Wisconsin badgers

JUST IN: Projected depth chart for Wisconsin football in 2024: Defense

Published

5 months ago

February 5, 2024

Wisconsin football needs to reinvent itself as it starts the 2024 season.

All last season, I wondered out loud what the identity of the team was. Its ball throwing was mediocre at best, its ground game was patchy, and its defense was only mediocre. Under Paul Chryst and Jim Leonhard, the situation was similar in 2022; even the formidable defensive identity was vanishing.

The good news is that Luke Fickell has a proven track record as a head coach in defense. The defense is the area of the squad I would wager on becoming dominant.

In order to help remodel a roster that didn’t quite match Mike Tressel’s and Fickell’s systems, Fickell and his team hit the transfer portal during the winter.

We will see if those moves pay off as spring practice gets underway. But first, here is our first depth chart projection for the Badgers’ 2024 defense:

Defensive Tackle

Starter: Curt Neal

Backup: Ben Barten

Curt Neal should lead a group in the middle of the defense that lost Gio Paez and Rodas Johnson after last season. Neal will look to improve on his 13 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss as he becomes the full-time starter.

Defensive End

Starters: James Thompson Jr, T.J. Bollers

Backups: Ben Barten, Cade McDonald

James Thompson Jr. returns as the most talented member of the Badgers’ defensive line. The competition will be for who lines up next to him, as Bollers makes the move from outside linebacker to compete with Barten for the spot.

Outside Linebacker

Starters: Darryl Peterson, John Pius (transfer)

Backups: Jeff Pietrowski, Leon Lowery (transfer), Aaron Witt

Wisconsin went all-out at linebacker in the portal this offseason, adding both Pius and Lowery as veteran pass-rushers. I could easily see the two transfers leading the room, but we have to give a nod to the veteran Peterson.

Inside Linebacker

Starter: Jake Chaney, Jaheim Thomas (transfer)

Backup: Sebastian Cheeks (transfer), Christian Alliegro, Bryan Sanborn

Wisconsin must replace two starters at inside linebacker as Jordan Turner transferred to Michigan State and Maema Njongmeta is off to the NFL. Expect a big year from Jake Chaney, and a possible big-impact season from the veteran Thomas.

Cornerback

Starters: Ricardo Hallman, Nyzier Fourqurean, Michael Mack

Backups: Amare Snowden, Jonas Duclona, Max Lofy

Ricardo Hallman returns after a fantastic 2023 and will be joined by Fourqurean, who surprisingly burst onto the scene last season, and likely Mack — who transferred to Wisconsin before the 2023 season. There is a big-time talent entering the program at the position, so expect this group to maybe look different once the season is underway.

Safety

Starters: Hunter Wohler, Kamo’i Latu, Austin Brown

Backups: Preston Zachman, Braedyn Moore

Wisconsin played a lot of three-safety looks last season with Wohler roving the middle of the field. I think it worked quite well. The bigger takeaway here is the top three players will be on the field, whether it’s at safety, nickel corner or some roving linebacker. The position is the strength of the defense yet again.