Jared Abbrederis Now A Green Bay Packers Wideout | Badgers Players Taken In 2014 NFL Draft

The wait was longer than expected, but by the end of the 2014 NFL draft, five former Wisconsin Badgers had been selected by five different professional teams. Dezmen Southward, Chris Borland, James White, Jared Abbrederis, and Beau Allen were all called-up over the weekend. Five more alumni who went undrafted were offered contracts in free agency soon after the event, including quarterback Danny O'Brien, who will go to Atlanta along with Southward.

Tightends Brian Wozniak and Jacob Peterson, also undrafted, will join O'Brien and Southward at the Falcons spring camp.

Despite speculation that headline makers Borland or Abbrederis would be the first former Badger to be taken, Southward was the first to go, at 68 overall. The third-round selection is the lowest debut pick in decades for Wisconsin graduates, who have represented at least one opening-round choice every year since 1978. The safety was not disappointed with the unusual timing, however, already thanking the team in interviews on various Atlanta radio and television stations.

Borland, a candidate for an early-round selection this year, instead followed Southward nine picks later at 77 overall. The linebacker finished his storied collegiate career with 15 forced fumbles, the most in Wisconsin history and second most all-time in the FBS, as well as top-10 program numbers in four other categories.

The San Francisco 49ers will host Borland at their camp starting this month.

Running back White was the third Badger to be called this weekend. New England used their fourth-round pick to attain the 130 overall selection, the thirteenth running-back to be chosen at that point in the draft. White could usually be found playing a support role to a host of top-prospect backs including Montee Ball and John Clay, though he was especially keen at finding holes once in the redzone. White fumbled just twice on 754 carries over his four seasons in Wisconsin.

Perhaps White's most memorable rush came in 2010 against then number one ranked Ohio State. Up three points with just minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, White came out for a first-down run from the Buckeyes ten-yard line. A few quick side-steps and he was in the endzone, putting the final dagger in what remains one of the Badgers biggest upsets in history.

Rounding-out the later rounds of the 2014 draft was wide receiver Abbrederis and nose tackle Allen. The pair were selected by the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles, respectively, at 176 and 224 overall. Abbrederis, a Wisconsin native, was expected to fetch hefty interest at the end of the 2013 season, though a disappointing showing at the combine lowered his prospects. 

Badgers 2014 Draft Selections

Round 3:

-        Dezmen Southward; Safety, Atlanta

-        Chris Borland; Linebacker, San Francisco

Round 4:

-        James White; Running-back, New England

Round 5:

-        Jared Abbrederis; Wide receiver, Green Bay

Round 7:

-        Beau Allen; Nose tackle, Philadelphia

Undrafted; Signed in Free Agency:

-        Jacob Pederson; Tight end, Atlanta

-        Brian Wozniak; Tight end, Atlanta

-        Ethan Hemer, Tackle, Pittsburgh

-        Ryan Groy; Linebacker, Chicago

-        Danny O'Brien; Quarterback, Atlanta 

Badgers In The NFL Draft 2014 | Who's Going To Play In The Pro League?

Six former Wisconsin Badgers joined over 300 fellow draft prospects at the 2014 NFL Combine in Indianapolis over the weekend. Chris Borland, Jared Abbrederis, Ryan Groy, Dezmen Southward, James White, and Jacob Pedersen represented this year's class of alumni invited to the coveted showcase, all hoping to raise their stock in June. The six are the most selected from any team in the Big Ten, along with Ohio State who also had six. Every team in the conference had at least one recent graduate playing in Indianapolis. 

Baylor and Oregon also sent a sextet to the combine. Alabama led the nation with 12 representatives, while defending NCAA champions Florida State sent nine. Only 13 programs sent at least five players.

Wide receiver Abbrederis dominated headlines as the likely premier pick coming out of Wisconsin. Already boasting higher stock as a result of an impressive showing at this year's Senior Bowl, Abberderis added 10-pounds to his frame and nearly met his self-proclaimed goal of a 4.4 second 40-yard dash. Only nine wide receivers at the combine managed better than 4.4 seconds. The Wisconsin native's best performances came in the three-cone drill and the shuttle. He placed within the top-15 wide receivers in both.

Blemishing Abbrederis' otherwise solid weekend rankings was a last place finish in the bench press. Struggling with strength at the Senior Bowl as well, he posted just four reps at 225 pounds in the final workout on Sunday.

Also noted in state press was the invitation of stand-out defensive lineman Borland. Earning a Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award for his senior season in Madison, Borland's future as a pro was very much in question prior to the weekend. At just under six-feet, he is one of the smallest linemen on showcase in-front of the scouts, and his stats in the 40-yard dash, vertical leap, and broad jump reflected that. However, 27 reps at the bench press was good enough for fifth most, and unexpected top-15 showings in the shuttle and three-cone drill seems to have provided some redemption.

Groy joined Borland in the lineman workouts, finishing in the top-20 in all but one event. Pedersen matched that mark in the tight end corps, including a second-place 60-yard shuttle.

White's combine performance among running backs was about what was expected. 23 reps at the bench press put him in the top-five for the event, though lackluster standings in the other drills only strengthened critic's assertions that his overall small size will hold him back.

Borland plays linebacker and defensive end

When the University of Wisconsin football team breaks into 1-on-1 pass rushes during practice, sophomore middle linebacker Chris Borland heads to the other end of the field to work in 7-on-7 passing drills.

Some of the biggest plays Borland made in 2009, when he was the Big Ten Conference's Freshman of the Year, came as a pass rusher on third down.

Borland reprised the role last week against Northern Illinois, but instead of being a blitzer in the 3-3-5 defense used extensively two seasons ago, he was essentially a stand-up defensive end in the 4-2-5 favored by first-year defensive coordinator Chris Ash.

With the Huskies using three-step drops, it was tough to mount a pass rush, though Borland twice came close in UW's 49-7 victory. In eight snaps at defensive end, he hit the quarterback's arm once as he was throwing, then swiped at his feet and missed another time.

Borland loves rushing the passer. He had five sacks in 2009, then was redshirted last season with a shoulder injury.

It is great to see the Badgers have players that can play multiple positions.  GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Borland is out for the year.

An already banged-up Wisconsin defense took a major blow yesterday, as head coach Bret Bielema announced starting outside linebacker Chris Borland will miss the rest of the season after re-injuring his surgically repaired left shoulder.

“After talking with our training staff and with Chris, we decided that the best thing for Chris was to shut him down for the rest of the year,” Bielema said in a statement released by the team Tuesday. “Obviously Chris is a tremendous player and a ferocious competitor, but after looking at all the options, everyone agreed this was the only option for him.”

Since Borland did not play in more than 30 percent of Wisconsin’s games in the first half of the season, he is eligible to apply for a medical hardship at the end of season. If granted, Borland will retain three years of eligibility.

Borland played in two of the Badgers’ first three games — the season opener at UNLV and last Saturday’s game against Arizona State. However, on his sixth snap of the ASU game, Borland re-aggravated the shoulder while diving to tackle Cameron Marshall and left the game gingerly holding his left arm. He did not return.

Against UNLV, Borland showed why he was last year’s Big Ten Freshman of the Year, recording five tackles — two for loss — and one sack. In 2009, Borland finished with 54 tackles — 10.5 for loss — five sacks, five fumbles caused, three fumbles recovered and one interception. Borland initially had surgery to repair a torn labrum in the shoulder in January, and re-injured the shoulder against UNLV. After sitting out the Badgers’ week two matchup with San Jose State, Borland returned to action wearing two shoulder braces against ASU.

In Borland’s absence, senior Blake Sorenson will likely step into a starting role in the base defense. Already a key member of the linebacker rotation, Sorensen is currently second on the team with 16 tackles. Against UNLV, Sorenson was UW’s co-defensive player of the week, and one week later against SJSU, he recorded his second career interception.

Borland will be especially missed on third downs, where Wisconsin likes to run its “Badger” 3-3-5 package. The 3-3-5 formation allowed Borland to focus on rushing the quarterback and was very much built around his skill set. After Borland exited the ASU game, Sorenson, A.J. Fenton and Kevin Rouse were the three linebackers in the package. For the rest of the season, defensive end David Gilbert may lineup at linebacker in the package, and linebacker Kevin Claxton will also see increased playing time.

Lets hope Borland will be stronger than ever next year.  GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Two More Badgers make preseason watchlists.

Badger senior wide receiver David Gilreath and sophomore linebacker Chris Borlandwere both named to preseason watch lists for major college football awards, it was announced Tuesday.

Gilreath was named to the watch list for the inaugural Paul Hornung Award which is given to the most versatile player in major college football, while Borland is up for the Dick Butkus Award which is presented to the top linebacker in the country.

The Hornung Award list was created based on 2009 statistics and expectations for the 2010 season. Gilreath is one of 48 players on the list, which will be whittled down to 10-15 finalists at the end of the regular season. A winner will be announced in early January.

A preseason second-team All-Big Ten selection at punt returner by Phil Steele and Athlon Sports, Gilreath has gained over 4,000 all-purpose yards in his three-year career. In 2009, Gilreath gained 615 yards on kick returns, 177 on receptions, 117 on punt returns and 75 on rushes. The school's record holder for kickoff return yards in one season, Gilreath has averaged 104.8 all-purpose yards per game in 39 career contests.

Borland was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and a first-team freshman All-American in 2009 after starting each of the final six games for UW. He recorded 54 tackles, 10.5 TFLs and 5.0 sacks while ranking third in the Big Ten in both forced fumbles (5) and fumbles recovered (3).


It is great to see Badger players getting the accolades they deserve.   GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!