Wisconsin Football: 2023 Big Ten Media Days
With the 2023 season quickly approaching, the Wisconsin Badgers headed to Big Ten Media Days on Thursday, July 27 for a full slate of media appearances and events. Running back Braelon Allen, quarterback Tanner Mordecai and linebacker Maema Njongmeta joined head coach Luke Fickell to represent UW at the conference event. The group of student-athletes made their first visit to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for Big Ten Media Days. Fickell returned to conference media days for the first time since 2011, when he appeared in Indianapolis as the interim head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes.
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— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) July 27, 2023
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— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) July 27, 2023
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RB Braelon Allen
Braelon Allen, a second team All-Big Ten selection in 2022, gears up for his junior season as he looks to solidify his status as one of the best backs in the nation. Allen ran for 1,242 yards and 11 touchdowns as the Badgers' lead back during his sophomore campaign, becoming the fifth Badger in program history to run for 1,000 yards as both a freshman and a sophomore. After facing plenty of loaded defensive boxes during his first two season, Allen should see space open up in OC Phil Longo's air raid offense.
QB Tanner Mordecai
Tanner Mordecai joins the Badgers after a record breaking two-year stint at Southern Methodist, where he threw for 72 touchdowns over the last two seasons. Mordecai, who has one year of eligibility remaining, began his career at Oklahoma in 2018. The Waco, Texas native finished his SMU career ranked first in program history in passing TDs (72) and third in passing yards (7,152). Over the last two seasons, only C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young and Sam Hartman have thrown for more TDs than Mordecai and among that group, only Mordecai's 66.4% completion percentage trails only Stroud.
LB Maema Njongmeta
Maema Njongmeta emerged as a playmaker at the center of the Badgers' defense in 2022, his first season of consistent action. He played in all 13 games, starting 11, and logged a team-high 95 tackles. Njongmeta finished the 2022 campaign strong, totaling sacks in four straight games to close the regular season. He earned third-team All-Big Ten honors and posted the second-best PFF defensive grade (89.9) among Big Ten linebackers, trailing only Iowa's Jack Campbell.
“Leadership starts with relationships.”
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) July 27, 2023
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— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) July 27, 2023
