Wisconsin’s football program is about to undergo an offseason of great change. Although discussion has centered on how Luke Fickell, offensive coordinator Phil Longo and the rest of the staff will diversify the offense, expect to see some key differences with the defense as well.
Jim Leonhard is out. Mike Tressel is in. Based on past history at Cincinnati, that likely means a base 3-3-5 defense, as opposed to the traditional 3-4 system Wisconsin used for the past decade (although the Badgers ran a 2-4-5 when in the nickel). How that scheme leverages the success Leonhard found with his players remains to be seen, but the idea will be to create flexibility defending the pass and the run while causing confusion for opposing offenses.
On Friday, The Athletic examined the projected two-deep for Wisconsin’s offense entering the offseason. Here is a look at how the Badgers’ defense and specialists project for 2023. For the purposes of this exercise, I’m including four linebackers and five defensive backs on the top line until spring practice offers a better sense of what the full picture of Wisconsin’s defense looks like.
Defensive end
Starters: Isaiah Mullens (sixth-year senior) and Rodas Johnson (redshirt senior)
Backups: James Thompson Jr. (redshirt junior) and Cade McDonald (redshirt junior)
Other candidates: Isaac Townsend (redshirt senior), Tommy Brunner (redshirt senior), Manny Mullens (sophomore), Mike Jarvis (redshirt freshman), Gabe Kirschke (redshirt freshman), Angel Toombs (freshman), Nolan Vils (freshman), Will McDonald (freshman)
2022 snap counts (per Pro Football Focus): Johnson 493, Thompson Jr. 379, Isaiah Mullens 189, Cade McDonald 127, Brunner 18
Overview: Isaiah Mullens is coming back for a sixth season, which is a big deal for Wisconsin up front given his experience and the lack of scholarship depth at this stage. Mullens played in seven games with three starts in 2022 because he missed time with a right leg injury. In his career, he has appeared in 40 games with 10 starts.
Johnson and Thompson Jr. both made big jumps, combining to make 16 starts and record 46 tackles with 12.5 tackles for loss. Cade McDonald, at 6-foot-6, has intriguing size and appeared in 11 games. Fickell has said he wants to add depth on the defensive line before the start of next season, so expect the coaching staff to be busy recruiting and examining potential transfers.
Nose guard
Starter: Gio Paez (redshirt senior)
Backup: Curt Neal (freshman)
Other candidates: Ben Barten (redshirt junior)
2022 snap counts: Keeanu Benton 427, Paez 165, Barten 89, Neal 47
Overview: Benton is off to the NFL, which leaves a sizable hole for Wisconsin at nose guard. Over four seasons, he played in 45 games with 36 starts. Paez is next in line and played at least 20 snaps in five different games last season. Neal made impressive strides after missing spring practice as an early enrollee while recovering from a torn ACL in his right knee suffered during his high school career. Barten has the versatility to play at nose or end.
Outside linebacker
Starters: C.J. Goetz (sixth-year senior) and Darryl Peterson (redshirt sophomore)
Backups: Kaden Johnson (redshirt junior) and T.J. Bollers (redshirt sophomore)
Other candidates: Aaron Witt (redshirt junior), Jordan Mayer (freshman), Christian Alliegro (freshman)
2022 snap counts: Goetz 590, Nick Herbig 520, Peterson 331, Johnson 177, Bollers 28
Overview: Herbig was a disruptive force as Wisconsin’s best defensive player last season. Much like with Benton’s departure, this group has a lot of production to make up for with Herbig declaring for the NFL Draft. The good news for the Badgers is that they still have plenty of talent remaining.
Goetz has not made an announcement on his future, but he wasn’t among the 15 seniors who were honored on senior day, so there appears to be a decent chance he’ll return for a sixth season. Peterson started in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl in place of Herbig, while Johnson and Bollers add good depth. Witt remains a wild card; he has battled injuries for two years and last played as a true freshman in the 2020 Duke’s Mayo Bowl, when he recorded two tackles for loss with a sack and a forced fumble.
Inside linebacker
Starters: Maema Njongmeta (redshirt senior) and Jordan Turner (redshirt junior)
Backups: Tatum Grass (redshirt senior) and Jake Chaney (redshirt sophomore)
Other candidates: Spencer Lytle (redshirt senior), Bryan Sanborn (redshirt sophomore), Aidan Vaughan (redshirt freshman), Tyler Jansey (freshman)
2022 snap counts: Turner 663, Njongmeta 587, Chaney 269, Grass 141, Sanborn 18, Lytle 6
Overview: It was always going to be difficult to replace what Jack Sanborn and Leo Chenal accomplished in 2021, but Njongmeta and Turner stepped into starting roles well in 2022. Njongmeta led the team with 95 tackles and ranked second with 11.5 tackles for loss. Turner finished second with 68 tackles and five tackles for loss and was named the defensive player of the bowl game.
Grass and Chaney give Wisconsin four players with good experience. Chaney was used frequently in third down situations. Sanborn was on the cusp of breaking through during preseason practice, and Lytle is a veteran who has battled injuries throughout his career. Jansey may need time to work his way up the depth chart, but he fits the mold of a hard-hitting, smart Wisconsin linebacker. He recorded 128 tackles and 17 tackles for loss in his senior season of high school.
Cornerback
Starters: Alexander Smith (sixth-year senior) and Ricardo Hallman (redshirt sophomore); nickel corner: Jason Maitre (sixth-year senior)
Backups: Al Ashford III (redshirt sophomore) and Avyonne Jones (redshirt freshman); nickel corner: Max Lofy (redshirt junior)
Other candidates: Amaun Williams (redshirt junior), A’Khoury Lyde (redshirt freshman), Amare Snowden (freshman), Jonas Duclona (freshman), A.J. Tisdell (freshman), Jace Arnold (freshman)
2022 snap counts: Maitre 789 (at Boston College), Jay Shaw 573, Cedrick Dort Jr. 438, Smith 346, Hallman 341, Justin Clark 229, Semar Melvin 101, Williams 37, Jones 32
Overview: Smith is back for a sixth season after missing the first six games of 2022 with a hamstring injury. Former Badgers cornerbacks coach Hank Poteat called him the best corner in the group last spring. Hallman started seven games to open the season and then essentially disappeared after the Michigan State game until he returned to start against Oklahoma State in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.
Wisconsin may have found its top nickel corner with the transfer addition of Maitre, who played corner and safety as a multi-year starter at Boston College. Maitre briefly announced a transfer to Liberty before flipping to Wisconsin on Friday. He recorded 42 tackles with six pass breakups and an interception in 2022. His addition offsets the loss of Melvin, who transferred to Michigan State. Wisconsin also needed some veteran help after losing Shaw, Dort and Clark, who transferred to Wisconsin a year ago for their final seasons of eligibility.
Wisconsin’s reserves are young and include four incoming freshmen on scholarship. The most intriguing player from that group has to be Snowden, a four-star prospect who stands 6-3 and gives the Badgers size they don’t often have at the position.
Safety
Starters: Kamo’i Latu (senior) and Hunter Wohler (junior)
Backups: Travian Blaylock (sixth-year senior) and Preston Zachman (redshirt junior)
Other candidates: Owen Arnett (redshirt sophomore), Austin Brown (sophomore), Braedyn Moore (freshman), Justin Taylor (freshman)
2022 snap counts: John Torchio 669, Latu 504, Wohler 213, Zachman 169, Titus Toler 81, Brown 51, Arnett 15
Overview: Torchio announced Saturday that he would be entering the NFL Draft rather than returning to Wisconsin for a sixth season, opening up a starting role at safety next season. Latu and Wohler are the favorites, though a healthy Blaylock would provide a big lift for the Badgers. Latu, who transferred to Wisconsin from Utah last offseason, turned out to be a huge addition with Blaylock missing the season due an ACL tear in his right knee and Wohler sidelined for much of the season due to a broken left ankle.
Blaylock was in position to be a starter when he suffered his injury last spring and could return for a sixth season. Zachman and Brown will compete for time in the two deep, and Wisconsin also brings in a four-star safety in Moore, whom Fickell and his staff recruited over from Cincinnati.
Kicker
Starter: Nate Van Zelst (redshirt sophomore)
Backup: Vito Calvaruso (redshirt junior)
Other candidates: Jack Van Dyke (senior), Gavin Lahm (sophomore)
Overview: Calvaruso was a rare specialist to earn a scholarship after he transferred from Arkansas with a big leg and loads of potential. But he couldn’t stay healthy, and Van Zelst took control of the starting field goal job. Van Zelst was excellent, connecting on 11 of 14 field goals and burying all three of his attempts from at least 40 yards. He also made all 35 of his extra-point attempts.
Punter
Starter: Gavin Meyers (redshirt junior)
Backup: Jack Van Dyke (senior)
Overview: Andy Vujnovich leaves after starting for the past three seasons, which opens the door for Meyers, who was listed as the backup in 2022. Meyers averaged 39.2 punts during his high school career with 17 punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
Kickoff specialist
Starter: Jack Van Dyke (senior)
Backup: Gavin Lahm (sophomore)
Overview: Both Van Dyke and Lahm saw action in 2022, as Van Dyke battled injuries. Lahm handled 47 kickoffs and averaged 60.6 yards per attempt with 17 touchbacks. Van Dyke kicked off 21 times and averaged 63.3 yards with 15 touchbacks.
Long snapper
Starter: Peter Bowden (redshirt senior)
Backup: Zach Zei (redshirt sophomore)
Other candidates: Duncan McKinley (redshirt sophomore), Keane Bessert (freshman)
Overview: Bowden has handled Wisconsin’s long snapper duties for the past two seasons. He was a five-star long snapper by Kohl’s and Rubio Long Snapping who successfully delivered all 227 snaps in his four-year high school career. Zei was listed as Bowden’s backup in 2022.
Punt returner
Starter: Dean Engram (redshirt senior)
Backup: Chimere Dike (senior)
Overview: Engram has been Wisconsin’s punt returner for three seasons. He finished the 2022 campaign with 24 punt returns for 132 yards, averaging 5.5 yards per return with a long of 24 yards. Engram has increased his return average in each season, though the Badgers could stand to generate more dynamic plays from the position.
Kick returner
Starter: Chimere Dike (senior)
Backup: Keontez Lewis (junior)
Overview: Dike returned kicks in the bowl game with Isaac Guerendo in the transfer portal and brought one back 53 yards during the first quarter. Given his heavy load at wide receiver, Wisconsin may look to find some other playmakers at the position during spring practice and into camp next season. The Badgers should have no shortage of options as Fickell and his staff evaluate all positions.
