BREAKING NEWS: Wisconsin Football Defender Named One of PFF’s Top 100 Players

Luke Fickell, the head football coach of the Wisconsin Badgers, was disappointed with his team’s 7-6 overall record at the end of the 2023 season, which included a tough 35-31 loss to LSU in the ReliaQuest Bowl despite a fierce fight.

For the new-look Badgers, a standout leader and a brilliant defensive player developed amidst the highs and lows of the season.

Hunter Wohler, the Badgers’ starting safety, had a breakout season, racking up an amazing 120 total tackles in 13 games, including 74 solo stops, 6 pass deflections, 2 interceptions, and a sack.

Wohler received national attention for his exceptional play; he was named to the PFF All-Conference First Team, Second Team All-Big Ten by the media, and Third Team All-Big Ten by the league coaches.

It should therefore come as no surprise that Hunter Wohler was ranked 79th out of 100 players in the nation by Pro Football Focus for the 2023 season.

Hunter Wohler, of  Wisconsin football, receives PFF honors.

Hunter Wohler, who played the “Dollar” position in Mike Tressel’s defensive system, stood out as a flexible player for the Wisconsin football team, performing well in a variety of on-field capacities.

Wohler’s ability to move around the defense like a chess piece was essential to the Wisconsin Badgers’ success, whether he was covering space in the secondary or lining up in the box next to linebackers.

Pro Football Focus reports that Wohler had an outstanding 859 defensive snaps in the 2023 season, demonstrating his adaptability at several positions.

• Defensive Line: 27 snaps (3%)
• Box: 422 snaps (49%)
• Slot Corner: 145 snaps (17%)
• Outside Corner: 8 snaps (1%)
• Free Safety: 255 snaps (30%)

Pro Football Focus gave the 6-foot-2, 211-pound safety an overall defensive grade of 86.9, with very high grades in pass coverage (89.1) and run defense (82.1). Wohler has the second-highest safety rating in the nation.