Sports Illustrated’s newest edition of their “Position U” series, a series ranking college football programs in terms of the success of their NFL outputs at each positional group, focuses on the defensive line and has the Badgers at No. 6.
These rankings are based on a combination of draft position, games started in the NFL and awards received for players currently playing at the next level.
Leading the pack, obviously, are the college football blue blood programs of Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Ohio State. Somewhat surprising, though, is the Badgers’ ranking at No. 6, as the program doesn’t bring in recruits close to the level of their blue blood counterparts.
Notable defensive linemen to come through Madison, Wis. and currently play in the NFL include J.J. Watt, Beau Allen and Olive Sagapolu. Watt obviously being the most notable on the list.
Other top-10 finishes for the Badgers in the “Position U” rankings, with the defensive back rankings yet to be released, include No. 8 at running back, No. 2 at offensive line and No. 9 at tight end.