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Wisconsin's defense is unlikely to lead the headlines after Saturday's Spring Showcase.
That isn't due to a lack of quality, as the unit won the event 24-17 despite several explosive plays from the first and second-team offenses. Instead, it's about the context surrounding the other side of the football.
Wisconsin entered the spring practice session with major questions on offense after the unit held the team back through the first two years of the Luke Fickell era, especially during the team's five-game losing streak to close the 2024 season. The program hired Jeff Grimes this offseason to return it to its pro-style roots and redirect the unit's trajectory. While significant improvement is expected, major question marks still exist, specifically after a few key transfer departures and an injury to the projected starting left tackle.
While many will focus on the performance of Grimes' unit, Fickell and Mike Tressel's defense quietly needs a resurgent year. The Badgers allowed 23.1 points per game last season, including a combined 110 to rivals Iowa (42), Nebraska (44) and Minnesota (24). A bowl trip won't be possible without those numbers improving.
The program bolstered the unit in the winter transfer window, adding 12 players, many of whom project to start. With more still to change as the spring transfer cycle continues, here is an updated look at how that defensive unit lines up.
(For more, here is our look at the team's updated offensive depth chart)
Starters: Ben Barten, Parker Petersen (transfer), Corey Walker (transfer)
Backups: Jay'Viar Suggs (transfer) Charles Perkins (transfer), Dillan Johnson
Wisconsin remade its entire front seven during the winter window, including with experienced defensive tackles Walker, Petersen and Suggs. The team is suddenly deep at the position. That is a stark difference from where it stood at the end of 2024.
Starters: Darryl Peterson, Mason Reiger (transfer)
Backups: Aaron Witt, Tyreese Fearbry (transfer), Sebastian Cheeks
Wisconsin struggled to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks throughout all of 2024. Reiger and Fearbry enter to change that rate. Cheeks should be a popular breakout pick at the position after two sacks in limited action last season.
Starters: Christian Alliegro, Tackett Curtis
Backups: Antarron Turner (transfer), Tyler Jansey, Thomas Heiberger
This was a minor position of need entering the spring transfer window, with Curtis still a question mark after transferring in before last season. Heiberger was a popular breakout candidate after moving to the position, although he's currently out with a knee injury.
Starters: Ricardo Hallman, Nyzier Fourqurean
Backups: D'Yoni Hill (transfer), Geimere Latimer (transfer), Jay Harper, Jaimier Scott
Hallman and Fourqurean will form one of the Big Ten's better cornerback duos. Both Hill and Latimer transferred in before Fourqurean successfully petitioned for an extra year of eligibility. The two should factor into the lineup, just not as the primary starters.
Starter: Austin Brown
Backup: Owen Arnett
Brown will see the field in 2025, whether at slot cornerback or as a hybrid safety. The versatile defender tallied 51 tackles, two for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and three pass deflections in 2024. He should be a popular pick to lead the Badgers in turnovers forced.
Starters: Preston Zachman, Matthew Traynor (transfer)
Backup: Matt Jung (transfer), Charlie Jarvis, Remington Moss
The second safety position next to Zachman is still up for grabs. Both Traynor and Jung transferred in with top-end production at a lower level, plus with several years of eligibility remaining. It will be worth watching how the two are utilized and whether one emerges as a locked-in starter.
Kicker: Nathanial Vakos
Punter: Atticus Bertrams
Long Snapper: Eli Stein (transfer)
Punt Returner: Trech Kekahuna
Kick Returner: Vinny Anthony
Wisconsin's punt and kick returner jobs will likely remain in flux as the season approaches. As of April 20, Kekahuna and Anthony are two clear candidates to capture the respective roles.
While the Badgers' offense still has major needs with the spring window ongoing, their defense is mostly set. It is in a strong position entering the 2025 season thanks to a fantastic winter portal window performance.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football defense depth chart projection after spring game
Continue reading...
That isn't due to a lack of quality, as the unit won the event 24-17 despite several explosive plays from the first and second-team offenses. Instead, it's about the context surrounding the other side of the football.
Wisconsin entered the spring practice session with major questions on offense after the unit held the team back through the first two years of the Luke Fickell era, especially during the team's five-game losing streak to close the 2024 season. The program hired Jeff Grimes this offseason to return it to its pro-style roots and redirect the unit's trajectory. While significant improvement is expected, major question marks still exist, specifically after a few key transfer departures and an injury to the projected starting left tackle.
While many will focus on the performance of Grimes' unit, Fickell and Mike Tressel's defense quietly needs a resurgent year. The Badgers allowed 23.1 points per game last season, including a combined 110 to rivals Iowa (42), Nebraska (44) and Minnesota (24). A bowl trip won't be possible without those numbers improving.
The program bolstered the unit in the winter transfer window, adding 12 players, many of whom project to start. With more still to change as the spring transfer cycle continues, here is an updated look at how that defensive unit lines up.
(For more, here is our look at the team's updated offensive depth chart)
Defensive Tackle
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Starters: Ben Barten, Parker Petersen (transfer), Corey Walker (transfer)
Backups: Jay'Viar Suggs (transfer) Charles Perkins (transfer), Dillan Johnson
Wisconsin remade its entire front seven during the winter window, including with experienced defensive tackles Walker, Petersen and Suggs. The team is suddenly deep at the position. That is a stark difference from where it stood at the end of 2024.
Outside Linebacker
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Starters: Darryl Peterson, Mason Reiger (transfer)
Backups: Aaron Witt, Tyreese Fearbry (transfer), Sebastian Cheeks
Wisconsin struggled to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks throughout all of 2024. Reiger and Fearbry enter to change that rate. Cheeks should be a popular breakout pick at the position after two sacks in limited action last season.
Inside Linebacker
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Starters: Christian Alliegro, Tackett Curtis
Backups: Antarron Turner (transfer), Tyler Jansey, Thomas Heiberger
This was a minor position of need entering the spring transfer window, with Curtis still a question mark after transferring in before last season. Heiberger was a popular breakout candidate after moving to the position, although he's currently out with a knee injury.
Cornerback (boundary)
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Starters: Ricardo Hallman, Nyzier Fourqurean
Backups: D'Yoni Hill (transfer), Geimere Latimer (transfer), Jay Harper, Jaimier Scott
Hallman and Fourqurean will form one of the Big Ten's better cornerback duos. Both Hill and Latimer transferred in before Fourqurean successfully petitioned for an extra year of eligibility. The two should factor into the lineup, just not as the primary starters.
Cornerback (slot)
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Starter: Austin Brown
Backup: Owen Arnett
Brown will see the field in 2025, whether at slot cornerback or as a hybrid safety. The versatile defender tallied 51 tackles, two for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and three pass deflections in 2024. He should be a popular pick to lead the Badgers in turnovers forced.
Safety
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Starters: Preston Zachman, Matthew Traynor (transfer)
Backup: Matt Jung (transfer), Charlie Jarvis, Remington Moss
The second safety position next to Zachman is still up for grabs. Both Traynor and Jung transferred in with top-end production at a lower level, plus with several years of eligibility remaining. It will be worth watching how the two are utilized and whether one emerges as a locked-in starter.
Specialists
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Kicker: Nathanial Vakos
Punter: Atticus Bertrams
Long Snapper: Eli Stein (transfer)
Punt Returner: Trech Kekahuna
Kick Returner: Vinny Anthony
Wisconsin's punt and kick returner jobs will likely remain in flux as the season approaches. As of April 20, Kekahuna and Anthony are two clear candidates to capture the respective roles.
While the Badgers' offense still has major needs with the spring window ongoing, their defense is mostly set. It is in a strong position entering the 2025 season thanks to a fantastic winter portal window performance.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football defense depth chart projection after spring game
Continue reading...
