Derek Watt

Badgers preparing for the next level

May 2, 2016 By Bill Scott

Joe Schobert (Photo by David Stluka).

Only two Wisconsin Badgers were selected this weekend in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Linebacker Joe Schobert led off the draft’s final day going to the Cleveland Browns with the first pick of the fourth round. Fullback Derek Watt was selected in the sixth round by the San Diego Chargers.

The Badgers have had at least one player selected in 38 consecutive NFL Drafts. Schobert’s selection marked the sixth-consecutive year in which the Badgers have had at least one player selected among the draft’s top 100 picks. He was the 99th pick of the Browns. [Read more…]

Watt & Herring pass the first test

October 28, 2014 By Bill Scott

Wisconsin Badger junior fullback Derek Watt and senior defensive lineman Warren Herring both came out well from their first playing action since going down with injury in the opener against LSU.

Herring missed time with a knee injury and Watt had surgery on a broken bone in his foot and returned to action Saturday in the Badgers 52-7 win over Maryland.

Watt played roughly 15-16 snaps at fullback while Herring was in on roughly twice as many plays. Both can expect heavier workloads this week when the Badgers hit the road for a game at Rutgers.

Badgers land two more recruits

Wisconsin has received a pair of verbal commitments from a a couple of defensive line prospects over the weekend for the 2015 recruiting class. The additions push the incoming recruiting class to 23. He passed on offers from Colorado, Nevada and Hawaii.

Defensive tackle Elu Aydon (6’2, 296) will join the Badgers from Leone High School in Pago Pago, American Samoa. Defensive tackle Olive Sagapolu (6’2, 290) from Santa Ana (California) Mater Dei High School is the other player to commit to Wisconsin. He passed on offers from Washington State and Kansas State.

Badgers injury update

September 4, 2014 By Bill Scott

Warren Herring

The Wisconsin Badgers will have to play without starting defensive lineman Warren Herring for at least a month and fullback Derek Watt for even longer.

Herring injured his right knee on the final play of the third quarter during the season opening 28-24 loss to LSU last Saturday. He underwent knee surgery on Wednesday and is expected to miss four to six weeks.

The Badgers open Big Ten play in four weeks at Northwestern on Oct. 4.

Watt injured his right foot in the LSU game. He’s not expected to return until early November.

There’s good news for defensive end Konrad Zagzebski. He was limited in practice on Tuesday and Wednesday, but he is expected to play Saturday against Western Illinois.

Zagzebski suffered a shot to the head/neck area in the first quarter of last Saturday’s game and lost feeling in his left side. He was taken to a hospital for precautionary reasons but made the return trip home with the team. Results from an MRI and a CAT scan were negative.

Another Watt is headed for Madison

April 2, 2012 By Bill Scott

J.J. Watt played for the Wisconsin Badgers in 2009 and 2010 after

J.J. Watt

transferring from Central Michigan. Watt has since moved on to the NFL where he just finished his rookie season with the Houston Texans.

Last year, Derek Watt arrived on campus and red-shirted. He’ll compete for a spot on the 2-deep roster this season.

Over the weekend, a third Watt, TE/DE T.J. Watt gave Wisconsin an oral commitment for the 2013 freshman class.

The youngest Watt, caught 27 passes for 505 yards and three touchdowns at Pewaukee last season. He also had offers from Minnesota and Northern Illinois.