Former Badgers Stars Earn Pro Bowl Selections

The Wisconsin Badgers’ streak of Pro Bowl players extended to 17 straight seasons earlier this week with the selection of two former Badgers — linebacker T.J. Watt and fullback Alec Ingold.

The pair will be available to participate in the Pro Bowl Games in Orlando on Feb. 4.

For Watt, the selection is a bit of old hat at this point. This will be his sixth selection for the Pittsburgh Steelers star and he’s deserving of the honor as he enters Week 18 of the NFL season tied for the lead with 17 sacks. He’s seeking to lead the league in the category for the third time in four seasons (2020 and 2021).

When Watt led the NFL in sacks in 2021 he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He’s a candidate to do it for a second time this season. His brother, former Badgers defensive end JJ Watt, did it three times (2012, 2014, 2015).

If Watt finished with the league lead in sacks he’ll be the first player to do it three times. His 0.93 sacks average since he was selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft is the best in history for a player with at least 100 games.

For Ingold, this is new territory, as the Miami Dolphins fullback earned his first Pro Bowl nod. While he’s only caught 13 passes for 119 yards (the latter of which is a career high), he’s been a valuable piece of the Dolphins’ offense as a blocker.

The Dolphins lead the NFL in rushing yards per carry (5.0) entering the final week of the season and with one more rushing touchdown the team would set a new franchise record for rushing scores.

Ingold is also the Dolphins’ Walter Payton Man of the Year Award nominee.

Wisconsin was one of three Big Ten teams with multiple selections along with Iowa and Ohio State. The Hawkeyes led with three selections.