The Wisconsin Badgers have sent three kickers into pro football in the last 50 years, but none with the fanfare of Taylor Mehlhaff.

Seven of eight National Football League teams surveyed by the Journal Sentinel said Mehlhaff was the top-rated kicker on their draft board.

"He is by far the best," a special-teams coach for an NFC team said. "If you felt like you had to draft a kicker, I don't see how you could not draft him first. He sort of reminds me of David Akers. About the same size, and pretty good leg strength."

Like Akers, the Philadelphia Eagles' three-time Pro Bowl kicker, Mehlhaff stands about 5 feet 10 inches and is left-footed. Akers entered the NFL as a free agent in 1997 and was cut four times before his career took flight in Philly.

The NFC assistant guessed that Mehlhaff would be selected in the fourth round. An AFC special-teams coach predicted fourth or fifth round, whereas one of his AFC colleagues foresaw Mehlhaff going being taken in the sixth.

"Physically, he looks like a kicker," one of the AFC assistants said. "He's well-toned and well-developed. Good kickoff guy. He won't get much stronger."

Several teams are in need of a kicker, including Kansas City, Denver, Seattle and maybe Baltimore.

The Badgers' last kicker to be drafted by the NFL was Jim Bakken, who went in the seventh round to the Los Angeles Rams in 1962. Later that year, Bakken caught on with the St. Louis Cardinals, for whom he played through 1978 (making 63.1% of his field goals) and made the Pro Bowl four times.

Bakken, who played at Madison West, was followed by Gary Kroner, a graduate of Green Bay Premontre who went to the New York Jets in the 19th round of the AFL draft in 1963. He kicked for the Denver Broncos from 1965-'67, making 51.8%.

Another Badger, Florida-born John Hall, made it as a free agent with the Jets in 1997. He kicked six seasons for the Jets and four with Washington, making 74.6%.

Not only did Mehlhaff make 76.9% (Mason Crosby made 75% at Colorado from 2003-'06) but he also improved on kickoffs. After averaging 61.6, 60.9 and 60.8 on kickoffs in his first three seasons, he climbed to 67.7 in '07.

"He can change field position," the NFC coach said. "And there's not a lot of guys like that in the league that you can really say that about.

"Against Washington State (Sept. 1) I got him with a hang time of 4.56 (seconds). I timed it six times. I have no idea what kind of a ball they were using but, man, I've never timed one like that. Ever."

Another Badger, punter Ken DeBauche, probably will be signed as a free agent.

"Four-year starter," one AFC coach said. "Good flexibility. Good holder for a lefty (kicker). Good handling time. Uses good footwork. Got good block zone. Decent feel in plus-50. Got some technique problems but should be able to overcome them. But he's just not real strong."

DeBauche posted a 42.5-yard average in 231 punts.

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