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

FUUUUUUUM

NCAA Football: Big Ten Championship-Ohio State vs Wisconsin Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

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.

2018 NFL Draft Badgers tracker

Player Position Team Draft Selection/UDFA Draft Pick/Signing Story Scouting Report Interview
Player Position Team Draft Selection/UDFA Draft Pick/Signing Story Scouting Report Interview
Nick Nelson CB Oakland Raiders Round 4, Pick 10 (No. 110 overall) Read Here Read Here
Troy Fumagalli TE Denver Broncos Round 5, Pick 19 (No. 156 overall) Read Here Read Here
Natrell Jamerson S New Orleans Saints Round 5, Pick 27 (No. 164 overall) Read Here Read Here Read Here
Jack Cichy LB Tampa Bay Buccaneers Round 6, Pick 28 (No. 202 overall) Read Here Read Here Read Here
Leon Jacobs LB Jacksonville Jaguars Round 7, Pick 12 (No. 230 overall) Read Here Read Here
Garret Dooley LB Minnesota Vikings UDFA Read Here Read Here
Alec James DL Arizona Cardinals UDFA Read Here Read Here
Austin Ramesh FB Arizona Cardinals UDFA Read Here Read Here Read Here
Conor Sheehy DL Green Bay Packers UDFA Read Here Read Here
Derrick Tindal CB Read Here
Joe Ferguson S Green Bay Packers Tryout Read Here
Lubern Figaro CB Cleveland Browns Tryout Read Here Read Here