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Football Alumni Round-up: October 28th

10/28/2020, 8:15am CDT
By Colton Wilson

Many high school football standouts in Wisconsin go on to big things at the college level and in the pros, and this is our spot to recognize those athletes each week and help you keep up with what is going down on some of your favorite players from the past. If you have alumni news, please send it to Colton Wilson

Alumni Update

Big Ten football has returned and it felt like for the first time all season that a full slate of games were played this past Saturday, despite a few conferences still having not started. Wisconsin high school football alumni suited up and took the field all across the country. Additionally, the NFL entered its seventh week of play and many and more alums have been making impacts at the highest level.

NFL Catch-up

The Watt name has become synonymous with sacking the quarterback in the NFL. Older brother J.J. has three Defensive Player of the Year awards and is sitting at 99 career sacks. Many believe younger brother T.J. deserved that distinction last season with a breakout year including 14.5 sacks. This season the brothers and Pewaukee High School graduates are again mainstays in opponents backfields. T.J. has a league leading 13 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks for the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers while J.J. has three sacks and six tackles for loss for the down Houston Texans.

The state of Wisconsin has produced some incredible talent at the offensive line position for many, many years. This season, six different alumni have started in the trenches, and that's with three-time All-Pro guard Brandon Brooks being sidelined all year with an injury.

Rookie Tyler Biadasz of Amherst has taken the reins at center for the Dallas Cowboys the past three games. That position was held by former Big Foot alum Travis Frederick before his retirement following last season.

Kevin Zeitler of Wisconsin Lutheran High School and Ryan Ramczyk of Stevens Point High School are both considered one of the best at their respective positions. Ramczyk passed the 50 start threshold earlier this for the New Orleans Saints, while Zeitler notched his 125th NFL start this past weekend with the New York Giants.

Second year pro and Green Bay Southwest grad Max Scharping started the first three games for the Houston Texans at center. In contrast, Middleton alum Ryan Groy has started the last three for the Los Angeles Chargers.

Lastly, Ricky Wagner has filled in admirably on the offensive line his home state Green Bay Packers as injuries plague the unit. Wagner, a West Allis Hale grad has started two games this season, making it 89 in his career.

Daurice Fountain has spent the last three seasons bouncing between the Indianapolis Colt's practice squad and active roster. Earlier this season, the Madison Memorial grad caught his first career NFL balls in a win over the Jets.

Lastly, the University of Wisconsin is known for their great offensive line play and 1,000 yard running backs. However, the program has exported some great fullbacks in the recent years. Bradie Ewing of Richland Center was taken in the fifth round of the 2012 draft. Pewaukee's Derek Watt was drafted in the sixth of the 2016 draft and former Bay Port High School quarterback Alec Ingold went undrafted in 2019. From his touchdown assisting blocks, clutch catches, and leaping of defenders, Alec been a critical piece of the Las Vegas Raider's offense this season.

Click here for a full list of alumni in the NFL

Wisconsin Badgers Recap

The Badgers have the most alumni across its roster and many play pivotal roles for the perennial Big Ten power. The playmakers came out in full force in last Friday's 45-7 win over Illinois. The offense hummed along with ease as Amherst's Garrett Groshek led the rushing attack with 70 yards on 13 carries. Another great pair of fullbacks are suited up for the crimson and white as Grantsburg's John Chenal and Menomonie's Mason Stokke both got into the end zone. Madison Memorial's Jake Ferguson is on the cusp of being one of the best tight ends in all of college football. This past week he climbed that ladder with seven catches for 72 yards and three scores. Defensively, Catholic Memorial's C.J. Goetz got his first ever sack as he received an increase in snaps at outside linebacker.

Other FBS Action

After weeks of cancellations and postponements, Rice University finally got onto the football field. That meant Green Bay Southwest grad Isaac Klarkowski got his third start at center for the Owls as he finished the season with two straight starts in 2019.

Hawk Wimmer has seen action here and there the past two seasons for Air Force. The Franklin alum and 2016 WSN Tim Krumrie award winner finally got his shot as he started his first game at guard for the Falcons.

Click here for a full list of Division 1 alumni

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