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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

High school football is already in week 3 of the regular season around the state of Wisconsin, meaning the next wave of college football hopefuls have already begun their 2022 season campaign. Last weekend the college football season began with a "Week 0" that saw a handful of games serve as a teaser for the real opening week, this weekend.

As in years past, hundreds of former Wisconsin high school football standouts will be taking the field for colleges of all divisions. This article will preview those that will be suiting up at the Division 1 FBS and FCS levels.

By my research, 149 alumni will be suiting up for 43 different schools in the FBS. That number is nine better than last year's 140 total. 107 more will take the field for 30 different FCS teams. Hundreds more alumni will be playing at the Division 2, Division 3, NAIA and JUCO levels as well.

College ball won't be the only level that former Wisconsin high school football standouts will shine this year. The NFL will once again be home to a good number of players from the Badger state. Stay tuned for an article and list of those that will play at football's highest level.

This season, our weekly Football Alumni Round-Up will be your way to stay in touch with those former high school standouts from across the state and their careers at the next level.

A full list of FBS and FCS athletes can be found at the bottom of this article.

What will Braelon Allen do as an encore as a sophomore?
 

The Fond du Lac grad burst onto the season last year as a true freshman at Wisconsin, and on the chance you didn't hear, he was just 17. He rushed for 1,109 yards and 12 touchdowns, breathing new life into the rushing attack. Allen has a lot of buzz coming into 2022, earning Preseason All-American nods from the AP and Sports Illustrated. Despite the return of backfield-mate Chez Mellusi, expect another phenomenal season from Allen.

Who Takes The Next Step for Wisconsin?

The obvious answers are Chimere Dike of Waukesha North and Hunter Wohler of Muskego. Dike will be the focal point of the pass game with the exodus of Danny Davis, Kendric Pryor and Jake Ferguson to the NFL. Expect a jump in production. Wohler saw limited snaps last season as a true freshman, but stood out in those appearances. The former four star recruit should begin Week 1 at one of the starting safety spots.

Other possible breakout candidates are fullbacks Jackson Acker and Riley Nowakowski. The fullback position has a great tradition of excellence at Wisconsin and Acker a Verona grad and Nowakowski a Marquette grad are poised to take the snaps this season. Will the duo continue that level of play that the likes of Bradie Ewing, Derek Watt, Alec Ingold, John Chenal and others have set?

Does Will McDonald IV make his case as a first round prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft?

McDonald, a Waukesha North grad, could have easily bolted for the NFL last season and heard his name during the draft. Instead, he returns to Iowa State for his senior year after posting 36 tackles, 14 for loss, 11.5 sacks and five forced fumbles last year and being named the Big 12 Co-Defensive Lineman of the Year. McDonald has been named to the AP, CBS and Sporting News Preseason All-American Teams. He is one of the best pass rushers in the nation, and is poised to have another great season on the hopes of raising his draft stock.

What Will Nick Howard do as an encore at Dartmouth?

Howard, a Green Bay Southwest graduate, served as a change of pace quarterback last season at Dartmouth. He rushed for nearly 800 yards and 15 touchdowns and earned First Team All-Ivy honors. With the graduation of their starting quarterback, Howard seems primed to step into a bigger role at quarterback with his arm this season. A true dual-threat quarterback, Howard was named to the Water Payton Award watchlist. It'll be fun to see the numbers the GB Southwest grad can put up in his senior season.

Does the Badger State's influence in the Missouri Valley Conference continue?

The Missouri Valley Conference is one of, if not the best, conference in the entire FCS. Littered across most of those teams is a plethora of former Wisconsin high school football standouts. The most notable may be Spencer grad Hunter Luepke at North Dakota State. The bruising fullback is a back-to-back All-American and reigning FCS Championship Game Most Outstanding Player. Luepke is just one of 63 players on MVC schools, further proof that, yes, the conference will see a major impact from in-state alumni once again.

FBS

A quad of alumni return this season that garnered All-Big Ten honors last year for the home state Wisconsin Badgers. Fond du Lac grad Braelon Allen rushed for 1,109 yards and 12 scores, Allen earned All-Big Ten Second Team honors from both the coaches and media. Keeanu Benton of Janesville Craig was considered a strong possibility to head to the NFL after his junior in Madison, but the Second Team All-Big Ten defensive tackle will be back to anchor the Badger defensive line.

Jack Nelson started all 13 games last season at right guard, clearing running lanes for the Badger rushing attack. The Stoughton alum earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors in his redshirt freshman season. Port Washington alum Tyler Beach started 12 games last season for the Badgers at left tackle and earned Third Team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches. Beach will be back for another season to anchor the offensive line.

Jarrett Horst could have easily bolted to the NFL after his senior year at Michigan State, but is back in 2022. The Middleton grad transferred into East Lansing from Arkansas State after his junior year and earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten laurels in his first season for Sparty.

Will McDonald IV is another player that could easily be suiting up on Sundays this year. Instead the Waukesha North standout is returning for his senior year at Iowa State. Last season, McDonald had 14 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks and five forced fumbles as he was named the Big 12 D-Lineman of the Year. He also earned First Team All-Big 12 and Third Team AP All-American honors.

Cole Godbout was a force on the defensive line for Wyoming in his sophomore season. The Hudson grad had 60 tackles and earned Honorable Mention All-Mountain West honors. Despite a loss in Week 0 to Illinois, Godbout had seven tackles and one for loss already this season.

Spencer High School alum Logan Zschernitz put together an impressive season last year at Northern Illinois, his freshman by way of eligibility. He started all 14 games at right guard for the Huskies and earned All-MAC Second Team honors by Phil Steele and Third Team recognition from the coaches.

FCS

Nick Howard was an offensive weapon last season at Dartmouth. Lining up at quarterback, the Green Bay Southwest alum did a majority of his damage with his legs. He rushed for 787 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Big Green and earned First Team All-Ivy League honors along the way.

Speaking of offensive weapons, Hunter Luepke has been just that for North Dakota State. The Spencer grad has been a First Team All-American and All-MVC performer for the past two seasons for the Bison. In 2021, Luepke rushed for 543 yards and nine scores and added 165 receiving yards and three scores. In the FCS Championship game against Montana State, Luepke rushed 14 times for 82 yards and three scores in the 38-10 win. The fullback was named the Most Outstanding Player of the game.

Shane Dunning handled punting duties for the Drake Bulldogs and averaged nearly 40 yards per punt on 58 punts. The Muskego grad was awarded Pioneer League Honorable Mention honors for his ability to flip the field.

The Lindenwood football is making the jump to Division 1 this year and will be competing in the FCS Ohio Valley Conference. Last season, Payton Rose earned First Team All-Great Lakes honors. The Cumberland export had 45 catches for 708 yards and nine scores. In his college career, Rose has caught 130 passes for 2,217 yards and 26 touchdowns.