If there’s one thing you could point to as a positive for Michigan through the first half of Saturday’s game against Wisconsin (and it was hard to find anything to point to), it was the fact Badger tight end Jake Ferguson was noticeably quiet.

It didn’t seem to matter much as Wisconsin still roared out to a 28-0 lead. In the third quarter, Ferguson emerged. And he did it in a big-time way.

Once again, we’re seeing the talent of Badger quarterback Graham Mertz right before our eyes. He floats that ball up only where Ferguson can get it. Then, the tight end does the rest.

Mertz’s success through almost two games can be directly tied to Ferguson. In Week 1 against Illinois, Mertz found Ferguson three times in the end zone. This now makes it four touchdown catches on the year for Ferguson.

The junior tight end came in with plenty of expectations as he was named to the 2020 John Mackey Award watch list prior to the 2020 season. In 2019, he caught 33 passes for 407 yards and two touchdowns. Four of those catches came in the Rose Bowl.

Though there’s plenty of season left for Ferguson and the Badgers, he’s garnered attention amongst those in the NFL. Pro Football Focus says he would be the fifth-best tight end available in the 2021 NFL Draft.