The NFL season is finishing its fourth week, and 24 University of Wisconsin Badgers have found their way onto its rosters thus far. Not only that, but a handful of them have become integral members of their team and have been making significant impacts on the field.
Specifically, the Pittsburgh Steelers are Badger central, with four former Wisconsin players on the roster; defensive tackle Keeanu Benton (2019-2022), linebacker Nick Herbig (2020-2022), defensive tackle Isaiahh Loudermilk (2016-2020) and linebacker T.J. Watt (2013-2016).
All four Steelers regularly play in games, but Watt stands out from the group. For the Badgers, Watt earned First and Second Team All-American honors, as well as first team Big 10 honors and was drafted in the first round in 2017. Since then, he has accumulated many NFL honors, including six time All-Pro honors and winning NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2021.
Wisconsin is affectionately known as “running back university” so it would be inappropriate to not highlight our three Wisconsin running backs in the league.
Dare Ogunbowale (2012-2016), a former walk-on and former undrafted free agent, has been playing in the NFL since 2017 and has been a member of the Houston Texans for the last few years.
Former 3,000 yard rusher for the Badgers, Braelon Allen (2021-2023), has been making a name for himself with the New York Jets since being drafted in 2024. Allen was the MVP of both the bowl games he played in with the Badgers and received second team All-Big 10 each year on the team. He was drafted in the fourth round and has served as the second part of the Jets’ one-two punch at running back.
Our last professional running back is Jonathan Taylor (2017-2019), who now plays for the Indianapolis Colts. Taylor had one of the best college careers of all time, becoming only the 7th player to ever rush for 6,000 yards and doing it only in three years. He also received unanimous first team All-American honors twice and won the award for Big 10 Freshman of the Year in 2017, followed by two consecutive Doak Walker Award for the top running back in college football wins.
Since being drafted in the second round in 2020, Taylor has not slowed down. He led the NFL in both rushing yards and touchdowns in 2021 and received pro bowl and first team All-Pro accolades. Since then, he has broken multiple Colts franchise records and has been off to another strong start this season.
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The Badgers have a few other stand-outs in the league to mention. A Wisconsin alumna is a defending Super Bowl champion this year, linebacker Zack Baun (2015-2019) from the Philadelphia Eagles. Not only did he bring home the ultimate prize last season, Baun had a breakout season, earning his first All-Pro honors.
A couple other linebackers to note include Leo Chenal (2019-2021), T.J. Edwards (2014-2018), Jack Sanborn (2018-2021) and Andrew Van Ginkel (2017-2018).
Chenal is a two time Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs and had a great career at Wisconsin culminating in a Butkus-Fitzgerald Big Ten Linebacker of the Year Award in 2021.
Edwards and Sanborn both went undrafted but have both earned starting spots on their respective teams. Van Ginkel has also earned a starting place since being drafted in the fifth round in 2019.
Fullback Alec Ingold (2015-2018), one of the 5 players listed at the position on NFL rosters this season, has been a standout for the Miami Dolphins since going undrafted in 2019 and has earned Pro-Bowl spots and Walter Payton Man of the Year nominations.
Tight end Jake Ferguson (2017-2021), the grandson of UW Hall-of-Famer Wisconsin football coach and athletic director Barry Alvarez, has put any nepotism claims to rest with his long list of college and NFL accolades. For the Badgers, Ferguson caught a pass in every game he played, setting the school record for most consecutive games with a reception — that being 47. Since being drafted in 2022, he has made a mark as the now starting tight end for the Dallas Cowboys and has become one of quarterback Dak Prescott’s go-to targets.
UW also produces a large number of talented linemen, including center Tanor Bortolini (2020-2023), guard David Edwards (2015-2018), guard Joe Huber (2023-2024), offensive tackle Jack Nelson (2020-2024), center Joe Tippmann (2019-2022) and offensive tackle Cole Van Lanen (2016-2020).
Other linemen include center Tyler Biadasz (2016-2019), offensive tackle Rob Havenstein (2010-2014) and guard Kevin Zeitler (2008-2011).
Biadasz was the first Badger to ever win the Rimington Trophy for the best center in college football and went on to be drafted in the fourth round in 2020 and quickly became a full-time starter after his first year.
Havenstein has played in two Super Bowls during his 11 year career and won one with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022. Zeitler was a rare first round lineman draft pick in 2012, and has been a full time starter for most of those 14 years, now with the Tennessee Titans.
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Last but not least, UW’s only NFL quarterback, Russel Wilson (2011) despite only spending one season with the Badgers, led the team to the Rose Bowl that year, and won the Grese-Brees Award for Big Ten Quarterback of the year. He also set a school record for career completion percentage and career pass efficiency.
Wilson was drafted in the third round by the Seattle Seahawks, with whom he spent ten seasons, winning one Super Bowl. During this time he also achieved the title of NFL passer rating leader in 2015, NFL passing touchdowns leader in 2017 and won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2020, followed by the Bart Starr Award for outstanding character and leadership in 2022.
But, since leaving the Seahawks in 2022, Wilson has struggled and has recently been demoted to second-string quarterback for the New York Giants, behind rookie Jaxson Dart.
Baun and the Eagles are poised for another successful season, as well as Taylor’s Colts. The Steelers, with four Wisconsin alums, have also had a strong start. Unfortunately, the other teams with Badger members have not stood out yet this season.