NEW YORK – J.J. Watt and Gabe Carimi stole the headlines Thursday night, but three other Wisconsin Badgers still found their way to the National Football League this weekend.
Tight end Lance Kendricks, offensive tackle John Moffitt and offensive guard/center Bill Nagy were drafted in the final two days of the 2011 NFL Draft, giving the Badgers five more alumni in the NFL.
Kendricks, a runner-up for this year’s Mackey Award, given to the nation’s top tight end, was drafted by the St. Louis Rams with the 15th pick in the second round (47th overall). Moffitt, who formed arguably the nation’s most talented left half of an offensive line alongside Carimi, was taken one round later by the Seattle Seahawks, with the 11th pick in the third round (75th overall). Finally, Nagy, a versatile offensive lineman for the Badgers, was taken by the Dallas Cowboys with the third-to-last pick of the entire draft at the 51st pick in the seventh round (252nd overall).
Kendricks and Moffitt were largely expected to be drafted, but Nagy represented a bit of a surprise given the other prospects UW had in the draft. Quarterback Scott Tolzien, Wisconsin’s starter for the last two years, was considered a late-round prospect, but was never taken.
In St. Louis, Kendricks will provide second-year quarterback and reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Sam Bradford with another solid receiving option in an offense that continues to develop. The 6-foot-3, 243-pound Kendricks was a well-rounded tight end for the Badgers, exhibiting excellent pass-receiving skills (43 receptions for 663 yards and five touchdowns last season) and strong blocking ability. Kendricks figures to be more of a receiving threat in St. Louis, though he will figure in to the Rams’ plans in pass protection and run blocking.
Moffitt was widely considered a mid-round prospect who didn’t quite have the athleticism of Carimi. Nevertheless, he did earn Associated Press first-team and consensus first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2010 after starting all 13 games at left guard. The Seahawks selected him in the third round to help solidify an offense that could be undergoing a makeover, as quarterback Matt Hasselbeck seems unlikely to return. Moffitt, listed at 6-foot-4, 319 pounds, could start immediately on the Seahawks O-line once mini-camps and training camps are planned following the resolution of the ongoing labor dispute.
In Dallas, Nagy will bring the versatility UW head coach Bret Bielema touted live on the NFL Network shortly after his former player was drafted. Bielema was a guest on the network’s draft coverage and discussed how Nagy worked his way back from frightening foot and wrist injuries following a scooter accident prior to his junior season in 2009. Last season, Nagy appeared in all 13 games and started eight. He started the first four games at right guard while Kevin Zeitler was injured, and then filled in as a tight end in short-yardage and goal-line situations. Nagy capped his final season in Madison with an honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference selection, one of six Badgers honored. The Cowboys seemed to be prioritize strengthening their offensive line in order to better protect quarterback Tony Romo, as Nagy was their third lineman taken in this year’s draft.
