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 

Jared Abbrederis steps up

For a walk-on redshirt freshman wide receiver trying to make a name for himself, getting noticed by the head coach is always a good thing.

Even if it’s for something bad.

That’s the way Jared Abbrederis viewed it one day in during the University of Wisconsin football team’s preseason camp. Abbrederis he failed to make a sliding catch, which caught Bret Bielema’s eye. The Badgers caoch said Abbrederis had to make that catch if he ever expected to play for the Badgers.

“It was really encouraging to hear him getting on me because if he doesn’t say anything, obviously, he doesn’t care,” Abbrederis said.

“I just had to look at it and be positive, just go out and practice and show him I can make every play. Obviously, you’re going to miss some. I’ve got to try to do the best I can to catch everything thrown to me.”

Since that play, Abbrederis has caught nearly everything thrown to him. That’s a good thing for the Badgers, who had to turn to him on Saturday when they were without starting wide receivers Nick Toon and David Gilreath in the second half of their 27-14 victory over San Jose State.

It is great to see  the Badgers have players waiting in the wings just waiting to make their move.  GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!