Which Badgers Players Are In The NFL?

There may be some better football factories across the nation in places such as Alabama, Oregon, Ohio State, Florida State, and LSU, but the Badgers still have produced some pretty darn good players over the years. Let's look at the current Badgers in the NFL, and rank the best of the bunch.

1. J.J. Watt/DE/Houston Texans- Of course, the monster from Waukesha, Wisconsin starts this list. 6'5”, 289 pounds, and if' he is only 6'5”, then Charles Barkley is skinny. Listen, I think Aaron Rodgers is awesome. Heck, I believe he might be the greatest pure quarterback to ever put on a football uniform, but right now, at this moment, J. J. Watt is the best football player in the world.

2. Joe Thomas/OT/Cleveland Browns- The one thing the Badgers are known for is lineman. There is not a better offensive lineman in the NFL right now than Joe Thomas of the Cleveland Browns. Thomas is an 8 time All-Pro, and the only offensive lineman in NFL history to be named to the Pro Bowl in each of his first eight seasons.

3. Russell Wilson/QB/Seattle Seahawks- Yes, Wilson only spent one season in Madison, but he still technically was a Badger and as a result, he qualifies for this list. Wilson is an undersized but highly intelligent quarterback. The question is how will he perform, when he is no longer on a loaded roster in a couple of years?

4. DeAndre Levy/OLD/Detroit Lions- This past offseason DeAndre Levy ranked 66^th on the NFL top 100 players list. Levy has been a great player for a long time, and last season was one of his best ever. He finished 2014 with 151 tackles, good for second best league wide.

5. Travis Frederick/C/Dallas Cowboys- Many thought the Cowboys 2013 first round selection of Frederick was a disaster at the time. Oh boy, were they wrong. Frederick has started every game of his NFL career so far and was an All-Pro a year ago. Frederick is quickly emerging as the best center in the league.

What went wrong with Bucky?

Through the first six games of the season, the Wisconsin football team buried opponents so fast and so early that little doubt about the outcome was left by halftime.

In fact, the narrowest lead UW took to the locker room in the first six weeks was 27-14 Oct. 1 against then-No. 8 Nebraska, and even then the Badgers had just finished reeling off 20 straight second quarter points and had all the momentum.

The last two weeks featured much different stories. Sure, Wisconsin established itself early both times, each in environments as electric as they were hostile. After out-gaining Michigan State in offensive yards 141-61 and generating a 14-0 lead in the opening quarter Oct. 22, the Badgers out-gained Ohio State 105-40 and led 7-0 after a quarter in Columbus. There is not much more to be asked of an offense on the road.

Not much, that is, except show up again for the second quarter.

“We just weren’t playing with urgency at all and that’s what pains us most,” junior running back Montee Ball said. “We feel like we practice with urgency and we just didn’t carry it forward to the game.

The Badgers have not scored a second-quarter touchdown since redshirt sophomore tight end Jacob Pedersen hauled in a three-yard pass from senior quarterback Russell Wilson with three seconds left in the half Oct. 15 against Indiana.

In fact, they have not scored period.  Let's hope that won't be the case the rest of the season.  GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Badgers looking to OSU after the stunner at MSU

In the wake of one of the most agonizing defeats in school history, the dreadful memories of Saturday's loss to Michigan State still linger for the Badgers. Yet, as difficult as it is to continue moving forward, it is imperative that Wisconsin maintains its focus as they invade Columbus to take on Ohio State this Saturday.

UW head coach Bret Bielema addressed the team's disappointment and urged the players to continue fighting.

"I told [the players] you should never get used to this feeling,"Bielema said. "This feeling should hurt. It's something we need to get rid of and shake out tonight. If you ever accept it, then it's going to happen more than you ever want it to."

Even after a shaky performance and an unsuccessful comeback, senior quarterback Russell Wilson remains optimistic about his team's ability to overcome this adversity.

"The main thing is staying positive, keep working hard like we do everyday and keep leading," Wilson said. "There's a lot of great opportunities for us and we have a great opportunity to play Ohio State."

Last season, the Badgers upset the then-No.1 Buckeyes 31-18 before a raucous Camp Randall Stadium, a pivotal victory en route to a share of the Big Ten title and a trip to the Rose Bowl. On Saturday, the Badgers won't have the comforts of home.

While the Badgers have won three of their last five meetings in Columbus, the most recent trip resulted in a 31-13 loss. The Badgers dominated in first downs 22-8 and total offense 368-184, but Scott Tolzein threw three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns.

The Badgers are all too familiar with the consequences of missed opportunities, so it is essential they convert when they have their chances, especially against a tough defense, ranked 16th in the nation.

"Ohio State has got a lot of athletic ability up front all the way to the back end of the defense," Wilson said. "The main thing is capitalizing on opportunities just like any other game."

The controversy encompassing Ohio State this summer has been well publicized, as it was revealed several former Buckeyes received improper benefits while former head coach Jim Tressel lied to the NCAA about having any knowledge of the transactions. Tressel has resigned, but the image of the program has been besmirched.

But even with all the negativity, Ohio State has remained competitive, coming off its biggest victory against upstart Illinois, 17-7, last weekend.

"They look more and more like the traditional Ohio State as they get further in the season," Bielema said. "Their defense is playing extremely well with that swagger."

While a shot at the BCS title is gone, the Badgers still dictate their own destiny in the quest for the Big Ten title.Bielema has witnessed teams stuck in a hole claw their way back to become conference champions. In 2003 as Kansas State's co-defensive coordinator, Bielema's team lost three straight games against Marshall and conference rivals Texas and Oklahoma State, leaving them 4-3 overall but 0-2 in the division.

"One of things I really benefitted from my experience at Kansas State was I had a great two years of learning divisional play within a conference," Bielema said.

"[Kansas State head coach] Bill Snyder said if we take care of our business, we can get in the conference championship game and get to a BCS bowl. Everyone was looking at him like he had three heads."

The team rallied together and not only won the rest of their games, but shocked No. 1 Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship, desecrating the Sooners 35-7 for the conference title and earning a trip to the Fiesta Bowl.

"I think the biggest thing is what kind of kids you have in your program," Bielema said. "I expect this group to bounce back as they did late in the fourth quarter and put everything into this preparation."

Let's hope Bucky can turn it around in Columbus.  GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Badgers Beat Nebraska

If Russell Wilson becomes the third football player at the University of Wisconsin to win the Heisman Trophy, it will be because of performances such as the one against Nebraska last week, not any promotional ideas hatched by the school's athletic communications department.

Wilson's performance on national television in prime time on Saturday night has thrust him near the top of most Heisman polls, which are becoming a cottage industry.

The Heisman polls are too numerous to mention, but many have Wilson in the top three, along with two other quarterbacks, Stanford's Andrew Luck and Oklahoma's Landry Jones.

The UW athletic communications department has started a Twitter campaign for Wilson's Heisman chances (@RussellManiaXVI). But don't expect Wilson to be checking it out much, since he doesn't have a Twitter account.

"No, I don't follow it too much," Wilson said after practice on Wednesday night. "Brian (Lucas), the media relations guy, let's me know. That's kind of cool. I don't have Twitter, though, myself."

Fresh off the push he got nationally from the 48-17 victory over the Cornhuskers, Wilson appeared Tuesday on the ESPN television show, "Pardon the Interruption," and also Dan Patrick's nationally syndicated radio show, which also is simulcast on television.

Barry Alvarez said getting Russell Wilson was like winning the lottery, I would have to agree with him.  GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is Russell Wilson the missing link?

Right about now, new Badger quarterback Russell Wilson is pouring over playbooks, learning the language of UW’s offense and working out in anticipation of one of the most buzzed-about seasons in recent program history.

One way or another, Wilson is making some sort of adjustment for this upcoming season.

There’s no doubt Wilson has a fair amount of work ahead of him, but he’s not the only one who’s going to have to adjust. Wisconsin football will have to adapt to having a mobile quarterback.

After two years of creating strong pockets for former quarterback Scott Tolzien, the offensive line — as well as the rest of the offense — will have to be ready any time Wilson feels the need to roll out of the pocket to create a better opportunity to advance the ball or just get a clearer view down the field.

Wilson is hypothetically the piece that was missing for what could be one of the most talented football teams Wisconsin has seen in a long time. But just as he has to get used to a new system, team and town, the Badgers have to get used to him as a leader and what he can bring to the field.

I am predicting a BCS game for sure.  GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Russell Wilson is a Badger

Summer temperatures are rising throughout the Midwest, and with Russell Wilson now a Badger, Wisconsin especially can look forward to more heat.

In a press conference Tuesday, UW football head coach Bret Bielema expressed his excitement for what his new quarterback’s presence on campus will mean for the team.

“He’s very dedicated, very serious, on task with everything he does,” Bielema said. “I’ve learned that over the last couple of months, recruiting him and talking with him. I’m very excited to have him in our program.”

Bielema is confident Wilson will have a quick transition into Wisconsin’s style of play. While learning the playbook and terminology will take some time, getting to know the team and meshing with his new teammates will be the biggest challenge for Wilson.

“Once he gets on campus, our players will be the best coaches,” Bielema said. “He learns things very quickly, not only graduating in three years at N.C. State, but also I think it’ll carry over into the football field”

“N.C. State’s version [of football] and Paul Chryst’s version are two totally different things,” Bielema added. “Football language takes on a unique environment in each place that you go to. The transition will go quicker than you think, but the biggest challenge will be in the locker room, getting to know guys for the first time.”

Some of the first players Wilson will interact with will be the rest of the quarterbacks, most notably redshirt sophomore Jon Budmayr, who was previously anticipated to be under center this fall.

With Wilson now on the team, Budmayr told Bielema it “wasn’t going to change the way [he] prepares for this upcoming season.”

Bielema, meanwhile, is looking forward to the competition Wilson’s presence should foster at the position.

Can you say BCS Championship Game my fellow Badgers Fans?   GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!