

After coming in at No. 13 in the initial college football playoff rankings last week Wisconsin dropped to No. 14 in this week’s ranking despite the Badgers beating Iowa 24-22 this past Saturday.

Wisconsin is currently 7-2 as the Badgers came in ahead of Michigan, which is ranked No. 15. Despite the loss to Wisconsin this past weekend Iowa remained in the top 25 as they fell from No. 18 to No. 20.

Overall there were six teams from the Big Ten to be ranked in the college football playoff rankings. Ohio State is still the highest rated team from the Big Ten but they fell a spot from No. 1 to No. 2 as LSU is now ranked No. 1 following the Tigers road victory over Alabama.

Minnesota made the biggest jump in the college football playoff rankings jumping nine spots to No. 8. The Gophers are the second highest ranked team in the Big Ten following their home win over then No. 4 Penn State as the Nittany Lions dropped to No. 9.

With LSU being ranked No. 1 and Ohio State being No. 2, Clemson and Georgia came in No. 3 and No. 4 respectively to round out the rankings. Alabama was ranked fifth while Oregon was sixth in the rankings.

 

 

Five Nebraska players who Badger fans need to know

Here are five Cornhuskers who Badger fans should keep a close eye on throughout Saturday’s matchup between Wisconsin and Nebraska.

Fresh off of a crucial victory over Iowa last weekend to maintain possession of the Heartland Trophy, No. 13 Wisconsin hits the road to Lincoln to face a stumbling Nebraska squad on Saturday.

Head coach Scott Frost’s program has been one of the great disappointments in all of college football this season after opening as the No. 24 team in the land. While the Badgers were able to snap their two-game losing streak and stay alive in the Big Ten West race by taking care of business against the Hawkeyes, the 4-5 Cornhuskers are reeling after suffering three straight losses and mustering just one victory in their last five contests.

Wisconsin has won six in a row against Nebraska and is a 14.5-point favorite as of Tuesday, but Memorial Stadium can often be a difficult environment for visiting teams, especially for a rivalry game such as this. However, if an upset is in the cards, the Cornhuskers will need their stars at their best.

Here are five players on the opposing sideline who Badger fans should keep a close eye on throughout the game.

1. Adrian Martinez – Quarterback

2019 stats: 59.5% passing, 1,491 yds, 7 TD, 6 INT/4.1 YPC, 399 yds, 5 TD

Nebraska’s upset hopes will ride squarely on the shoulders of its sophomore signal-caller.

A dark horse Heisman candidate in the eyes of many college football pundits leading into the season after a huge year in 2018 as a true freshman, Martinez hasn’t come remotely close to living up to that hype through the Cornhuskers’ first nine games. His accuracy has regressed and he’s already tossed six interceptions so far this season, which is the fourth most in the Big Ten. He’s only No. 9 in the conference in passing efficiency rating as well.

Nonetheless, as Martinez goes, so too does the Nebraska offense, which is often the case with quarterbacks but especially true here given that he is the team’s second-leading rusher as well as its top passer.

The Cornhuskers will likely need Martinez to have his best outing of the season against the Badgers if a victory is on the table. If he can replicate his state line from last season’s 41-24 loss at Camp Randall (24-42, 384 yds, 2 TD to go along with 13 carries for 57 yards), they’ll have a shot.

2. JD Spielman – Wide Receiver

2019 stats: 35 rec, 688 yds (19.7 avg), 2 TD

Nov 2, 2019; West Lafayette, IN, USA; Purdue Boilermakers safety Cory Trice (23) runs Nebraska Cornhuskers receiver JD Spielman (10) out of bounds in the first half at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

A Third-Team All-Big Ten selection a season ago, Spielman has followed up his outstanding play in 2018 by serving as Nebraska’s most dangerous weapon on offense this year, though there’s a case to be made for the next player on this list as well.

As he has been throughout his entire career in Lincoln, the Cornhuskers’ leading receiver has been a big play waiting to happen whenever he touches the ball, ranking No. 5 in the conference in average yards per catch. The Badgers are all too familiar with Spielman’s playmaking ability after he torched them for a school-record 209 yards and a touchdown on nine receptions in last year’s meeting in Madison.

Wisconsin could have its hands full with Spielman again this weekend, as the junior wideout is red-hot coming off of back to back dominant showings; he had 6 receptions for 123 yards in the Nov. 2 loss to Purdue and racked up 5 catches for 95 yards the week before in the loss to Indiana.

NEXT: Wan’Dale Robinson/Mohamed Barry/Lamar Jackson

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3-Point Shot Wisconsin vs. McNeese State

Three keys to Wisconsin winning a second game in a row against McNeese State.

McNeese State was able to register its first win of the season as they beat Southern New Orleans 104-33 on Monday night. After playing their first two games on the road losing to Western Michigan and Louisiana by an average of 7.5 points the Cowboys will play their third road game in a week.

In this Badgers Wire feature, we will look at the three keys or questions for Wisconsin as they prepare to play McNeese State.

LAYUP: WISCONSIN’S ABILITY TO LIMIT SECOND CHANCES

Wisconsin through two games has allowed their opponents to average 12 offensive rebounds per game, which they have turned into an average of 15 points per game.

In particular, Wisconsin will need to box out the 6’8″ Sha’markus Kennedy as he has registered at least four offensive rebounds over the Cowboys first three games.

McNeese State is averaging 10.6 offensive rebounds per game as Kennedy is responsible for 13 of the team’s 32 offensive rebounds this season. With Kennedy leading the team in offensive rebounds the Cowboys have averaged 10.3 second chance points.

In order for Wisconsin to take control of the game earlier compared to their win over Eastern Illinois, the Badgers are going to need to attack the defensive glass. If Wisconsin can consistently limit the Cowboys offense to one shot per offensive possession it should help make sure the Cowboys can’t stick around.

MID-RANGE: THE PLAY OF WISCONSIN’S BACKCOURT

D’Mitrik Trice and Brad Davison have been able to distribute the basketball effectively while the two continue to find their shots from 3-point range. Trice and Davison each have registered four assists this season, which leads the team.

In addition, Trice and Davison should be able to get open looks against the Cowboys defense. McNeese State is only allowing opponents to shoot 35.5 percent (66-for-186) from the field but the Cowboys haven’t played anybody of note.

Making it important that Wisconsin is able to work the basketball around in order to create an open shot. If that’s Trice or Davison creating an open look for a teammate or them being the recipient the Badgers will need to knock down their looks in order to build a lead.

3-POINTER: SLOWING DOWN MCNEESE STATE’S BIG 3

McNeese State has three players who are averaging double figures in Dru Kuxhausen (17 ppg), A.J. Lawson (15.7 ppg), and Kennedy (13 ppg).

In particular, Wisconsin’s defense will need to be cognizant of Lawson as he has scored in double figures in all three games but has also attempted 13.3 field goal attempts a game, which leads the team. In addition, Lawson has registered seven assists over three games, which leads the team.

Lawson is going to get his shots up against the Badgers but Kuxhausen is coming off McNeese State’s win over Southern New Orleans where he went 7-for-10 from three. Making it important that Wisconsin’s defense doesn’t allow either to get any open look where they can shoot in rhythm.

Between Lawson and Kuxhausen they are shooting a combined 35-for-72 (48.6 percent) from the field. If Wisconsin allows either to get enough room they’ll attempt a shot making it important that Wisconsin doesn’t allow them to create a mismatch.

Wisconsin fixed problems against Iowa, but will that beat Minnesota?

Considering the Wisconsin Badgers’ situation relative to the Minnesota Golden Gophers after UW’s win over the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Had the Minnesota Golden Gophers not beaten Penn State and made themselves an even bigger target for the Wisconsin Badgers, we wouldn’t be devoting quite as much time or energy to the task of beating the Gophers on Nov. 30. Yet, one can’t work with events as one wishes they would be. One must deal with events as they actually are. It’s called living in the real world.

Minnesota has made itself more of a problem for Wisconsin. It’s not what UW fans wanted, but it is the reality the Badgers must confront. That will be a very hard game to win. Therefore, it is worth spending some of these November days focusing not just on Nebraska and then Purdue, but on P.J. Fleck and his folks. How will the Badgers go into Minneapolis and come away with Paul Bunyan’s Axe?

Based on Wisconsin’s win over the Iowa Hawkeyes this past Saturday, a number of interesting questions and attached tension points have emerged. The question I will explore in this particular piece is as follows: Can Wisconsin win this game simply by eradicating mistakes, or will the Badgers need to push themselves far beyond their limits?

Yes, the best answer is “both,” but let’s be clear before we continue with this brief piece: Against Ohio State (or, to use a non-Big Ten example, LSU or Clemson), it is obvious that Wisconsin and other second-tier teams in the United States have to play way over their heads and make “value-added” plays to have a real chance to win. Is Minnesota that kind of opponent? I am inclined to say “no,” but my opinion doesn’t matter that much. A reasonable middle ground on this question is that while Minnesota certainly isn’t in Ohio State’s league, the Gophers made Penn State look bad for much of this past Saturday’s game and — had they not fumbled when leading by two scores in the third quarter — could have blown the doors off the Nittany Lions.

Minnesota went from being “a team which beats up on the bottom of the Big Ten” to “a team that is for real” against Penn State. Do we know yet if the Gophers are not merely “for real” and “a team to be taken seriously,” but genuinely ELITE? I don’t think so.

The tricky part for Wisconsin: The Badgers can’t use that lack of knowledge to assume they can win merely by avoiding mistakes against the Gophers. This leads us into the heart of this piece, and one of the most fascinating tension points of the game on Nov. 30 in TCF Bank Stadium:

The Badgers’ offense improved when the dumb penalties ceased. Wisconsin’s offense got out of its own way. Its running game flourished when the Badgers weren’t behind schedule. Two plus two equals four.

However, after the offense got out of its own way, the defense allowed a 75-yard touchdown and endured another one of its fourth-quarter swoons, the previous one being against Illinois. We wrote about the problems in the secondary which have allowed that alarming detail to remain part of this team’s identity in the second half of the season.

Imagine, then, if both the offense and the defense spend a full game not making huge mistakes, with the level of performance we saw from Jack Coan (tolerable, but not spectacular). Is that going to be enough against the Gophers? It’s an interesting query. One could go back and forth on that topic.

The strength of the argument rests with the offensive line. If there aren’t any false-start penalties and Jonathan Taylor gets four or more yards per carry, the Badgers could pound Minnesota’s defensive front and turn this game into the trench warfare battle they want. A game based on the elimination of mistakes could be all Wisconsin needs.

The weakness of this argument is based on the awareness of how much speed Minnesota has, not only in relationship to Iowa but to a Wisconsin team which was outflanked at times by Illinois. Keep in mind that if Jack Coan throws the ball against Minnesota the way he did against Iowa, the Gophers’ closing speed in the secondary might turn Wisconsin catches into incompletions on successful pass breakups. Eliminating bad mistakes from the ledger sheet will put Wisconsin in position to win, but that might not be enough to put UW over the top.

Yes, Wisconsin’s offense fixed its problems versus Iowa, and the team in general took a clear step forward from the previous two games. Yet, will that be enough to beat Minnesota? You don’t have to answer that question right away… and that’s part of the point. Wisconsin will have to wrestle with that question over the next few weeks. This is the reality facing the Badgers, now that the Gophers have made themselves such an obstacle, at least in 2019.

2021 WR Jaylin Noel Earns Offer from Wisconsin

Wisconsin extends a scholarship in the 2021 class in wide receiver Jaylin Noel.

Wisconsin’s 2020 recruiting class won’t be able to officially sign their letter of intent until the early signing period starting December 18. Wisconsin’s coaching staff still has to fill out the remainder of the 2020 class but that hasn’t prevented them from evaluating and offering prospects from the 2021 class.

On Sunday Wisconsin extended another scholarship offer in the 2021 class to wide receiver Jaylin Noel as Noel was on an unofficial visit to Wisconsin this past weekend to see Wisconsin beat Iowa.

It was Noel’s sixth scholarship offer and third from the Big Ten. Noel from Park High School in Kansas City, Mo. also holds scholarships from Iowa, Minnesota, Iowa State, Kansas State, and South Dakota State.

The wide receiver position could be one of the more heavily populated positions in the 2021 class considering Wisconsin over the next two years is set to lose four scholarship players at the position. Wisconsin currently has two wide receivers committed in the 2020 class as the Badgers in the 2021 class will likely exceed that number to replenish the talent at the position.

Noel is currently unranked by Rivals but he is rated as a three star prospect by 247 Sports. Wisconsin currently has five commitments in the 2021 recruiting class.

 

Nate Reuvers Named Big Ten Player of the Week

Nate Reuvers was named by the Big Ten as its player of the week.

[jwplayer nJadWSKW-er0jUifI]

It’s only been two games but Nate Reuvers certainly has been impressive in the early goings as he’s averaging 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 6.5 blocks.

This is the first time in Reuvers career where he has been recognized as player of the week by the Big Ten. Reuvers is the first Wisconsin player to earn this recognition since Ethan Happ who did it last season (Dec. 10, 2018).

In Wisconsin’s season opener against Saint Mary’s Reuvers finished the game with 22 points, tying a career-high while also registering six rebounds and four blocks. Reuvers was able to follow that up by registering his second career double-double against Eastern Illinois as he finished the game with 14 points and 14 rebounds in addition to having nine blocks.

Reuvers has been Wisconsin’s most consistent scorer as he’s shooting 46.2 percent (12-for-26) from the field and has made at least one three in each game. In addition, Reuvers 6.5 blocks per game rank second nationally behind Marquette’s Theo John who’s averaging eight blocks per game.

Wisconsin will host Marquette on Sunday at noon as the game can be seen on FS1. Before the Badgers square off with their in-state rival in the Golden Eagles the Badgers will play McNeese State on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Bryson Williams Ruled Out for game Against Nebraska

Wisconsin starting nose tackle Bryson Williams is set to miss the Nebraska game with left leg injury. Bryson Williams NT, Semar Melvin CB

Wisconsin (7-2, 4-2 Big Ten) will be without starting nose tackle Bryson Williams when they play Nebraska (4-5, 2-4) on Saturday. Williams, a native of Lincoln, Nebraska, had to leave the game against Iowa early because of a left leg injury.

This will mark the fourth game Williams will miss as he missed the other three games because of a leg injury. With Williams out for the game, true freshman Keeanu Benton will fill in for Williams.

Benton has done well for Wisconsin along the defensive line as he has appeared in eight games with five starts as the only game he hasn’t played in was against Illinois. On the year Benton has registered nine tackles (seven solo tackles), three tackles for loss, and one sack.

Williams was the only player to be listed as out for Wisconsin, but freshman cornerback Semar Melvin is listed as questionable after missing the Hawkeyes game.