The 25 best players in Wisconsin football history

The first two-time All-American in Wisconsin football history (1941-42), Schreiner is one of the great tight ends in the history. He was the Big Ten’s Most Valuable Player in 1942, the same season he caught three touchdown passes in one quarter of a game. Schreiner, who was part of the 1943 East-West Shrine Game, passed up a chance to play in the NFL to serve with the United States Marines in World War II. He died from wounds suffered during the Battle of Okinawa. Schreiner was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955.

Hirsch played just one season with the Badgers, but it was good enough to earn him All-American honors and have his No. 40 retired by the school. In helping lead Wisconsin to an 8-1-1 record in 1942, the man known as “Crazylegs” rushed for 767 yards, threw for 226 and also intercepted six passes. From From there, however, Hirsch took his act to Michigan, where his training was to take place after he enlisted in the U.S. Marines. A member of both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame, Hirsch would return to Wisconsin, serving as the school’s athletic director from 1969-’87.

Known as “The Horse” and the pride of Kenosha, Wis., Ameche has often been considered the greatest football player to suit up for the Badgers. He won the school’s first Heisman Trophy in 1954, and is one of six football players to have his number retired by the Wisconsin program. Though he was an early two-way standout for the Badgers, Ameche made his bones as a fullback. In 1951, he became the first freshman to lead the Big Ten in rushing (774 yards). In 1952, Ameche helped led Wisconsin to its first-ever bowl appearance in the Rose Bowl. Ameche, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, ended his career as the NCAA’s career rushing leader with 3,345 yards.

Before Richter enjoyed a successful run as Wisconsin’s athletic director (responsible for hiring the football coach Barry Alvarez and basketball bosses Dıck Bennett and Bo Ryan), he branded himself as perhaps the greatest athlete in Badgers history. He lettered three times each in football, basketball and baseball. When it came to the gridiron, Richter led the Big Ten in receptions in both 1961 and ’62. During the 1963 Rose Bowl, Richter recorded 11 receptions for 163 yards. For his career, the College Football Hall of Famer posted 110 receptions for 1,710 yards and 14 touchdowns at Wisconsin, where his No. 88 was retired.

Recruited as a linebacker, it’s understandable that Krumrie had a serious nose for the ball while playing on the interior defensive line for the Badgers. A three-time All-Big Ten pick, Krumrie ranks third in school history with 444 career tackles, and is the program’s all-time leader with 276 solo stops. He led the conference in tackles each of his four seasons at Wisconsin before heading to the NFL, where Krumrie was a two-time Pro Bowl selection for the Cincinnati Bengals. However, he might best be remembered for suffering a broken leg during Super Bowl XXIII.

It can be argued that Toon was Wisconsin’s first marquee wide receiver. For years, Toon was the school’s all-time record holder for receptions (131), receiving yards (2,103) and receiving touchdowns (19). Entering the 2023 season, Toon’s career receiving yardage ranks sixth at Wisconsin, the reception total was tied for ninth and TD count sharing the fourth spot. In addition, Toon’s 252 receiving yards versus Purdue on Nov. 12, 1983, are second-most in school history for a single season. Toon’s son Nick followed in his father’s footsteps and currently sits fourth at Wisconsin with 2,447 career receiving yards and 171 receptions.

Before enjoying a stellar NFL career, Vincent was a pretty special player for the Badgers. He ranks among the top 25 in school history with 31 breakups, including a then-school-record 13 during the 1990 season. He finished with 192 tackles and his 773 career punt return yards rank among the top five in school history. Vincent was named Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Year and finished second in voting for the Thorpe Award in 1991. In January 2023, it was announced that Vincent earned induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Bevell was not a highly decorated performer during his time at Wisconsin, which followed a stint at Northern Arizona and two-year Mormon mission. However, his collegiate accomplishments are worthy of a spot on this list. His 7,686 passing yards are the most in school history for a career, while he also owns program records for all-time completions (646) and passing touchdowns (59). Bevell’s 61.4 completion percentage ranks fourth among all Badgers. He also holds Wisconsin’s single-game mark with 423 passing yards recorded against Minnesota from Oct. 23, 1993.

After sitting out his freshman season due to Proposition 48, Gibson made a steady progression into one of the best college offensive lineman during the mid-to-late 1990s. He started at right tackle as a junior, and when his college career ended a year later, was an All-Big Ten first teamer and consensus All-American selection. Gibson is also the first Wisconsin player to be named a finalist for both the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy. He played in the NFL from 1999-2004, seeing action with three different teams.

When it comes to true college football dominance, there aren’t many better than Dayne. The bruising running back, and Wisconsin’s most recent Heisman Trophy winner (1999), rushed for 6,397 non-bowl-game rushing yards (7,125 with those bowls), and was the all-time leader in the era (prior to 2002) when statistics in said bowls were not counted in the career total. Dayne burst on the scene as a freshman, running for a career-high 1,863 yards and averaging 6.3 per carry. During his historic senior campaign, Dayne gained 1,834 yards and scored 19 regular-season touchdowns on the ground, giving him a career-total 63 (71 including bowls). Dayne’s No. 33 was retired at Wisconsin in 2007.

Neck issues eventually led to a brief NFL career for McIntosh, but his collegiate success with the Badgers should be widely celebrated. One of the great tackles in the Big Ten during the 1990s, McIntosh was a key figure while Wisconsin made consecutive Rose Bowl appearances to cap the 1998 and 1999 seasons. A member of the University of Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame, McIntosh was named Big Offensive Lineman of the Year, a consensus All-American and finalist for the Outland Trophy in 1999. Following his playing days, McIntosh returned to Wisconsin in various administrative roles before taking over as the school’s athletic director in 2021.

In Fletcher, we could be talking about the best defender in the history of Wisconsin football. A three-time All-American, Fletcher is tied for the Badgers’ career lead with 21 interceptions and 459 interception return yards. He’s the only player in Big Ten history to lead the conference in interceptions for three consecutive seasons. He also totaled five touchdowns during his career, and is the school’s record holder with 57 career passes defensed. Fletcher recorded 21 of those — along with seven interceptions — in 2000, when he won the Jim Thorpe Award and a consensus All-American.

Evans is Wisconsin’s all-time leader with 3,468 receiving yards and 27 receiving touchdowns. In 2001 as a junior, Evans set career highs with 75 receptions and 1,545 yards. Then after missing the 2002 season due to an ACL injury, Evans returned in 2003, catching 64 passes for 1,213 with a personal-best, single-season Badgers record 13 receiving touchdowns. The two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection also ranks third in school history with 175 receptions. Meanwhile, Evans’ 258 receiving yards against Michigan State from Nov. 15, 2003, remain a school record.

There are plenty of quality defensive standouts from Wisconsin to highlight. However, James gets the nod from us. Why? James was known for his disruptive nature — a stellar combination of brute strength and skill-position speed. For his career, James registered 25.5 tackles for loss and 18.0 sacks. In addition, he recorded 28 quarterback hurries, seven forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and six pass deflections. In 2004, James was named a consensus All-American, and both Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Lineman of the Year, while a finalist for the Nagurski, Bednarik, Lombardi and Hendricks Awards.

One of the most beloved players in Wisconsin during his playing days, Leonhard proved walk-ons can achieve great things during one’s athletic career. Leonhard shares Wisconsin’s all-time interception lead with the aforementioned Jamar Fletcher at 21. However, Leonhard is the school’s career leader in single-season picks, recording an astonishing 11 in 2002. Entering the 2023 season, Leonard also ranked among the top 25 in Wisconsin history with 281 career tackles. Meanwhile, Leonhard, a two-time All-Big Ten First Team selection, was the league’s career leader with 1,347 punt return yards until 2006. He served as the Badgers defensive coordinator from 2017-22.

Is Thomas the greatest offensive lineman in Wisconsin football history? Perhaps, and he’s certainly one of the best to ever play the position at both the college and pro level. A two-time, first-team All-American (2005, ’06), Thomas was the first Wisconsin player to win the Outland Trophy, honoring the nation’s most outstanding interior lineman. He was also a two-time semifinalist for the Lombardi Award (2006). Drafted third overall by the Cleveland Browns in 2007, Thomas was a 10-time Pro Bowler who was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023. He’s also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. 

Carimi joins the aforementioned Joe Thomas as the only Wisconsin Badgers to win the Outland Trophy. That came for his work during Wisconsin’s Big Ten-championship 2010 season, where Carimi was also named Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year. Carimi was a four-year starting left tackle for the Badgers, appearing in 52 total games. He was chosen in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, and also played for Tampa Bay and Atlanta before his pro career ended following the 2014 season. 

These days, Watt might be the most famous football alum of the Wisconsin program. Though, his two brothers might argue that point. A first-team All-American in 2010, Watt actually began his career at Central Michigan, where he played tight end. However, he eventually decided to walk on at Wisconsin, where he was redshirted for the 2008 season, but saw significant time in 2009 at defensive end. His finished that season with 4.5 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss and five passes defensed. Watt was destined for stardom following his stellar 2010 campaign, when he recorded 62 tackles (42 solos), 21 for loss and seven sacks.

Wilson’s time in Madison spanned just one season. However, it essentially made him a star and paved the way for a successful NFL career. As a graduate transfer for the Badgers (following a successful career at North Carolina State) in 2011, Wilson set single-season school records for passing yards (3,175), touchdowns (33) and passer rating (191.8). His 72.8 completion percentage is second for a season at Wisconsin, which won a Big Ten championship and earned a spot in the Rose Bowl during his brief campaign in Madison.

Like other prominent backs on this list, Ball didn’t really hit the ground running in terms of collegiate success. Following a solid freshman season, Ball made a name for himself by rushing for 996 yards and 18 touchdowns as a sophomore. In his final two seasons at Wisconsin, Ball totaled 3,753 rushing yards. His 5,140 career rushing yards rank third in school history, while his 77 rushing touchdowns are the most by any Badger, as are his 33 from the 2011 campaign. The 2012 Doak Walker Award winner and two-time Consensus All-American (2011, ‘12) also ran for more than 200 yards four times while at Wisconsin.

One of the most spirited performers in the history of Wisconsin football. Borland is sixth in school history with 420 total tackles, sits fifth with 234 solos and fourth when it comes to tackles for loss (50). He’s also Wisconsin’s all-time leader with 15 forced fumbles and is tied for second with eight fumbles recovered. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2009 and the league’s defensive player of the year in 2013, Boland was a three-time, first-team all-conference performer. Borland was named first-team All-American as a senior. 

Another beloved Badger who began his college career as a walk-on, Abbrederis enjoyed quite the career at Wisconsin. His 202 receptions are tied with Brandon Williams for the most at the school. Meanwhile, his 3,140 career yards are second-most in program history, and the 23 touchdowns recorded are tied for second among all Wisconsin players. Abbrederis ended his Badgers career as a two-time first-team All-Big Ten performer, and was the 2013 winner of the Burlsworth Trophy, honoring the nation’s most outstanding player to begin his career as a walk-on.

Another in a steady line of exceptional Wisconsin running backs. Gordon’s 4,915 rushing yards rank fourth among all Badgers. Meanwhile, his 2,587 yards from 2014 are second-most for a single season in NCAA FBS history, and the 408 he gained versus Nebraska on Nov. 15, 2014, sit third in the annals of FBS action. The 2014 Doak Walker Award winner and All-American, Gordon also ranks among the Badgers’ top 10 in rushing touchdowns (45), and is the program’s all-time leader with a career 7.79 average yards per carry.

The only center in Wisconsin football history to win the Rimington Trophy (2019), awarded annually to the country’s top player at the position. Biadasz redshirted to begin his collegiate career with the Badgers, but soon became the anchor of the team’s offensive line. Biadasz started all 14 games in 2017, and every contest in 2018, as well. After recovering from hip surgery, Biadasz started all 14 games and was named an unanimous All-American during his Rimington-winning ’19 campaign, his last in Madison.

Taylor joins Ron Dayne as the only Badgers to top 6,000 rushing yards for a career. And, in impressive fashion, Taylor’s 6,174 rushing yards came over just three seasons for the Badgers. In addition, the three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection, two-time unanimous All-American and two-time recipient of the Doak Walker Award (2018, ’19), Taylor ranks second in school history for career yards per carry (6.67), second in single-season rushing yards (2,194 in 2018), third in single-game rushing yards (321 in 2018) and third in rushing touchdowns (50).