Earlier today, the New York Jets formally announced the signing of former Wisconsin football program star wide receiver Alex Erickson.
The former Badgers walk-on from Darlington, Wisconsin, is now an eight-year NFL veteran. He spent five seasons with the Bengals, one with the Carolina Panthers, one in Washington, and now has found a home in New York.
Erickson, now 30 years old, is predominantly viewed as a return specialist across the NFL. The 6-foot, 195-pound wideout has accumulated 4,032 return yards while also catching 96 passes for 1,141 yards and a touchdown during his NFL career.
In 2016, Pro Football Focus named Erickson a second-team All-Pro as a return specialist.
In an era of ground and pound three-yards and a cloud of dust Wisconsin football, Alex Erickson carved out a really good career while playing for the Badgers from 2013-15.
He went on to letter three years while playing at UW and finished his career ranked No. 10 in school history with 1,877 yards receiving and No. 6 in program history in catches with 144. In his final season in Madison, Erickson was named first-team All-Big Ten by the media and second-team by the coaches.
After going undrafted in 2016, he earned an opportunity with the Bengals and has gone on to appear in 99 games in the NFL, carving out a niche role, which is not too shabby for the unheralded former Wisconsin football standout.
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