Dairyland Express
Fansided

Wisconsin Football: The Most Important Combine Events for Each Player

By Mike Wendlandt

MADISON, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 07: Quintez Cephus #87 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter against the Central Michigan Chippewas at Camp Randall Stadium on September 07, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 07: Quintez Cephus #87 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter against the Central Michigan Chippewas at Camp Randall Stadium on September 07, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – NOVEMBER 30: Zack Baun #56 of the Wisconsin Badgers tackles Shannon Brooks #4 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the second quarter of the game at TCF Bank Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – NOVEMBER 30: Zack Baun #56 of the Wisconsin Badgers tackles Shannon Brooks #4 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the second quarter of the game at TCF Bank Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Zack Baun, LB

Current Status: Early 2nd, Late 1st Round Prospect

Most Important Combine Drills: 20 Yard Shuttle, Broad Jump, Medical Checkup

Perhaps no player besides Joe Burrow helped his stock with a dominant senior season in college than Zack Baun. The First Team All-American finished second in the Big Ten in 2019 in both sacks (12.5) and tackles for loss (19.5) behind only some guy named Chase Young.

Baun was relentless as a pass rusher in his final season, but his smaller stature (6’3″, 240 lbs) leads to questions about where he fits at the next level. He did some work as an off ball linebacker during the Senior Bowl, and showed that he could handle it with practice, but he’s still at his best as a pass rusher off the edge right now.

That’s part of why his work in the 20-yard shuttle will be huge for him. If he can show that he can change direction at a high-speed and be able to show that sideline to sideline speed as well as his pass rushing chops, he can vault into the first round, similar to the way T.J. Watt did.

Similarly, Baun can show his explosiveness with his broad jump, which could help him be that hybrid linebacker that is extremely valuable in the NFL. It’s been common for draft pundits to compare Baun to Kyle Van Noy, but Baun is likely even more athletic and rangy than the Patriots playmaker.

Finally for Baun, and arguably the most important, his medicals need to check out. Baun missed the entire 2017 season after he suffered a foot injury during preseason camp and it took him a large portion of the 2018 season to round back into form and trust that leg. Teams will be sure to ask about it and thoroughly check to see that it’s not going to be an injury that can crop back up.

Home/Wisconsin Badgers