Wisconsin Football have their own version of Duke basketball’s Plumlees. If you’re a Plumlee brother, you go on to play hoops for the Duke Blue Devils. If you’re a Watt brother, then it’s Wisconsin Badgers football for you.
However, the Watts have a serious edge over the Plumlees, as we’ll detail for you now.
J.J. Watt rose from pizza delivery driver to walk-on to defensive player of the year to NFL first round draft choice to arguably the best defender alive in pro football. He’s a generational kind of impact player, who transcends his position to play multiple spots on the field. He’s won NFL Defensive Player of the Year three times, and was named first team All-Pro four times in his first five seasons.
In case you didn’t know, he’s good, and there are no Plumlees that can touch him. The next member of the Pewaukee, Wisconsin family to reach the National Football League is middle brother Derek Watt. Currently with the San Diego Chargers, Pro Football Focus rated Derek Watt as the second best fullback in the draft and he received the second best blocking grade of all fullbacks in the draft.
Watt played for the Badgers 2011-2015, and he was an integral part of an offense that helped Melvin Gordon run for a national record in single game rushing yards.
Moving on Junior Outside Linebacker T.J. Watt is the third and final member of his family to play football for the University of Wisconsin. He projects as a mid-first round pick, at DE/OLB in the 2018 NFL Draft.
T.J. Watt showed dominance early and often in the B1G Championship game, finding his way into the Penn State backfield with regularity. He was a bright spot in a very disappointing night though, as the Badgers blew a 28-lead and fell 38-31 to the Nittany Lions.
“He’s a monster, he’s a darn good player,” said Wisconsin starting Center Michael Dieter, who often goes against him in practice.
“It’s really no surprise the success he’d had on the season. His work ethic, physical size, strength, his athleticism and his smarts it all adds up to being a really great player who’s done really great things for us and given us chances.”
Now that we’ve profiled T.J. Watt and company, let’s shift over to the hardwood and look at the Dukies/Plumlees.
Miles Plumlee is currently with the Milwaukee Bucks, after spending time with the Indiana Pacers and Phoenix Suns. Mason Plumlee is currently with the Portland Trail Blazers, and he’s had a previous stint with the Brooklyn Nets. Marshall Plumlee, the youngest Plumlee, went undrafted, but currently plays for the New York Knicks.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
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