Wisconsin continues to see success in the NFL even after a few years of poor play at Camp Randall. There are four former Badgers in the Pro-Bowl, three of them won't surprise you at all, considering they are household names, but one will, and it will bring a smile to your face. Zach Baun, T.J. Watt, Jonathan Taylor, and Chimere Dike.
Zach Baun is not a surprise as he is now going to his second Pro Bowl in a row. He became a household name because of his impressive story from the depth chart of the Saints to a Super Bowl champion with the Eagles, Defensive Player of the Year finalist, First Team AP All-Pro, and more.
Watt and Taylor have each been in the Pro Bowl multiple times. Watt has been seven times in total, while Taylor is now at three.
Chimere Dike gets selected in his rookie year to the Pro Bowl
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Then there's the surprise for Badger fans and probably Tennessee fans, too: Chimere Dike. This is Dike's first season, and it's been a good one in Tennessee. It hasn't been a great one, but it's been solid. He has 41 catches for 341 yards and four touchdowns. Not earth-shattering numbers, but he's been one of the few bright spots for a terrible Titans team. He is getting in as a returner.
While he may be listed by the NFL as from the University of Florida, where he played his final season of college eligibility, Wisconsin fans won't let Florida fully claim him. It was Wisconsin where he grew up, and Wisconsin where he made his name. He played for the Badgers for four years before using his final COVID year to play for the Gators.
For all four guys, it's an impressive honor and shows how hard they've worked to either get to this point or to stay at the top of the NFL. It's also great for Wisconsin who continues to work back to a place where success feels obvious and NFL Pro Bowlers continues to be normal.