Tag: Wisconsin football news

Badger Countdown: Running back records all-time high 77 rushing scores

The college football season is inching closer and the Badgers launch their 2023 campaign in 77 days on Sept. 2 versus Buffalo.

The college football season is inching closer and the Badgers launch their 2023 campaign in 77 days on Sept. 2 versus Buffalo. During his four seasons with Wisconsin, running back Montee Ball compiled career stats as good as any ball carrier ever.

Ball was a member of the Badgers from 2009-2012, becoming a superstar in his second season with the team in 2010. During his 2011 campaign he produced 1,923 yards and 33 touchdowns on the ground while also catching 24 passes for 306 yards and six scores. The 39 combined touchdowns matched Barry Sanders’ all-time FBS record and Ball finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting that year (RGIII won).

After his fourth and final year with Wisconsin, Ball had produced a program-high 77 rushing touchdowns, while his 5,140 rushing yards were second only to Ron Dayne.

Ball was selected in the second round (58th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos, but he unfortunately fizzled out of the league by 2015.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyzzyj3n3jt6m7 player_id=none image=]

Badger Countdown: Tolzien unleashes 80-yard TD in Week 1 of 2009

The return of Badger football is just 80 days away as Wisconsin opens the 2023 campaign Sept. 2 versus Buffalo at Camp Randall Stadium.

The return of Badger football is just 80 days away as Wisconsin opens the 2023 campaign Sept. 2 versus Buffalo at Camp Randall Stadium. Not many players have worn the number 80, but a former Badger quarterback unleashed an 80-yard touchdown pass to open the 2009 campaign.

Scott Tolzien set off his second season as the starting quarterback with a bang, hitting wide receiver Isaac Anderson for an 80-yard touchdown on the Badgers’ first offensive play of the 2009 season.

Wisconsin went on to win the contest 28-20 over Northern Illinois and finished the year with a 10-3 overall record. Head coach Bret Bielema led his Badger squad to a 20-14 win over Miami (FL) in the 2009 Champs Sports Bowl.

Badger football picked as dark horse to win Big Ten

As the 2023 CFB offseason slowly ramps up, Paul Myerberg of USA Today broke down his favorites to win each conference and a dark horse team.

As the 2023 college football offseason slowly ramps up, Paul Myerberg of USA Today broke down his favorites to win each conference and a dark horse who could be pull it off. Wisconsin was chosen as the dark horse from the Big Ten.

With Luke Fickell now at the helm for the Badgers, they will look to build upon a shaky 7-6 campaign from 2022, a season in which Wisconsin went through a lot of changes in power positions. This year, as Fickell takes over officially at head coach, there will be a new offensive coordinator in Phil Longo, bringing his “Air Raid” offense to Madison. Additionally, defensive coordinator Mike Tressel has come with Fickell from Cincinnati and will look to maintain the impressive defensive identity that the Badgers have built.

On top of the coaching changes, Wisconsin has brought in double-digit transfers, including former four-star quarterback Tanner Mordecai and four-star receiver C.J. Williams.

Mordecai is expected to be the starting quarterback in 2023 while Williams works his way into what has become a deep WR room in Madison. Pairing the transfer talent with returning Badgers like star running back Braelon Allen, leading receiver Chimere Dike as well as defensive leaders like Jordan Turner and Maema Njongmeta, Wisconsin looks strong heading into the upcoming season.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyzzyj3n3jt6m7 player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Cornerback left off roster ahead of 2023 season

Al Ashford III isn’t listed on Wisconsin’s official football roster and the cornerback status is in question for the 2023 campaign.

Al Ashford III was not listed on Wisconsin’s football roster that was released Monday. The cornerback may no longer be a part of the program heading into 2023.

The former three-star recruit spent two seasons with the Badgers, both of which ended prematurely due to injury. Ashford sat his freshman year with a shoulder injury and then appeared in only three games in his sophomore season before suffering a leg injury, which kept him out the rest of the way.

It’s possible injuries are the reason for his absence from the roster, but no definitive answer has been provided by the program.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyzzyj3n3jt6m7 player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Badgers PFF grades: Top 5 defensive players from the win over Maryland

Here’s a look at the top 5 highest graded defensive players from Wisconsin’s victory over Maryland, according to Pro Football Focus:

Madison, Wis. –  It took until early November, but the Wisconsin Badgers finally did it; they won back-to-back games for the first time this season.

In less than ideal playing conditions, interim head coach Jim Leonhard and the Wisconsin Badgers (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten) jumped out to an early lead over Maryland and never looked back, winning 23-10 at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Wisconsin’s defense put together one of its best games of the season playing in the elements, only allowing 189 yards on 3.0 yards per play and sacking the opposing quarterback a season-high five times, two of which belonged to the Big Ten’s sack leader, Nick Herbig.

According to PFF, UW registered 19 total pressures, a marked improvement from the 13.8 per game the Badgers averaged coming out of the bye week.

The Badgers won in the trenches and freed up inside linebackers like Maema Njongmeta and Jordan Turner to get after the opposing quarterback – who finished with four and three pressures, respectively.

Following Saturday’s win, the Badgers are now 4-0 all-time against the Terrapins, including 3-0 at Camp Randall Stadium.

Here’s a look at the five highest-graded defensive players from Wisconsin’s victory over Maryland, according to Pro Football Focus.

Badgers PFF grades: Top 5 offensive players from the win over Maryland

Here’s a look at the top 5 highest graded offensive players from Wisconsin’s victory over Maryland, according to Pro Football Focus:

Madison, Wis. –  It took until early November, but the Wisconsin Badgers finally did it; they won back-to-back games for the first time this season.

In less than ideal playing conditions, interim head coach Jim Leonhard and the Wisconsin Badgers (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten) jumped out to an early lead over Maryland and never looked back, winning 23-10 at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Wisconsin out-gained Maryland in total yardage, dominated in the running game, and took care of the football en route to a beatdown of the visiting Terrapins. 

Coming out of the bye week, Bobby Engram’s offense had to get one-dimensional, registering 355 total yards (77 passing, 278 rushing) on 5.5 yards per play.

The one-two punch of Bralon Allen and Isaac Guerendo, each topped 100-plus yards rushing and found paydirt against Maryland – hard to ask for more than that on a rainy day at Camp Randall.

Following Saturday’s win, the Badgers are now 4-0 all-time against the Terrapins, including 3-0 at Camp Randall Stadium.

Here’s a look at the five highest-graded offensive players from Wisconsin’s victory over Maryland, according to Pro Football Focus.

Wisconsin Badgers vs. Maryland Terrapins game recap: Everything we know

Wisconsin #Badgers vs. Maryland Terrapins game recap:

Madison, Wis. – It took until early November, but the Wisconsin Badgers finally did it; they won back-to-back games for the first time this season.

The weather in Madison was downright awful, with wind and pouring rain playing a factor – nothing went according to plan. Still, interim head coach Jim Leonhard and the Wisconsin Badgers (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten), who were four-point favorites, jumped out to an early lead over Maryland and never looked back, winning 23-10 at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Wisconsin out-gained Maryland in total yardage, dominated in the running game, and won the turnover battle en route to a beatdown of the visiting Terps in a game that wasn’t all that close.

Coming off a bye, Wisconsin’s offense got the job done but had to get one-dimensional, registering 355 total yards (77 passing, 278 rushing) on 5.5 yards per play.

Wisconsin’s defense enjoyed playing in the elements, only allowing 189 yards on 3.0 yards per play and sacking the opposing quarterback five times, two of which belonged to the Big Ten’s sack leader, Nick Herbig.

With today’s win, the Badgers are now 4-0 all-time against the Terrapins, including 3-0 at Camp Randall Stadium.

Here’s a recap of Wisconsin’s home victory over the Maryland Terrapins:

Former Wisconsin OT finds new home in the Big 12

Former five-star Wisconsin OT quickly finds a new home in the Big 12 with a fast-rising program:

It didn’t take long for former Wisconsin Badgers offensive tackle Logan Brown to find a new home after being dismissed from the program and entering his name into the Transfer Portal.

This past week, the 6-foot-6, 313-pound offensive tackle announced he’d be joining Lance Leipold and the Kansas Jayhawks in the Big 12 in 2023.

Per the 247Sports composite, Brown was the No. 17 overall prospect in the 2019 recruiting class, the No. 4 OT in the country, and the No. 1 player in Michigan.

The former five-star OT was given every opportunity to earn a starting job at Wisconsin but ultimately failed to capitalize. His inconsistent play, specifically in pass protection, kept him from ever cementing his place among UW’s top five offensive linemen – so a fresh start made a ton of sense for both sides.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyzzyj3n3jt6m7 player_id=none image=https://badgerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion, and analysis. You can also follow Dillon Graff on Twitter @DillonGraff.

Wisconsin Badgers S John Torchio named semifinalist for Bednarik Award

The Jewelry Thief makes the cut for the Chuck Bednarik Award:

Madison, Wis. – University of Wisconsin senior safety John Torchio has been named one of 20 semifinalists for the 2022 Chuck Bednarik Award, presented annually to college football’s defensive player of the year. The Maxwell Football Club made the announcement Tuesday. 

The winner of the Bednarik award will be announced on December 8 as part of the ESPN College Football Awards show. 

Torchio, a native of Lafayette, California, leads the nation in interceptions (5) and has also registered 41 tackles, five pass deflections, three pressures, one sack, and two touchdowns on the season. 

The Jewelry Theif, as nicknamed by his teammates, is currently the highest-graded player on the Wisconsin Badgers defense (87.1) and has the third-highest coverage grade in the country among safeties (90.1), according to Pro Football Focus. 

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyzzyj3n3jt6m7 player_id=none image=https://badgerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion, and analysis. You can also follow Dillon Graff on Twitter @DillonGraff.

Wisconsin releases week 10 injury report for contest vs. Maryland

Five players are ruled out, and seven others are listed as out for the season in Wisconsin’s injury report for week 10 vs. Maryland:

Madison, Wis. — On Monday, the University of Wisconsin released its official injury report ahead of its Week 10 matchup vs. the Maryland Terrapins. 

The unranked Wisconsin Badgers (4-4) are coming off a much-needed bye week that allowed them to regroup and get healthier at several key positions. 

Heading into week ten, UW has five players ruled out due to injury against Maryland and seven others listed as out for the season.  

In a season of disarray, frustration, and underachieving, injuries have continued to ravage the Wisconsin Badgers. However, UW will get back starting safety Hunter Wohler, who missed the last seven games due to injury. In addition, they’ll get back tight ends Hayden Rucci and Cole Dakovich, plus kickoff specialist Jack Van Dyke. 

Another notable name missing from the injury report is backup quarterback Chase Wolf, who suffered a knee injury before the season and will be a situation to monitor as the week progresses. 

UW will need as many healthy bodies on the field as possible this weekend as the Badgers look to turn things around and continue its push for bowl eligibility. 

Here is a look at Wisconsin football’s injury report for Week 10: