[lawrence-newsletter]
The newest edition of the “where are they now” series, a series of articles looking at former Badger football standouts and checking in on where they are in the NFL or elsewhere, turns focus to linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel.
Van Ginkel came to Wisconsin as a four-star defensive end from Council Bluffs, Iowa after transferring from Iowa Western Community College.
Though he was only with the program for two years, Van Ginkel was one of the most productive players on Jim Leonhard’s defense and was a big reason the 2017 Badgers came within a drive of making the College Football Playoff.
The linebacker finished his college career with 26 games played, 98 tackles, 19.5 tackles-for-loss, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. One of those interceptions was a pick-six against Ohio State in the 2017 Big Ten Championship, a game during which he produced one of the most impressive championship performances ever for a defensive player.
Van Ginkel finished the game with three tackles, a pick-six, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Were it not for his performance that day the Badgers would not have found themselves down six points with a chance to drive to win the game late in the fourth quarter.
Van Ginkel departed Madison, Wisconsin after his senior season in 2018 and was selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins.
In his rookie season in 2019 the former Badger played in six games and recorded 15 tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery.
With the Dolphins’ recent free agent spending spree the Iowa native is currently listed fourth on the depth chart at weak side linebacker and is in line to see the field mostly during special teams in 2020.
Check in tomorrow for a look at the progression of now-New York Giant linebacker Ryan Connelly.