Wisconsin football fall camp musings: defensive news and notes
Breaking down the Wisconsin Badgers’ defense position by position coming out of fall camp as the team gears up for the 2025 season.
If we’re being honest, the University of Wisconsin football team's defense wasn’t good enough last season. They lacked size, they lacked depth, and too often they looked like a unit trying to survive instead of dictating. That’s not the standard in Madison, and it certainly wasn’t the vision when Luke Fickell hired Mike Tressel to run this side of the ball.
According to Game on Paper, Wisconsin's defense finished 76th nationally in EPA per play a season ago, 45th in EPA per dropback, and a concerning 89th in EPA per rush. Scoring defense? 47th. Total defense? 41st.
But here’s the part that matters now: fall camp left me thinking this defense looks a lot different. Between transfer portal additions, a renewed focus on building up the front seven, and some young pieces emerging in the secondary, you can feel a shift in overall philosophy.
Improvement, in his eyes, goes beyond tackles for loss and turnovers. It’s about how this defense responds when it does get hit.
"When we do give up a play, they know the objective wasn’t 'no eight-yard plays," Tressel said. "They don’t care, and they move on much faster, refocusing on 'hey, one TFL here and we’re right back in charge of this series.” So yes, I’m seeing those things happen [TFLs], but also the belief that even if we give up something, as long as it’s not an explosive, and we stay on track with our objectives, we’ll be back in charge of the series.
Whether it translates on Saturdays is the real question, but on paper, the Badgers finally look like a unit that belongs in the Big Ten trenches again.
With that in mind, let’s go position by position and take stock of where this defense stands and what we've learned heading into 2025.
Defensive Line
There's no sense sugarcoating it, everybody knew what the glaring weakness was on this unit a year ago. E.J. Whitlow’s defensive line room got pushed around in ways that don’t fly in the Big Ten, and it exposed the entire defense.
Fast-forward to 2025, and I think we’re finally seeing Wisconsin treat that spot with the urgency that it deserves. Between intentional portal spending and a philosophical shift that prioritizes size and experience, the Badgers’ defensive front suddenly looks like it belongs again.
Transfers like Charles Perkins, Jay’Viar Suggs, Parker Petersen, and even a jumbo edge like Corey Walker all bring something Wisconsin just didn’t have last fall: bodies that can hold up for four quarters. Add in returning guys like Ben Barten, Brandon Lane, and Dillan Johnson, each of whom has tacked on weight, and you start to see the outlines of a group that can rotate, stay fresh, and make life easier for the rest of the defense.
“For sure, six, seven, eight guys,” Whitlow said when asked how many guys he was comfortable with playing during the season. “There’s a ton of different combinations. We got a volume body of guys who I trust can go out there and play the game the right way. Feel really good about the depth that we have right now.”
Perkins has some juice and plays with intensity. Suggs is someone who can provide some pass rush on the interior. Both of those guys are slated to be difference makers. Barten is going to be the top option as the 0-tech and focus on a role that he’s best suited for. Those are the main guys I think are going to help anchor this unit, but they do have some options behind them where the drop-off isn’t too noticeable.
Petersen can be a bit of a run-stuffing specialist, and overall, I think you have more defined roles in this unit than you did a year ago, when you had just one player at 300 pounds or heavier, and now you’ve got nine defenders who fit that mold. They’re feeling pretty good about the early returns.
Now, let’s be clear. I don’t expect this room to churn out All-Big Ten talent overnight. But what I do expect is a line that looks disruptive, that doesn’t get worn down as easily, and that creates space for Wisconsin’s playmakers behind them. And for the first time in a while, when I hear coaches talk about having depth up front, I don’t roll my eyes. I think there’s some substance to it. If the Badgers take a big defensive leap this year, this is the room we’ll be pointing back to as the reason why.
Inside Linebacker
Inside linebacker feels like one of those spots that could quietly swing the defense this year. Christian Alliegro and Tackett Curtis project as the clear-cut starters, and on athletic tools alone, that’s about as dynamic a pairing as Wisconsin has had during the Luke Fickell era.
Alliegro, in particular, looks like he’s on the cusp of being an All-Big Ten caliber linebacker. We saw it late last season when he was thrust into a starting role; his athleticism just pops, his instincts around the football are obvious, and he plays with the kind of burst you just can’t coach. The hole in his game is coverage, and at times last year, it showed up in a glaring way. But the snaps Alliegro got as a starter were invaluable, and I’m betting that experience makes him a more complete player in Year 3.
Curtis, meanwhile, finally gets his chance as a healthy, full-time starter for the Badgers. He’s wired the way you want an inside linebacker to be: physical, aggressive, and built for the Big Ten. It might not look perfect every week, but the potential for disruptive plays is there, and you get the sense the staff really trusts his presence in the middle of the defense.
“Their skill set allows them to play in space," Tressel said of Alliegro and Curtis. "Their speed fits perfectly, and what we’re doing every day trains their in-the-box mentality.”
The depth here is sneaky good, and maybe more importantly, it’s young.
True freshman Cooper Catalano, the all-time leading tackler in Wisconsin high school football history, has wasted zero time making his presence felt. He enrolled early, carried that spring momentum into fall, and looks like the next man up at Mike linebacker. Thomas Heiberger is another name to circle. He’s healthy again, moving well, and making the transition from outside linebacker look smoother than expected. That’s significant because this is a kid who almost cracked the rotation as a true freshman before the injury.
And then there’s Mason Posa. He wasn’t on campus until after winning his fourth straight state wrestling title, but since arriving in the summer, he’s looked every bit like the high-upside piece people hoped he could be. Add in Western Carolina transfer Antarron Turner, who’s flashed enough to stay in the mix, and suddenly Wisconsin has options.
The real question is how much of that depth we will actually see. Because if Alliegro and Curtis play the way I think they can, it’s hard to justify taking them off the field much. And that’s a good problem to have after two years of inside linebacker play that was average by Wisconsin’s standard. If this position group takes a step forward, and I think it could do just that, it’s not a stretch to say it could change the ceiling of the entire defense.
Outside Linebacker
Outside linebacker was one of the bigger disappointments last fall.
For all the talk of versatility, investment made in the portal, and scheme fit, the unit just wasn’t anywhere near disruptive enough. Some of that fell on the defensive line, not creating opportunity. Some of it was players being asked to play out of position. And some of it, with the benefit of hindsight, was just a group that never lived up to the billing. The staff knew it, too, and they went into the offseason intent on making changes.
Enter Mason Reiger. The Louisville transfer comes with an injury history, which makes his health one of the most important storylines. But if he can stay on the field, he looks like the best player on this defense. Built like an NFL linebacker, wired like one too, Reiger has shown in camp that he can both pressure the quarterback and hold up against the run. He’s not just a plug-and-play talent. Reiger's already taken on a leadership role, and it feels like his presence alone raises the ceiling of this group.
"The guy's a great football player," outside linebackers coach Matt Mitchell said. "He's got unbelievable feel. I'm not sure there's a job he can't do. He stops the run in the C gap. Sometimes we bump him down, and then we drop him. And man, he is great. And he's a hard charger, and he's got a chip on his shoulder. I think being a former walk-on at the previous institution, he's got that chip on his shoulder. So, he's been the most productive guy in camp out of my room. It's been impressive."
Behind him is where things get more complicated. Darryl Peterson added weight this offseason and is expected to play more with his hand in the dirt, a look that mirrors his high school days and one that might make him a more natural fit. He’s still going to log meaningful snaps, and his leadership matters, but his impact has to grow.
After that, you get a rotation of body types and skill sets, which is both intriguing and concerning. Tyreese Fearbry, the Kentucky transfer, is a true edge-bender with the tools to win on passing downs. Sebastian Cheeks continues to make strides after moving outside last season and should find a role.
Then you get into the role-specific pieces. Aaron Witt is now more of a hybrid at the “Star” spot, someone who can be used in situational looks. True freshman Nick Clayton has already earned Coach Mitchell’s trust as a third-down option. Jumbo edges like Corey Walker, who is going to play a ton of snaps for this football team, add another layer. At 290 pounds, he can set the edge like a lineman but still offer something as a pass rusher. And Micheal Garner, the Grambling State transfer, might be more of a long-term play but has the raw tools to be developed into something.
So what do we make of this room? On one hand, it feels like a collection of specialists rather than a proven rotation. On the other hand, Wisconsin finally has enough different body types to mix and match in ways they couldn’t a year ago. The floor is higher than it was in 2024, because last year was about as bad as it gets, but how high the ceiling goes will depend largely on Reiger’s health. That was the gamble Wisconsin's staff took in the portal. If Reiger hits, this unit could finally become the disruptive force the staff has been preaching about becoming. If not, the Badgers are back to searching for answers at a position that will define their defense.
Cornerback
If you’re looking for intrigue on this Wisconsin defense, look no further than the Badgers' cornerback room.
Coming out of the offseason, it felt like this group had the potential to be one of the real strengths of the team. And in some ways, that’s still true. Ricardo Hallman returns for his fifth and final season in Madison, giving the Badgers a proven, high-level starter on the outside. Even with Xavier Lucas "transferring" to Miami, the staff managed to bring back Nyzier Fourqurean after a rocky offseason, which gave Wisconsin both of its top corners from last year back in the mix. That was a strong starting point.
But then came the hard part: rebuilding everything behind them after a wave of transfers left the depth chart bare. Geimere Latimer, a portal addition from Jacksonville State, has quickly established himself as the starting nickel and looks locked into that role. Omillio Agard, the former four-star recruit who redshirted last season, is starting to push for starting snaps. And Miami transfer D'Yoni Hill has brought veteran depth, giving the staff another option they feel comfortable rolling out.
The real wild card, of course, is Fourqurean’s legal situation. His availability for 2025 remains uncertain, and if he can’t go, that leaves Hill and Agard rotating in at the other starting outside spot opposite Hallman. The plan appears to be rotating both guys early, but it’s hard to overstate how big Fourqurean’s return would be for the stability of this room.
"In terms of Nyzier's ability to be seen and evaluated by the NFL, the loss of these opportunities cannot be replaced," Fickell said, urging the courts to reconsider his overturned eligibility ruling. "If Nyzier is forced to miss these opportunities, it will prove to be irreparable in terms of his NFL draft opportunities."
Behind that group is a cluster of true freshmen: Jai'mier Scott, Cairo Skanes, and Jahmare Washington. Of that trio, Skanes has probably positioned himself the best to contribute right away, thanks to his size and physical style, should the Badgers deal with injury or need to rotate. Still, this is a young group that’s being asked to accelerate its development, and fall camp reps have been invaluable in getting them up to speed.
So what do we make of it? On one hand, it’s still a top-heavy room where Hallman is clearly the star and Fourqurean’s eligibility looms as a major question. The truth is, the combination of Agard, Hill, and the talented freshmen class has at least raised the floor and given the staff more confidence than they might have expected back in spring.
Talent evaluation and portal additions seem to have hit for the most part, even if this isn’t yet a unit you’d call lockdown or elite. They’ll be tested by top-tier receivers all season long, and the answers won’t come until the lights turn on. But for now, this cornerback room looks a lot more stable and a lot more promising for the future than it did a few months ago.
Safety
If you’re looking for a position group that’s become one of Wisconsin’s biggest strengths, you probably land at safety. Coming out of fall camp, this looks like one of the deeper, more reliable rooms on the entire roster.
Preston Zachman is back, and he’s been Mr. Reliable for a while now. He’s as steady a tackler as you’ll find on this defense, he communicates at a high level, and he brings just enough playmaking juice on the back end to change games. Next to him is Austin Brown, who spent much of last season moonlighting as a nickel out of necessity. He more than held his own there, but this staff is even higher on him playing his natural spot at safety. His versatility is a major asset, and together, Zachman and Brown give Wisconsin a starting duo you feel very good about entering 2025.
"Preston and AB have been around, but at the same time, there are no jobs given in our defense, and I think they embrace that," Jack Cooper said. "They want the competition... they’re doing a good job teaching the other guys. As far as understanding the defense, they’re just doing a better job of selling the message from Coach Tressel and Coach Fickell as well. They’re embracing this thing, and they believe in what we do.
"It’s so much more powerful when it’s from your players. And that’s what they’ve been doing better than anything, selling what we’re doing to the guys. The modern-day kid, you’ve got to sell what you’re doing. And they do a phenomenal job of that."
What makes this group stand out, though, is the depth behind them. Portal additions Matt Jung (Bethel) and Matthew Traynor (Richmond) both looked like hits during spring practice and fall camp. Jung doesn’t look out of place at all despite the leap from Division III, while Traynor has flashed with his physicality and a knack for delivering big hits. Both guys look capable of playing legitimate snaps right now, which gives the coaching staff four safeties that they can rotate with confidence.
Then there’s the youth. True freshmen Grant Dean and Luke Emmerich have both popped at times, even if they’re unlikely to see much action this year. The point is, Wisconsin’s got multiple layers of depth at this spot, and that was not necessarily a given heading into the offseason.
You never get better by losing a player like Hunter Wohler, and nobody’s pretending otherwise. But the way this room has been rebuilt, through retention, the transfer portal, and high school recruiting, makes it one of the more stable and exciting position groups that Wisconsin has right now. Coming out of camp, if you asked me which units I feel best about, safety’s right up there with inside linebacker and running back.
Wrapping up the Defense
So what does all this mean when you zoom out? To me, it means Mike Tressel’s defense is going to look very different this fall.
That’s not just roster turnover, which is to be expected nowadays; it's more philosophical. Wisconsin spent two years learning the hard way that you can’t play small and light in the Big Ten and expect to win in the trenches. This staff has clearly taken that to heart, and the tweaks they’ve made on the defensive line, the outside linebacker rotation, and even in the secondary all signal a unit built with more staying power.
On paper, the changes make sense. Bigger bodies up front. More defined roles on the edge. Depth at linebacker and safety that didn’t exist before. It’s a recalibration that aligns more closely with what the Big Ten demands, and there are plenty of reasons to believe it could pay off.
But then comes the uncomfortable part — belief doesn’t equal proof. For all the optimism you get out of talking season, this is still a defense that has to prove it can disrupt games, hold up against running teams, and win matchups in coverage against elite receivers. And I’ll be honest: I’m not entirely convinced that Tressel is an above-average Big Ten defensive coordinator. In a lot of ways, I think he’s coaching for his job this season.
That doesn’t mean the blueprint is flawed. It means the execution, from the players, the position coaches, and from Tressel himself, has to rise to the level of the league they’re in. If it does, Wisconsin has a chance to field a defense that finally looks more like the units we've seen in the past, even if they're not among the nation's elite like before. If it doesn’t, we’ll be talking about more than just roster tweaks next offseason.
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