Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Archives for Jake Ferguson

UW’s Leonard plans to interview for Packers vacant defensive coordinator position

By

 

Jim Leonard

Wisconsin Badger defensive coordinator Jim Leonard is expected to interview for the vacant Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator position.  The Packers are looking for a replacement for Mike Pettine, who they decided not to bring back after his contract expired at the end of this past season.

Leonard has served as defensive coordinator at UW since 2017.  Last season, UW finished fifth nationally against the run (96.1 ypg) and fifth in total defense (299.9 ypg).

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur started interviewing candidates over the weekend.  The list of candidates includes Rams safeties coach Ejiro Evero, L.A. Chargers defensive passing game coordinator Joe Barry and current Packers secondary coach Jerry Gray, who has previous defensive coordinators experience with Buffalo and Tennessee. [Read more…]

Ferguson, Sanborn, Hicks To Return For UW

By

Just days after winning the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, the Badgers found out three key veterans would be returning for their senior seasons at UW.  Redshirt junior tight end Jake Ferguson, junior linebacker Jack Sanborn and redshirt junior cornerback Faion Hicks all announced that they are returning next season.

Ferguson led the Badgers with 30 receptions for 305 yards and four touchdowns.  Sanborn led UW in tackles with 41 1/2 and Hicks had four passes defensed and 10 tackles.

The Badgers will lose a running back after Nakia Watson became the second player to enter the NCAA’s transfer portal.  He joins QB Jack Coan.  Watson started four games and played in five games this season.

The Badgers have three returning tailbacks on their roster, Jalen Berger, Julius Davis and Isaac Guerendo.  They added three more during the early signing period in December.

 

Mertz, Badgers dominate opener over Illini

By

Graham Mertz (Photo by David Stluka/Wisconsin Athletic Communications)

The Wisconsin Badgers kicked off the 2020 college football season with a 45-7 thumping of the Illinois Fighting Illini without fans at Camp Randall Stadium.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Graham Mertz, in his first collegiate start, completed his first 17 passes and ended up completing 20 of 21 passes for 248 yards and five touchdowns.

Mertz five touchdown passes tied the highest single-game total in UW history, matching the school record set by Darrell Bevell vs. Nevada in 1993 and Jim Sorgi vs. Michigan State in 2003.

The 14th ranked Badgers won their 25th straight home opener and their eighth straight game over the Illini in Madison.  They avenged a one-point loss to the Illini in Champaign last season.

Illinois scored their only points after forcing a fumble by Badger tight end Jake Ferguson and linebacker Tarique Barnes [Read more…]

Badgers Taylor named Big Ten’s top back

By

Wisconsin Badgers tailback Jonathan Taylor was named the Ameche-Dayne Big Ten running back of the year for the second straight season.  He becomes the third back to win the award twice, joining former Badger Montee Ball and former Penn State standout Saquon Barkley.

Taylor was also a consensus first-team all-Big Ten selection for the third straight season.

Tayor finished at the top of the Big Ten in rushing yards per game (146.8) and rushing touchdowns (20).

Teammate (C) Tyler Biadasz was also a consensus first-team pick for the second straight season.

Left tackle Cole Van Lanen was a second-team pick by the media and honorable mention according to the coaches.

Wide receiver Quintez Cephus, tight end Jake Ferguson and right tackle Logan Bruss were consensus honorable mention.  Quarterback Jack Coan was honorable mention according to the media.

 

Badgers tight end position getting smaller

By

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

By

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

By

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)

By

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

By

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.