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Wisconsin football: Badgers walk-ons Ryan Connelly, Zander Neuville earn scholarships

The walk-on tradition continues, with two more players being put on scholarship after making splashes

By Jake Kocorowski
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Two more Wisconsin football players have added their name to the wall outside the Badgers locker room as walk-ons who have earned scholarships.

Redshirt freshmen Ryan Connelly and Zander Neuville -- who have worked their way into contributing spots on the team during spring and fall camp -- earned scholarships, the team announced via their official Twitter page on Tuesday night.

Connelly, a 6'3, 233-pound inside linebacker from Eden Prairie, Minn., gained reps with the first-team defense after injuries to projected starters Leon Jacobs and T.J. Edwards early in fall camp. He responded by playing well enough into staying in the two-deep once Jacobs and Edwards fully returned this week.

Neuville is a reserve defensive linemen from Waupaca, Wis. The 6'5, 255-pounder was seen contributing in defensive coordinator Dave Aranda's 2-4-5 "peso" package.

Earlier this summer, former walk-ons Dare Ogunbowale and Jack Cichy also earned scholarships.

Wisconsin's walk-ons have made a significant impact on the football program in the past 25 years. Read more from B5Q's longform from December 2013.

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