Wisconsin Badgers Pass-Rushing Threat Beginning to Emerge

UW has a pass-rusher that's quietly beginning to emerge.

Ever since Gary Anderson became head coach of the Badgers and brought in Dave Aranda as defensive coordinator, Wisconsin football has been an outside linebacker factory. However, when Nick Herbig declared for the NFL draft a year ahead of schedule, the University of Wisconsin found itself without a definitive and impactful EDGE rusher as it entered the 2023 season.

The most logical fit to fill that role from a talent standpoint was redshirt sophomore Darryl Peterson — who has the highest upside in the outside linebacker room — but showed very little as the No. 3 OLB a year ago. 

In the 2022 season, Peterson appeared in all 13 games, amassing 29 tackles, 11 pressures, 2.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, and a fumble recovery. However, his pass-rushing performance was less than stellar, with a win percentage of just 6.7%, ranking him 13th on the Wisconsin football team, according to Pro Football Focus. 

Now in a starting role, as the season’s first four games unfolded, the Ohio native’s performance has started to come together, and this improvement has become evident as the Badgers head into their bye week.

The Badgers May Have an Impact Pass-Rusher in Darryl Peterson

Through four weeks, Darryl Peterson has registered 16 tackles, a team-high 14 pressures, 11 stops, 4.5 TFLs, and 2.0 sacks. Per PFF, the 6-foot-1, 245-pound outside linebacker has also improved his pass-rush win rate to 14.7% — more than doubling last season’s output.