Wisconsin Football Countdown: No. 23, Joe Armentrout
By Jim Oxley
As the countdown to the first Wisconsin football game of the season continues, Badger of Honor is taking a look at Badgers by the numbers, checking in on a different Badger or Badgers players who wore the number corresponding with the remaining days until the Badgers head to Texas to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide Saturday, Sept. 5.
Next up in our countdown, signifying 23 days until college football is back, is Joe Armentrout.
An Elgin, Ill., native, Armentrout chose the Badgers and spent 1983 to 1986 playing fullback at Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Badgers
A versatile athlete, he was also a an All-Big Ten center fielder in consecutive seasons as well as Wisconsin’s MVP.
On the football field, Armentrout was one of Wisconsin’s most productive fullbacks. A four-year starter,
From his fullback position Armentrout rushed for 1,576 career yards, which was 12th all time at UW when he graduated. He had three 100-yard games in his career, and added 68 receptions out of the backfield. Armentrout scored 12 touchdowns as a Badger.
Armentrout was the Badgers’ Offensive Player of the Year in both 1985 and 1986, and was the team MVP in 1986. He was also an honorable mention All-Big Ten pick in 1986, as well as a team captain.
Armentrout was a 9th round draft pick in the 1987 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played for the Los Angeles Rams in 1987 and the Green bay Packers in 1988 and 1989.
Who wore No. 23 first?
• Halfback Eugene Rose was the first Badgers player to wear No. 23 back in 1927.
Who wears No. 23 now?
• Running back Dare Ogunbowale currently wears No. 23 for the Wisconsin Badgers. Ogunbowale is expected to win the backup job behind Corey Clement this season, and has looked strong through the early stages of the offseason so far in spring and summer ball.
Stay tuned to Badger of Honor as we continue our daily countdown in preparation of the season opener against Alabama.
Next: Wisconsin Football Experience
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