MADISON, Wis. — For Wisconsin's NFL hopefuls, the path to the professional ranks has entered one of its most visible phases.
A total of five UW seniors are taking part in all-star showcases this month as they seek to stand out among the players vying for teams' interest leading up to April's 2017 NFL Draft.
Last week, running back Dare Ogunbowale and wide receiver Robert Wheelwright put their skills on display in the first round of all-star games. Ogunbowale played in the 93rd East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg, Florida, while Wheelwright took part in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in Carson, California.
Attention now turns to the Senior Bowl, which dates to 1950 and is considered the premier college all-star event. Linebacker Vince Biegel and running back Corey Clement will represent the Badgers this week in Mobile, Alabama, and compete for the North squad in Saturday's game, which kicks off at 1:30 p.m. (CT) and airs live on NFL Network.
Ogunbowale carried a team-high eight times for 42 yards in last Saturday's Shrine Game, matching the second-highest rushing total for any player with an effort included a pair of 13-yard runs.
He also recorded two receptions, including a third-and-goal pass from Illinois QB Wes Lunt that went for a loss and led to a 27-yard field goal for the West squad. That opened the scoring in the first quarter and helped the West secure a 10-3 win over the East.
Wheelwright was a starter for the American squad that fell to the National team, 27-7, in the NFLPA game last Saturday. He hauled in three receptions for 27 yards.
The game came a week after Wheelwright took part in the College Gridiron Showcase, another event aimed at exposing draft-eligible players to scouts and executives from NFL teams through meetings, interviews and practice sessions. He was joined at the five-day showcase in Bedford, Texas, by UW quarterback Bart Houston.
Senior Bowl week officially begins Tuesday morning when players take part in weigh-ins for NFL scouts and front office personnel. The teams will then hold three practices before Saturday's game.
NFL Network will provide live coverage of those sessions, with Biegel and Clement's North squad practicing at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday and 12:15 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday.
This marks the seventh-consecutive season the Badgers have been represented at the Senior Bowl. In each of the previous six, at least one Wisconsin player has taken part in the Senior Bowl and gone on to be selected in the NFL draft.
