NFL Draft 2018: Denver Broncos select Wisconsin TE Troy Fumagalli in Round 5

Another former Wisconsin Badgers walk-on finds a home in the NFL.

The Denver Broncos selected Wisconsin tight end Troy Fumagalli in the 2018 NFL Draft on Saturday, utilizing the 19th pick in the fifth round (No. 156 overall).

Fumagalli claimed second-team All-America honors from four different publications and was named the Kwalick-Clark Big Ten Tight End of the Year for the Big Ten for a senior campaign where he led the team in receptions (46). A first-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches, he was also a John Mackey Award and Burlsworth Trophy finalist.

After walking on to Wisconsin, Fumagalli played in 52 games (32 starts) and finished seventh in UW history in receptions (135). Named a captain prior to the 2017 season, he also finished his final year as a Badger with 547 receiving yards and four touchdown catches.

Fumagalli participated in the Senior Bowl in late January and also was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. He only took part in the bench press portion of the combine, registering 14 reps of 225 pounds, and did not perform drills at Wisconsin’s pro day on March 14.

On pro day, it was announced that Fumagalli had a “core injury,” with an article by UWBadgers.com’s Mike Lucas stating the tight end endured a sports hernia that was actually diagnosed before the Orange Bowl in December.

Regardless, the Raiders will add depth and an extremely reliable player in Fumagalli who can consistently make his presence felt in the run game as a blocker and a reliable receiver in the passing game.

Previous Wisconsin walk-ons to be drafted since 1990 include Joe Panos (1994), Mark Tauscher (2000), Jason Doering (2001), Paul Hubbard (2008), J.J. Watt (2011), Bradie Ewing (2012), Rick Wagner (2013), Jared Abbrederis (2014), Joe Schobert (2015), and Ryan Ramczyk (2017)*.

Fumagalli is the second Wisconsin player selected in this weekend’s draft, following cornerback Nick Nelson.

*Note: Ramczyk initially walked on to Wisconsin from UW-Stevens Point but was awarded a scholarship prior to the 2015 season.