Wisconsin Badgers’ freshman LB duo Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano ‘ready to dominate’
Wisconsin's defense has two legitimate building blocks in a pair of true freshmen linebackers who've been thrust into starting roles.
The Badgers thought they were getting the ball first. After all, Oregon won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half.
But when the Ducks successfully executed an onside kick, stealing a possession and forcing Wisconsin football to send out its defense, true freshman linebacker Mason Posa was thrust onto the field.
That’s just the way he drew it up.
“I was kinda talking to God a little bit, like, ‘Lord, let me get defense first.’ They got the onside kick and I was like, ‘Alright, let’s do this,’” Posa said.
Posa proceeded to have a career game in his first career start, leading the Badgers with 13 total tackles and one pass breakup. He spearheaded a defense that held the mighty Ducks’ offense — previously averaging over 44 points per game — to a 21-point showing.
Starting middle linebacker Christian Alliegro broke his arm against Ohio State the week prior, and though he managed to return to the game, the writing was on the wall: youngsters were going to have to step up.
In the aftermath of the Badgers’ 34-0 loss to the Buckeyes, defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach Mike Tressel sought Posa out to let him know that his biggest opportunity yet was a mere week away.
“Coach Tress pulled me aside after Ohio State and said, ‘Hey, we trust in you, a lot of people are gonna get mad about it, but we trust you and [Cooper Catalano] and we need you guys to step up, this is gonna be a big week for you guys,’” Posa said.
“I knew from the start of the week that [Alliegro] wasn’t going to play, that it was going to be the Mason Posa, Cooper Catalano show.”
By all accounts, Posa and his fellow true freshman inside backer Catalano attacked the week accordingly.
“During practice, me and Cooper were communicating, telling the D-line, getting the plays, doing them right,” Posa said. “And then the confidence started building up with safeties, corners, and D-line. We were ready to dominate.”