Wisconsin Badgers defensive lineman Brandon Lane entering 2026 NFL draft
Wisconsin football defensive lineman Brandon Lane announces that he will enter the 2026 NFL Draft. Lane spent two seasons with the Badgers.
The University of Wisconsin football team has another veteran defensive lineman out of eligibility who’s going to test the NFL Draft waters.
That player is Brandon Lane Jr., who announced he is declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft after finishing his career with the Badgers.
The 6-foot-3, 322-pound defensive lineman from Kansas City (MO.) closes the book on a college football journey that included stops at South Dakota State and Stephen F. Austin before landing at Wisconsin, where he played a role in the front seven that mattered more than raw numbers might suggest.
“First, I want to thank God for putting me in this position and guiding me throughout this long journey,” Lane wrote. “To my friends, I appreciate you all for being there for me, giving me advice, and just being truly the best of friends. To my teammates, I’m going to miss you all. I’ve cherished so many memories that I will forever hold, and that will stick with me for the rest of my life. You all will always have a brother to call.
“I want to sincerely thank my coaches for giving me the opportunity and guiding me to become the player I am today. I’m also grateful to the entire nutrition team for making sure I had the right supplements and proper nutrition, and to my trainers for supporting my recovery and keeping my body ready to perform. I truly appreciate all the wisdom, guidance, and support you’ve given me along the way. To everyone who came out to games and supported me along the way, I love and appreciate you for that as well.
“With that being said, I’m truly blessed to announce that I will be declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft.”
Lane arrived in Madison ahead of the 2024 season as a transfer, stepping into a Wisconsin defensive line room that was in the middle of figuring out who they wanted to be on defense and needing depth. His first year with the Badgers was limited in terms of opportunity, appearing in eight games and logging just 97 defensive snaps while recording four total tackles. The production for Lane as a redshirt junior was modest, but the adjustment period took a bit due to being asked to fit into a new system and role.
Where Lane’s impact became clearer was this past season.
In his final season of collegiate eligibility, Lane appeared in 11 games and became a more consistent part of E.J. Whitlow’s rotation on the interior as Wisconsin worked to improve its run defense. He finished the season with 13 total tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, one sack, a pass deflection, and nine pressures across 306 defensive snaps for the Badgers. His Pro Football Focus grades reflected where his value showed up most clearly, finishing with a 66.5 overall defensive grade and a 73.7 mark as a run defender.
That role mattered. After adding weight during the offseason, it became clear that Lane wasn’t going to be a stat-chasing pass rusher. His job was to occupy space, hold his ground against the run, and allow the defense around him to function more efficiently and the pass-rush to make plays.
Over the course of the season, Lane became part of a broader defensive turnaround that relied on size, discipline, and better execution up front.
Lane’s path is a familiar one in today’s college football landscape. A veteran contributor who produced at the lower levels runs out of eligibility, but used his final season to put quality tape together and give evaluators something tangible to study. There’s no projection being forced here. Instead, there’s a clear role, a defined skill set, and a body type that fits what NFL organizations look for in early-down interior defenders.
Now, the evaluation phase begins.
Lane will head into the draft process with a final season that showcased his ability to impact the run game, play meaningful snaps, and contribute within a structured defensive front. For Wisconsin, he was a rock-solid rotational piece in a season that required the Badgers to rotate multiple defensive linemen up front to stay fresh. For Lane, it’s an opportunity to see if that senior tape is enough to earn a longer look at the next level.
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