With the way its defense performed in 2020, the University of Wisconsin football team believes it should’ve won more than four games.
But as the Badgers move into the offseason, they’ll need to find and develop replacements for key players at each level of the defense and try to turn more of their pressures into sacks in 2021.
On the roster: Michael Balistreri (RS Jr.), Keeanu Benton (Soph.), Boyd Dietzen (RS Soph.), Matt Hennigsen (RS Jr.), Rodas Johnson (RS Fr.), Cade McDonald (Fr.), Gio Paez (RS Fr.), James Thompson Jr. (Fr.), Bryson Williams (Jr.)
Incoming: Mike Jarvis
On the roster: Noah Burks (RS Sr.), C.J. Goetz (RS Soph.), Izayah Green-May (RS Jr.), Nick Herbig (Fr.), Kaden Johnson (Fr.), Spencer Lytle (RS Fr.), Riley Nowakowski (Fr.), Marty Strey (RS Soph.), Aaron Witt (Fr.)
Incoming: Ayo Adebogun, TJ Bollers, Darryl Peterson
On the roster: Leo Chenal (Soph.), Ross Gengler (Fr.), Tatum Grass (RS Fr.), Mike Maskalunas (RS Sr.), Maema Njongmeta (RS Fr.), Malik Reed (Fr.), Jack Sanborn (Jr.), Jordan Turner (Fr.), Preston Zachman (Fr.)
Incoming: Braelon Allen (could also play safety), Jake Chaney, Jake Ratzlaff, Bryan Sanborn
On the roster: Donte Burton (RS Soph.), Dean Engram (RS Fr.), Deron Harrell (RS Jr.), Faion Hicks (RS Jr.), Max Lofy (Fr.), Semar Melvin (RS Fr.), Alexander Smith (RS Soph.), Caesar Williams (RS Sr.)
Incoming: Al Ashford III, Ricardo Hallman
On the roster: Travion Blaylock (RS Soph.), Dante Caputo (RS Fr.), Madison Cone (Sr.), Tyler Mais (RS Jr.), Scott Nelson (RS Jr.), Brady Schipper (RS Soph.), Titus Toler (RS Fr.), John Torchio (RS Soph.), Collin Wilder (RS Sr.)
Incoming: Braelon Allen (could play ILB), Hunter Wohler
Rand announced "it was in his best interest" to step away due to injuries and their potential long-term impact.
State Journal beat reporters Colten Bartholomew and Jim Polzin break down the news around the Badgers’ men’s basketball and football teams.
Senior cornerback Caesar Williams announced Sunday night he was returning to the Badgers’ football program instead of making the jump to the NFL, which gives UW eight starters returning on defense.
Ross Kolodziej, a former UW defensive lineman, had been the program's strength and conditioning coach for six seasons under Paul Chryst.
State Journal beat reporters Colten Bartholomew and Jim Polzin discuss the latest news around the Badgers football and men’s basketball programs.
New University of Wisconsin DL coach Ross Kolodziej discussed his position group, recruiting and more.
The former Badgers quarterback was on the UW staff for six seasons.
State Journal beat reporters Colten Bartholomew and Jim Polzin get together on Zoom to break down the latest news around the Badgers’ men’s basketball and football programs.
Myles Burkett — a consensus three-star, dual-threat quarterback — held offers from a handful of Group of Five teams and UW was his lone Power Five offer to this point.
One of the Badgers' top playmakers will be back next season, but a veteran defender will not.
Could becoming an NFL defensive coordinator in his home state be the job that draws Jim Leonhard away from UW?
Wednesday's signing day will likely be quiet for UW, which had 21 recruits sign with the program in December.
State Journal beat reporters Colten Bartholomew and Jim Polzin break down the news surrounding the Badgers’ football and men’s basketball programs.
The Battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe against Minnesota moved back to Nov. 27, the last week of the regular season, among other schedule changes.
“It was me choosing UW,” Jim Leonhard told the State Journal Saturday morning. “I want to stay at UW. I want to be at this level right now. Extremely flattered. Awesome opportunity. But it was not the right time for me to go back to the NFL.”
Snee has been in the Badgers' program for six seasons and has worked with UW coach Paul Chryst for eight years.
State Journal beat reporters Colten Bartholomew and Jim Polzin break down the Badgers' shooting issues, Jim Leonhard staying at UW and more.
The move signals a split of duties between the new hire and defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, who had also coached defensive backs.
Paul Chryst will be coaching quarterbacks and calling plays this fall, a dual role he’s filled often in the past for UW.
Franklin prospect who models his game after Russell Wilson wants to be Wisconsin's Wilson 2.0.
State Journal beat reporters Colten Bartholomew and Jim Polzin get together over Zoom to break down the latest news around the Badgers men’s basketball and football teams.
State Journal beat reporters Colten Bartholomew, Jim Polzin and Todd Milewski get together over Zoom to discuss Badgers’ men’s basketball and both hockey programs as they head toward tournament time.
Recruits' lack of tape and head-to-head competition, as well as program's recruiting tactics, have the Badgers a bit behind some Big Ten counterparts.
State Journal beat reporters Colten Bartholomew and Jim Polzin get together over Zoom to break down the news surrounding Badgers men’s basketball and football.
“Honestly, a lot went into my decision. If I would have finished the season, I would have still left after my junior season,” Rachad Wildgoose told reporters Wednesday at UW’s Pro Day.
Former UW tackle Cole Van Lanen said he’s spoken with teams about playing guard or even center, positions where his wingspan isn’t as important and he can use his power and run-blocking ability.
Losing running backs coach John Settle continues an offseason of upheaval on the Badgers’ staff, which has lost three assistants since winning the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Dec. 30.
Final details regarding the foundation’s scholarships are still being ironed out, but one will be for a student wanting to attend the University of Wisconsin.
After a medical issue forced him to sit out the 2020 season, safety Reggie Pearson is moving on from UW after 18 career games.
Packages for all seven home games start at $378 per ticket and will be limited at first to donors and those who ordered 2020 season ticket packages but weren’t able to use them due to the pandemic.
“(Jim Leonhard) painted me a really clear picture of what I'll be doing in his defense, what he saw for me,” Townsend said. “His career and what he's known for doing and developing players, that was a big deal to me.
State Journal beat reporters Colten Bartholomew, Jim Polzin and Todd Milewski get together over Zoom to discuss the news around the Badgers men’s basketball and men’s and women’s hockey programs.
State Journal beat reporters Colten Bartholomew and Jim Polzin get together over Zoom and discuss Barry Alvarez’s retirement ceremony, the search for the Badgers’ next AD and UW’s spring football practices.
Dean Engram and Alexander Smith have earned most of their playing time the past three seasons on special teams units.
“He told us that he wanted corners that played with a dog mentality. He just want dogs out there on the island," Badgers junior Alexander Smith said of new cornerbacks coach Hank Poteat.
The Badgers passing offense could be "explosive" if UW's top wide receivers can stay healthy this season.
State Journal beat reporters Colten Bartholomew and Jim Polzin get together over Zoom for a special episode of the show: UW senior cornerbacks Faion Hicks and Caesar Williams enter the Red Zone!
A look at how special teams coach Chris Haering will choose a starting kicker, plus new on the return units and long-snapper position.
State Journal beat reporters Colten Bartholomew and Jim Polzin get together over Zoom and discuss the news coming from Badgers football spring practices and basketball coaching rumors.
“The first thing when we got back that we talked about was just being a team again,” sophomore quarterback Graham Mertz said.
Loudermilk will have the opportunity to learn from new teammate Cameron Heyward, a two-time first-team All-Pro and four-time pro bowler.
The Green Bay Packers brought a native son home on Saturday.
After not being able to finish his final college season, former UW defensive back Rachad Wildgoose starts his NFL career on a team with eyes on the Super Bowl.
NFL Draft weekend may not have gone as planned for some former Badger football players, but four are getting chances to make the league as undrafted free agents.
UW holds a 2-1 record all-time against Utah.
Isaiahh Loudermilk had a plan for how he wanted his NFL draft moment to happen.
Frustration was one of the few constants for the University of Wisconsin football team’s offense last season.
The University of Wisconsin football team's schedule got a tweak on Friday.
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