Mason Posa is working to become a more complete linebacker for Wisconsin football
After a breakout freshman season, Wisconsin linebacker Mason Posa is working to develop his game and become a more complete defender.
Mason Posa didn’t need much time to prove that he could make plays for the Wisconsin football program.
Now the challenge is proving he can make them everywhere.
Posa emerged as one of the Badgers’ biggest bright spots as a true freshman last season, finishing with 61 total tackles, 14 pressures, four sacks and two forced fumbles in just 11 games. His impact earned him third-team All-Big Ten honors and established the 6-foot-3 linebacker as one of the foundational pieces of Wisconsin’s defense entering 2026.
Most of that damage, however, came near the line of scrimmage.
Inside linebackers coach Tuf Borland recently pointed out to Posa that essentially all of his plays were made within five yards of the line of scrimmage. So while Wisconsin’s coaching staff isn’t trying to take away the downhill aggression that made the New Mexico native productive, Posa’s offseason has focused on becoming a more complete linebacker.
Specifically, Posa wants to become more dangerous as a pass rusher and considerably more comfortable in coverage.
“I’ve texted Mason Reiger, and I’ve also hit up a guy that went to my high school named Connor O’Toole [linebacker]. He was a Super Bowl champion with the Seahawks,” Posa told reporters. “So I try to get advice from older guys and guys who obviously are getting paid at that position on how to work on my craft and how I could be that dual threat.”
That growth matters beyond Posa’s individual development. Wisconsin finished last nationally in takeaways last season, forcing just six all year, making creating more turnovers a point of emphasis for the defense.
“We lacked in the turnover department last year,” Posa said. “Just kind of having the mindset of, ‘Get the ball, get the ball. That’s our ball. The offense can’t have this. It’s ours.’ That mentality is really huge for us. When you win the turnover battle, you pretty much win the game.”
Posa got one himself during fall camp, intercepting Colton Joseph after narrowly missing another opportunity the previous day.
“The coverage game, Coach Tuf really emphasizes vision on the quarterback,” Posa said. “I was just reading Colton’s eyes and just seeing where he was going, and it led me to a pick today. So that definitely boosted my confidence up in the passing game for sure.”
