Wisconsin Football: Nick Herbig Selected In 4th Round of NFL Draft

Wisconsin football was home to perhaps the best pass rusher in the Big Ten last season. Now, the Badgers’ premier pass rusher on the edge is headed to the NFL. Nick Herbig was selected 132nd overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He joins Keeanu Benton, along with several other Badgers, in Pittsburgh.

RELATED – Wisconsin Football NFL Draft Profile: Nick Herbig

Nick Herbig made an instant impact as an outside linebacker for Wisconsin football. The former four-star recruit started all seven games as a freshman in the shortened 2020 season. The Hawaii native led the Badgers in sacks in 2021. In 2022, he led the nation in sacks per game and led the Big Ten in tackles for loss.

The consensus 2022 First-Team All-Big Ten selection has a penchant for getting to the quarterback. He led the Big Ten in pass rush win rate in 2021 and had the highest single-season pass-rush grade in Wisconsin football history, according to Pro Football Focus. That single-season grade beat out UW greats and impact-NFL players Joe Schobert and TJ Watt. In 2022, the Jimmy Demetral Team MVP led the Big Ten in pressure rate, according to CFB Film Room.

Mar 2, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wisconsin linebacker Nick Herbig (LB11) participates in drills during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

READ MORE – Wisconsin Football: Former Badgers Impress at the NFL Combine

The pipeline continues.

The Steelers have selected former #Badgers OLB Nick Herbig with the 132nd pick.

He joins TJ Watt, Derek Watt, Keeanu Benton, Isaiah Loudermilk, and Scott Nelson in Pittsburgh.

— Jake Maier (@JakeJMaier) April 29, 2023

Yesterday, The Pittsburgh Steelers selected defensive lineman Keeanu Benton 49th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Now, Nick Herbig also joins that roster with numerous Wisconsin Football alumni:

• TJ Watt was at UW 2013-2016. The Pittsburgh Steelers selected TJ in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
• Derek Watt joined the Badgers in 2011 before being selected in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. TJ’s older brother joined the Steelers in 2020 but is currently a free agent after his contract expired following the 2022 season.
• Isaiahh Loudermilk spent four seasons with Wisconsin football beginning in 2016. The Pittsburgh Steelers selected the former three-star recruit in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
• Scott Nelson enrolled at UW in 2017. After being named an All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2021, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Seattle Seahawks in 2022. He was released by Seattle in September and signed with the Steelers to their practice squad just a week later.

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