Wisconsin football – Page 2 – Syndication Server

Former Wisconsin linebacker signs with Cincinnati Bengals as undrafted free agent

Former Wisconsin ILB has his NFL home:

Former Wisconsin inside linebacker Maema Njongmeta signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent after the conclusion of the 2024 NFL draft.

Njongmeta was a two-year starter for the Badgers, totaling 154 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 1 interception and 2 pass deflections over that span. He was a breakout star in 2022 during the final year of Jim Leonhard’s tenure as defensive coordinator, then had an up-and-down 2023 in the first year under Mike Tressel and Luke Fickell.

Njongmeta signs with a Bengals team that is looking for a resurgent season with star quarterback Joe Burrow back under center. The former Badger will have an uphill battle to make the roster, as the Bengals are mostly deep at inside linebacker.

There is a strong recent history of Wisconsin inside linebackers carving out productive NFL careers — T.J. Edwards, Jack Sanborn and Leo Chenal all in the last few seasons. Njongmeta will look to join that list.

Badger turned Bengal 🙌

Maema is off to Cincinnati! pic.twitter.com/LaltpPCEAu

— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) April 28, 2024

Njongmeta is one of several former Badgers to sign after the conclusion of the 2024 NFL draft — that after only three were selected during the event.

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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Former Wisconsin specialist signs with Green Bay Packers as undrafted free agent

Wisconsin’s starting LS has his NFL home:

Former Wisconsin long snapper Peter Bowden signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent after the conclusion of the 2024 NFL draft.

Bowden was Wisconsin’s primary long snapper for the last three seasons. He amassed 39 starts at the position and was a finalist for the Patrick Mannelly Award (the nation’s best long snapper) in 2023.

Bowden joins a Packers team that is on the rise with young quarterback Jordan Love under center. After low expectations entering the year, the team was on the doorstep of the 2023 NFC Championship game. Many look at 2024 as a breakthrough season for the team.

Veteran Matt Orzech is listed as the Packers’ current long snapper. Maybe Bowden can impress the coaches early and push him for the job.

He’s staying in Wisconsin! GO PACK GO!#OnWisconsin x @PBowdenSnaps pic.twitter.com/aHJtYi6cnY

— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) April 28, 2024

Bowden is one of several former Badgers to sign after the conclusion of the 2024 NFL draft — that after only three were selected during the event.

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Former Wisconsin Badgers QB signs with San Francisco 49ers as undrafted free agent

Wisconsin’s 2023 starter has an NFL home:

Former Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Tanner Mordecai signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent after the 2024 NFL draft concluded on Saturday.

The former Badger, Oklahoma Sooner and SMU Mustang entered the draft after a six-year college career that consisted of 34 starts, 9,857 passing yards, 85 touchdowns, 27 interceptions, 606 rushing yards and 8 rushing touchdowns.

He started at Wisconsin in the 2023 season after transferring in for Luke Fickell and Phil Longo’s first year at the helm.

The quarterback joins a 49ers team that lost the Super Bowl in 2023. The organization has been the class of the NFC dating to 2019, but it doesn’t have a Super Bowl title to show for it.

The 49ers’ quarterback, Brock Purdy, was the last pick in the 2022 NFL draft. While Mordecai will need to battle to make the team, the organization has experience with unheralded QBs earning a big role. Mordecai will primarily compete with Josh Dobbs and Brandon Allen for a roster spot behind Purdy.

Mordecai is off to San Francisco! 🌁#OnWisconsin x @t_mordecai pic.twitter.com/HsAY5la7XQ

— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) April 27, 2024

Mordecai is one of several former Badgers to sign after the conclusion of the 2024 NFL draft. Only three were selected during the event.

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Wisconsin locks in official visit with 2025 tight end from Nebraska

Wisconsin football scheduled an official visit with three-star class of 2025 tight end Reiman Zebert. He will be on campus the weekend of June 7 — one of the busier recruiting weekends on the calendar.

Wisconsin is among four programs that Zebert has an official visit scheduled with, joining Stanford, Duke and Nebraska.

The Springfield, Nebraska native is 247Sports’ No. 750 player in the class of 2025, No. 37 tight end and No. 4 recruit from the state of Nebraska.

Stanford, Duke, Nebraska and Wisconsin are the early favorites to land Zebert’s commitment, though the other programs on his offer sheet include Kansas State, Miami, Arkansas, Minnesota and Oklahoma State.

Wisconsin’s class of 2025 currently ranks No. 17 in the nation with nine total commitments. The class does not include any tight ends as of late, though Luke Fickell and his staff continue to work hard to re-shape the talent and depth at the position.

Official visits for Springfield (Neb.) Platteview TE Reiman Zebert:

Stanford: May 31st
Wisconsin: June 7th
Duke: June 14th
Nebraska: June 21sthttps://t.co/3JemMjOhy2 pic.twitter.com/5DcCaNFaSL

— Allen Trieu (@AllenTrieu) April 27, 2024

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Wisconsin Badgers RB Braelon Allen selected by New York Jets in 2024 NFL draft

Former Wisconsin RB Braelon Allen has his NFL home:

Former Wisconsin Badgers running back Braelon Allen was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft with the No. 134 pick by the New York Jets.

The star running back entered the draft after rushing for 3,494 yards and 35 touchdowns during his three-year college career. Those marks have him ranked No. 9 on Wisconsin’s all-time rushing yards leaderboard.

He joins a Jets team that struggled in 2023 after Aaron Rodgers’ Achilles’ injury. Breece Hall returns to lead the backfield, though there could be an available opportunity for Allen to get immediate carries.

Allen was the 10th running back selected in the draft. He was also the third former Badger taken, following Tanor Bortolini to the Colts and Isaac Guerendo to the 49ers. The rest of the Wisconsin players in the draft are expected to be signed as undrafted free agents.

N.Y. Jets Select RB Braelon Allen 134th Overall

✈️ 35 Rushing TDs Since 2021 (2nd Among Power Five RBs) pic.twitter.com/4MymOZSNQC

— PFF College (@PFF_College) April 27, 2024

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Former Wisconsin RB Isaac Guerendo selected by San Francisco 49ers in 2024 NFL draft

Former Wisconsin RB has an NFL home:

Former Wisconsin Badgers running back Isaac Guerendo was selected with the No. 129 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers.

Guerendo transferred to Louisville after four years with the Badgers. He was a breakout performer for the Cardinals during the 2023 campaign, rushing for 810 yards and 11 touchdowns on 132 carries.

He joins a 49ers team that is coming off a Super Bowl loss in the 2023 season. The team is led by running back Christian McCaffery, but Guerendo’s speed should give him a consistent role.

Guerendo did not go directly from Wisconsin to the NFL draft, but he’s still the second former Badger selected, following Tanor Bortolini to the Indianapolis Colts. Former Badger running back Braelon Allen figures to be the other former Wisconsin player selected.

Louisville RB Isaac Guerendo to the #49ers. pic.twitter.com/9TD8orZERH

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 27, 2024

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Wisconsin Badgers OL Tanor Bortolini selected by Indianapolis Colts in 2024 NFL draft

Former Wisconsin OL Tanor Bortolini gets first NFL home:

Former Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman Tanor Bortolini was selected with the No. 117 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts

Borolini entered the draft after a productive collegiate career playing all across the offensive line. He finished with 27 starts over four years — 13 at center, 13 at left or right guard and one at tight end. The versatile lineman started all 12 games at center for the 2023 Badgers under new offensive coordinator Phil Longo, and allowed only one sack in 477 chances according to PFF.

He joins a Colts team in need of a resurgent season after a 9-8 2023 campaign.

Bortolini is the first former Badger to be selected in this year’s draft, with running back Braelon Allen likely to follow. Other former Wisconsin players project to be signed as undrafted free agents.

Madtown ➡️ Naptown

Welcome to Indy, @TanorBortolini! pic.twitter.com/MLK4KKEzSf

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) April 27, 2024

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Former Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen falls to Day 3 of 2024 NFL draft

Braelon Allen falls to Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft:

Former Wisconsin Badgers running back Braelon Allen was not selected in the first three rounds of the 2024 NFL draft.

The three-year starter with the Badgers finished his decorated career with 3,494 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns — a mark good enough to rank him ninth on Wisconsin’s all-time rushing yards leaderboard.

Allen received a third-to-fourth-round projection entering the draft and was listed as the No. 97 overall prospect. The fourth round begins Saturday afternoon with pick No. 101, so he hasn’t fallen far yet.

ESPN lists Allen as the third-best running back still on the board, ranked behind Tennessee’s Jaylen Wright and Kentucky’s Ray Davis.

Several teams on the board will be looking for running backs in the late rounds. Even those with starters could use an insurance policy like Allen, or somebody to just enter for short-yardage and specialty situations.

Allen and former Wisconsin center Tanor Bortolini both expect to hear their names called during the third day of the NFL draft, hopefully earlier rather than later.

UPDATE: Allen was selected No. 134 overall in the fourth round by the New York Jets

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Every former Wisconsin Badger selected in NFL draft first round since 2000

Every former Wisconsin Badger selected in NFL draft first round since 2000:

The 2024 NFL draft enters its third day of action on Saturday, April 27 with rounds 4-7.

Three rounds are already in the books, and no former Wisconsin Badger was selected in that frame for the fourth time since 2011.

There will be several former Badgers selected on day three of the draft — including running back Braelon Allen, offensive lineman Tanor Bortolini and running back Isaac Guerendo (via Louisville). Several others have a chance to be selected but will likely sign as undrafted free agents.

The Wisconsin football program is in the midst of a cold streak of turning players into top draft picks. Numerous recent players have turned into NFL stars, including Leo Chenal, Jonathan Taylor, T.J. Edwards and Andrew Van Ginkel — though none were first-round selections.

Luke Fickell and his staff are working to revamp the roster, which should lead toward that streak changing. But until that happens, here is every former Wisconsin Badger to be selected in first round since 2000:

Philadelphia Eagles select Iowa cornerback — Wisconsin football’s mortal enemy

Cooper DeJean terrorized the Badgers for years:

The Philadelphia Eagles traded up to No. 40 overall in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft to select Iowa cornerback Cooper Dejean.

We will leave the analysis of the pick to our friends at Eagles Wire and Hawkeyes Wire. The Wisconsin-related angle to the pick, and to the second night of the draft: DeJean is finally gone from the Iowa defense after terrorizing the Badgers for years.

DeJean first found a role with the Hawkeyes as a kick returner in 2021. Wisconsin dominated that matchup, 27-7, while the star cornerback returned one kick for 20 yards. He was quiet during that first matchup.

2022 is when the domination began. The Badgers, led by interim head coach Jim Leonhard, dropped a tough contest in Iowa City, 24-10. DeJean had four punt returns for a back-breaking 82 yards, plus 10 total tackles, one tackle for loss and one 32-yard pick six. Iowa totaled 146 yards on offense that afternoon. The star defensive back accounted for nearly every Hawkeye point.

Dejean doing his THING! 🔥 💪 A PICK SIX! @cdejean23 x @HawkeyeFootball pic.twitter.com/62Q7hPlovI

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 12, 2022

This trend continued in 2023. In Wisconsin’s 15-6 loss to Iowa, DeJean totaled three tackles, including one critical tackle for loss on fourth-and-1 inside Hawkeyes territory.

Nobody blocked Cooper DeJean.

The @HawkeyeFootball star stuffs Wisconsin on 4th-and-1. 🚫

📺: FOX/@CFBONFOX pic.twitter.com/0cg3kWGxmy

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 14, 2023

Wisconsin must turn around its performances against Iowa if Luke Fickell and his staff are to turn the Badgers into a Big Ten contender. The Hawkeyes will still be strong on defense, but at least DeJean is gone from the secondary and the special teams unit.

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