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Badgers tight end position getting smaller

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Zander Neuville (Photo by David Stluka).

Two more Wisconsin tight ends dropped out of practice with injury.  The latest are Redshirt sophomore Jake Ferguson and freshman Hayden Rucci, both with left arm injuries.

Ferguson’s injury isn’t believed to be serious, but with the first game just over two weeks away (Aug. 30 at South Florida), the Badgers are definitely thin at the position.

Already lost are Gabe Loyd (season-ending leg injury) and Luke Benzschawel (right knee).  Only three healthy players remain at the position, freshman Clay Cundiff and redshirt freshmen Jack Eschenbach and Seth Currens, who just moved to tight end from linebacker.

The Badgers are also giving work to redshirt freshman Cormac Sampson who played tight end in high school but has moved to the offensive line with the Badgers.

Wisconsin does have veteran Zander Neuville returning after being granted a sixth year of eligibility.  But Neuville is working his way back into football shape and has yet to start practicing with the team.

Neuville suffered season ending knee injuries for the Badgers, each of the last two years.

 

Penniston reportedly looking to transfer

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Kyle Penniston

According to 247Sports, Wisconsin Badger tight end Kyle Penniston is considering a transfer and is in the NCAA transfer portal.

Penniston has struggled to establish himself as the pass catcher he had hoped to be.  He’s played in 39 games with 21 starts, but he’s totaled just 16 receptions for 176 yards and four touchdowns.  Penniston had just three catches for 18 yards this past season.

Penniston played as a backup for two seasons behind Troy Fumagalli and then last season behind Jake Ferguson.

Penniston will be a redshirt senior this coming fall.  He hasn’t graduated yet, but if he does so in the spring, he could transfer to another school and play immediately.

Badgers land six first-team All-Big Ten honorees

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The Wisconsin Badgers saw 11 players earn All-Big Ten recognition as the conference announced its postseason awards winners this week.

Sophomore running back Jonathan Taylor, the nation’s leading rusher, was named Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back of the Year, while one of his primary blockers, senior guard Michael Deiter, was tabbed as Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year.

Taylor and Deiter were among four consensus first-team All-Big Ten selections for the Badgers, along with senior guard Beau Benzschawel and sophomore center Tyler Biadasz.  Junior tackle David Edwards and senior linebacker T.J. Edwards, selected by a panel of league media, gave UW a total of six first-team All-Big Ten picks overall.

A Doak Walker Award finalist for the second straight season, Taylor leads the nation in rushing with 1,989 yards and an [Read more…]

Badgers kickoff season with convincing win (Audio)

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Jake Ferguson

The Wisconsin Badger defense got off to a good start, holding Western Kentucky to just three points in a 34-3 victory over the Hilltoppers in the season opener on Friday  night at Camp Randall.

Wisconsin replaced seven starters on defense from 2017 but the Badgers looked comfortable from the start.  The Badgers held the Hilltoppers to just three points on four trips inside the UW 20-yard line.

Overall, 12 players made their Badger debut and nine players made their first starts as a Badger.

The Badgers led 24-0 at halftime, thanks in part to a pair of Jonathan Taylor touchdown runs.  Taylor finished with 145 yards on 18 carries to go along with the two scores.  Taylor topped the 100-yard mark for the 11th time in his 15-career games.  He now ranks No. 2 at UW in career rushing average, at 6.69 yards per carry.

Taylor also became the 17th player in UW history to eclipse 2,000 yards rushing for his career.  Taylor reached the 2,000-yard plateau in just 15 career games, the second-fastest in UW history.  Ron Dayne went over 2,000 yards rushing in only 13 games in 1996. [Read more…]

Alvarez’s grandson says ‘yes’ to Wisconsin

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Bucky Badger logoMadison Memorial tight end Jake Ferguson has decided to stay home and play for the home town Wisconsin Badgers.

Ferguson has a brother (Joe) on the team and is the grandson of athletic director Barry Alvarez.  He had offers from Iowa and Nebraska among others and even paid a visit to Alabama last fall.  But Ferguson took his official visit to the UW Campus on Thursday and after meeting with coaches and watching spring practice, he made it clear he wanted to be a Badger.

Ferguson is rated as a three-star prospect by Scout and Rivals and is considered one of the top players in the state’s 2017 class.  He earned first team All-Big Eight Conference honors at both wide receiver and inside linebacker as a junior at Madison Memorial, but is expected to play tight end for the Badgers.

The Badgers also received an oral commitment from wide receiver Cade Green from Austin, Texas.  He became the seventh commit in the 2017 class.