PJ Wilkins joined Wisconsin football because of what ‘O-line U’ represents
Ole Miss transfer PJ Wilkins came to Wisconsin to develop at ‘O-line U.’ Now he wants physicality to define his game at left tackle.
PJ Wilkins knew what he wanted when he entered the transfer portal following one season at Ole Miss.
The 6-foot-6, 335-pound offensive lineman from Atlanta (Ga.)wanted to develop. He wanted to play somewhere that valued the offensive line. And after spending his college career moving between programs and positions, Wilkins wanted an opportunity to establish himself.
For Wilkins, the Wisconsin football program checked those boxes.
“O-line U, really,” Wilkins told reporters when asked what drew him to the Badgers. “I wanted somewhere where I can go to be developed, where the team is surrounded by the offensive line, we are the leaders, and that’s where I want to be. I want to be in a place like that.”
Now Wisconsin is asking Wilkins to become something he hasn’t been at the college level: its starting left tackle.
Wilkins played tackle throughout high school but began his college career at Charlotte, where he redshirted in 2023 before appearing in 11 games with two starts the following season. He logged 142 offensive snaps and earned a 61.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, including a 63.5 run-blocking grade.
He transferred to Ole Miss ahead of 2025 to play on the interior.
Wilkins appeared in nine games for the Rebels, starting the first two at left guard and logging 186 offensive snaps. He finished with a 60.9 overall offensive grade from PFF, including a 67.1 pass-blocking grade and a 57.7 run-blocking grade, while allowing three pressures and no sacks across 98 pass-blocking opportunities.
Now he’s moving back outside to offensive tackle, where Wisconsin believes his physical tools are better suited to the player offensive line coach Eric Mateos wants him to become.
“He is just an angry man when he plays,” Mateos said. “He’s got an attitude about him. He’s got a certain level of toughness and competitive nature to him. He wants to get after people, and that’s who he is deep down. He needs to work on his confidence with who he is as a player.”
Wilkins isn’t arguing with that assessment.
“Every day I bring that,” Wilkins said.
The challenge is getting him to play like it consistently.
Mateos has stressed that Wilkins shouldn’t try to become a finesse tackle. At 6-foot-6 and 335 pounds with an 86-inch wingspan, the staff wants him to embrace his size and power rather than attempting to mimic offensive linemen with different physical traits.
Wilkins believes that style can become his calling card.
“Just being dominant in the run game. Really just being dominant overall,” Wilkins said about what makes him unique. “I like to move people off the ball. I like to finish blocks. I think that’s going to be my identity this year.”
