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The state of Wisconsin continues to have a strong presence in the NFL, with 29 players on rosters or practice squads at the beginning of the 2024 season, one more than last year. Marquee names such as T.J. Watt, Ryam Ramczyk, Kevin Zeitler, and Jake Ferguson headline the list, along with a host of young up-and-coming players.

Players who were on the list last year but are no longer in the NFL or currently free agents include Alex Erickson (Darlington), Daurice Fountain (Madison Memorial), Melvin Gordon III (Kenosha Bradford), and AJ Klein (Kimberly).

Last week we previewed over 200 former alumni suiting up at the Division I level in college football.

Click here to read the Division I Preview

Braelon Allen, Fond du Lac -- Rookie Year

Allen comes into his rookie season slated as the backup running back for the New York Jets. Taken with the 134th pick in the fourth round of this past April's NFL draft, Allen has made headlines with his strength and physique during the preseason. At Wisconsin, Allen rushed for 3,494 yards and 35 touchdowns over three seasons.

Zack Baun, Brown Deer -- Year 5

Baun comes into Year 5 with a new team. After spending his first four seasons in the league with the New Orleans Saints, the former WSN Dave Krieg Award Winner and Wisconsin graduate will suit up for the Philadelphia Eagles. Over his four seasons with the Saints, Baun played in 62 games and recorded two sacks and an interception.

Nick Bellore, Whitefish Bay -- Year 14

Bellore is the most tenured player in the NFL from Wisconsin. A graduate of Central Michigan, Bellore entered the NFL in 2011 as an undrafted free agent. He's found his niche as one of the better special teams players in the league. Bellore will suit up for his fifth NFL team this season, his first with the Washington Commanders, after spending the past five years in Seattle. He is listed on the practice squad. He's played in 200 games and recorded 247 tackles, a sack and an interception in that time.

Keeanu Benton, Janesville Craig -- Year 2

Benton burst onto the scene in his rookie season last year with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Taken in the second round of the 2023 season, the Wisconsin alum saw action right away and made an impact from his defensive tackle position. Benton played in all 17 games and recorded 34 tackles, a sack, and two forced fumbles.

Tyler Biadasz, Amherst -- Year 5

Biadasz started 53 games over the past four seasons for the Dallas Cowboys, but will suit up for NFC East foe, the Washington Commanders in 2024. Biadasz, a 2020 fourth round pick, signed a three-year deal worth nearly $30 million this past offseason.

Tanor Bortolini, Kewaunee -- Rookie Year

Bortolini left Wisconsin with one year of eligibility left to chase the NFL dream. His name was called on Day 3 of this past April's draft, taken with the 117th pick in the fourth round by the Indianapolis Colts. At Wisconsin, Bortolini started nearly 30 games and was a two-time All-Big 10 selection on the offensive line.

Ben Bredeson, Arrowhead -- Year 5

Bredeson started 24 games over the past two years with the New York Giants, including all 16 a year ago. The former Michigan Wolverine signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason and will play alongside fellow alumni Luke Goedeke of Valders on the offensive line. Bredeson was a fourth round pick in the 2020 draft by the Baltimore Ravens and was traded after his rookie year to the Giants.

Logan Bruss, Kimberly -- Year 3

Bruss enters his third season in the NFL, though he spent his first season on the Los Angeles Rams practice squad. The former Wisconsin Badger standout was selected with the 104th pick in the third round of the 2022 draft and will be on an NFL active roster for the second straight season.

Mike Caliendo, Brookfield East -- Year 3

Caliendo, like Bruss before him was a practice squad member his rookie year in the NFL after going undrafted in 2022. The past two seasons, the former Western Michigan Bronco has been a reserve lineman for the Super Bowl winning Kansas City Chiefs. 

Leo Chenal, Grantsburg -- Year 3

Chenal's role has grown on the defensive side of the ball for the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Coming into his third season, the former Wisconsin Badger, has played in 34 games. He's tallied 100 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and four sacks. Chenal is primed for a breakout season in his junior campaign in the league.

Jake Ferguson, Madison Memorial -- Year 3

Ferguson has been shooting up the tight end ranks after seeing limited action in his rookie year, but improving tremendously last year for the Dallas Cowboys. In 33 professional games Ferguson has caught 90 balls for 935 yards and seven touchdowns. The former 2022 fourth-round pick will be the presumed second receiving option for quarterback Dak Prescott in 2024.

Jon Gaines II, Marquette University -- Year 2

Gaines spent his rookie year last year on the IR with an injury. The UCLA product was the 122nd pick in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft for the Arizona Cardinals. He'll provide depth along the offensive line for the Cardinals in 2024.

Luke Goedeke, Valders -- Year 3

Goedeke has solidified himself along the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive line coming into his third season. He started all 17 games last year for the Bucs and has started 25 overall in two seasons. Goedeke was a second round pick out of Central Michigan in 2022.

Shelby Harris, Homestead -- Year 10

Harris the third oldest player from the state of Wisconsin to suit up in the NFL this season. A seventh-round pick in the 2014 NFL draft, the Illinois State alum has established himself as a pro along the defensive line. Harris has played in 115 total games with 71 starts. He's accumulated 266 tackles, 26 sacks, 34 passes defended, and a sack in his now decade-long career.

Matt Henningsen, Menomonee Falls -- Year 3

Henningsen enters his third season for the Denver Broncos currently listed on the practice squad. A sixth round pick in the 2022 draft, the Wisconsin alum played in all 17 games the past two years along the defensive line. He's tallied 40 tackles, a sack, and two pass break ups.

Alec Ingold, Bay Port -- Year 6

Ingold has found his spot in the NFL with the high powered Miami Dolphins offense. A Swiss Army knife on the field, the former Wisconsin fullback contributes on specials, in the blocking scheme from his fullback position, and is a reliable pass-catching option from out the backfield. Going undrafted in 2019, Ingold played three season for the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders before coming over to the Dolphins. He signed a three year, $12 million extension in 2023. In his NFL career he's had 56 receptions for 463 yards and four touchdowns, adding a rushing score.

JC Latham, Catholic Memorial -- Rookie Year

Though Latham didn't finish his prep career in the state of Wisconsin, he did suit up for Catholic Memorial before transferring to IMG Prep in Florida. He was the seventh overall pick out of Alabama in this year's NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans and is slated to start at center.

Hunter Luepke, Spencer -- Year 2

Luepke was one of the best FCS players while at North Dakota State and was able to crack the Dallas Cowboys roster last season despite going undrafted. Last season he saw the field on offense sparingly, spending most his time on special teams. However, Luepke did find the end zone once.

Will McDonald IV, Waukesha North -- Year 2

McDonald was a terror while playing at Iowa State and it translated into being the fifteenth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. He didn't quite find his footing last year, playing for one of the better defenses. McDonald did record three sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery as he looks to burst out in year 2.

Quinn Meinerz, Hartford -- Year 4

Meinerz has established himself as one of the top interior offensive lineman in the NFL in his three season with the Denver Broncos. The UW-Whitewater alum was taken with the 98th pick in the third round of the 2021 draft and has started 39 games over the past three seasons. Meinerz got paid this offseason, signing a four-year, $72 million extension, becoming the fourth-highest paid guard in the NFL.

Eric Murray, Milwaukee Riverside -- Year 9

Murray came into the league as a fourth round pick in the 2016 draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. He spent three seasons with the Chiefs, one with Cleveland, and is now in his fifth year with the Houston Texans. Murray, a Minnesota grad, has played in 107 games and accumulated 283 tackles, 14 pass breakups, and two interceptions as a mostly backup defensive back.

Dare Ogunbowale, Marquette University -- Year 8

Obunbowale has been a journeyman of sorts in the NFL, spending time on practice squads and active rosters since he entered the league in 2017 as an undrafted free agent. The former Wisconsin standout was a practice squad member for the Texans and Buccaneers in his first two seasons before making the active roster for the Washington football team in 2017. He's been on the active rosters for four teams including entering his third season with the Houston Texans. Last year, Ogunbowale made headlines by knocking through a go-ahead field goal serving as the team's emergency kicker.

Tejhaun Palmer, Brown Deer -- Rookie Year

Palmer was a standout at UAB over the past three seasons, accumulating 1,379 yards and nine touchdowns on 80 receptions. He was taken in the sixth round of this past April's NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals and comes out the preseason currently on the Cardinals practice squad.

Ryan Ramczyk, Stevens Point -- Year 8

Ramczyk has been one of the better right tackles in the entire NFL during his seven year career with the New Orleans Saints, starting all 101 games he has played in. The UW-Stevens Point and UW-Madison alum is a three-time All-Pro selection despite never being named to the Pro Bowl. This year, Ramczyk will start the season on the PUP list.

Max Scharping, Green Bay Southwest -- Year 6

Scharping was a second round pick by the Houston Texans in the 2019 draft and started 33 games over three years with the Texans. He then signed with the Bengals for two years where he played a reserve role. This year, the former Northern Illinois standout finds himself on the Washington Commanders practice squad going into the season.

Cole Van Lanen, Bay Port -- Year 6

Van Lanen was a sixth round pick by the hometown Green Bay Packers in 2021, but spent just one year with the team. He comes into 2024 in his third season with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a reserve lineman.

T.J. Watt, Pewaukee -- Year 8

Watt is the most decorated alumni still playing in the NFL and is one of the best defensive players alive. A former Wisconsin standout, he is a six-time Pro Bowler, a four-time first team All-Pro selection, and the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year. Watt was the 30th overall pick in the 2017 draft and has played in 104 games. He is closing in on a milestone coming into 2024 with his Pittsburgh Steelers. He currently sits at 96.5 sacks in his career, needing just three and a half to eclipse the century mark. His stat totals during his seven-year career are 399 tackles, 107 tackles for loss, 96.5 sacks, 45 passes defended, 27 forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries, and 7 interceptions with a touchdown scored.

Kristian Welch, Iola-Scandinavia -- Year 5

Welch spent last season with the hometown Packers in a reserve role and came into this year on the team as well. However, the Iowa State alum was one of the final cuts before the season. He's now found a home on the Denver Broncos active roster. He's played in 57 games over the past four years with the Packers and before that, Baltimore Ravens, and tallied 27 tackles.

Kevin Zeitler, Wisconsin Lutheran -- Year 13

Zeitler is the second oldest alumni on this year's list and will suit up for his fifth team in 2024, the Detroit Lions. Zeitler has played for the Cincinnatti Bengals, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, and Baltimore Ravens and has been steadily one of the top guards in the NFL. A first round pick out of Wisconsin in the 2012 draft, Zeitler has started 181 of the 182 games he's played in his career. Last season, Zeitler was named to his first Pro Bowl in his twelfth year in the league.

A full list of former Wisconsin high school players in the NFL is below. To see past seasons, please click here.