With the Big Ten season postponed until at least winter, there has been some positive news for the Wisconsin Badger recently. Left Tackle Cole Van Lanen was recognized as a preseason first team All-American for USA TODAY. He was also selected to the Reese’s Senior Bowl top 250 list. Van Lanen was added to the Outland Trophy watch list earlier this year as well.
Van Lanen will be entering his redshirt senior season at Wisconsin. He is without question the leader of the offensive line. He could have left for the 2020 NFL Draft, but chose to return to Madison. Being selected as a pre-season first team All-American should help Van Lanen’s draft stock, whether or not there is a college football season this year.
The Reese’s Senior Bowl is an opportunity for college seniors to impress NFL scouts before the NFL draft. This opportunity allows them to show off their skills and potentially raise their NFL draft stock. Van Lanen will be one of the best offensive linemen in the 2021 draft class. As a result, he should hear his name called sooner rather in later in the 2021 draft.
In his Wisconsin career, Van Lanen has appeared in 40 games including 14 starts. He played his high school football at Bay Port High School near Green Bay. He was a four start prospect and participated in the 2016 US Army All-American Game. I am excited to see how Van Lanen finishes his Wisconisn career. He should have a dominant season year in 2020.
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