Three Players From the 2021 Recruiting Class Ready to Make an Impact
These three Badgers from the 2021 recruiting class are ready to step into significant roles this season:
Wisconsin football fell short of expectations last season, finishing with a 9-4 record and 20-13 Las Vegas Bowl victory over Arizona State.
More importantly, Wisconsin failed to win the Big Ten West for the second consecutive year, forcing UW to make significant changes this offseason.
Coach Chyrst brought in a new offensive coordinator and running backs coach. Then Bob Bostad and Chris Haering were shifted into new roles as the offensive line and tight ends coach, respectively.
In addition to the coaching staff changes, UW will need to replace six offensive starters and eight from the nation’s top-rated defense.
For the Badgers to reclaim a Big Ten West title, they’ll need several young players to step up and make a meaningful impact this season.
Here are, in no particular order, three players from the 2021 recruiting class ready to make a splash in 2022-23:
Hunter Wohler, Safety:
Hunter Wohler is a former four-star safety from Muskego (Wisconsin) who committed to UW despite an extensive offer list that included Notre Dame and Ohio State.
Regulated mainly to special teams duty last season, the true freshman registered 16 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, and a pass deflection in just 70 defensive snaps.
An injury to Travian Blaylock this spring thrust Wohler into a starting spot next to John Torchio, and this allowed him to earn some valuable reps alongside the top unit.
What makes Wohler’s skillset so intriguing is his versatility to help in run support while having the ability to play deep due to his speed and outstanding ball skills.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound S is a prime candidate to break out entering his sophomore season and is a lock for a significant role in Jim Leonhard’s defense in 2022.
Darryl Peterson, Outside Linebacker:
Darryl Peterson is one of the most prized outside linebacker prospects in Bobby April’s impressive stable of edge rushers.
Per 247Sports, Peterson was a four-star recruit who chose Wisconsin over scholarships from Alabama, Michigan, Michigan State, and Minnesota, among others.
The Ohio native quickly transitioned from playing defensive end in high school, where he totaled an impressive 39.5 sacks over his final two varsity seasons, to edge rusher in his first season with the Badgers.
Peterson played 38 snaps as a true freshman, registering two tackles.