After predicting Wisconsin football’s starting offense yesterday, today I’m moving on to the defense. There will be a lot of recent faces, especially at linebacker. Luke Fickell and his staff have picked up a handful of linebacker and defensive line signings from the portal this offseason. How much of an impact will they have this season? Overall, it should be a better, more talented side of the ball. Here’s my early prediction for Wisconsin football’s defensive starters.
Wisconsin Football Defensive Players: Defensive Line – James Thompson Jr, Curt Neal, Brandon Lane
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This group as a whole has struggled at rusher in 2023. As a result, Luke Fickell has added a few players to this group to facilitate out. James Thompson Jr. and Curt Neal were solid last season and should already be locking down starting positions.
I know it’s only the second day of fall camp, but it looks like Brandon Neal has had two successful first days. As a sophomore in 2023, Lane had 45 tackles for Stephen F. Austin. He’s making an early push to become a starter on the defensive line, and I buy that. Don’t be surprised if Ben Barten, who played significant snaps last year, also keeps that spot. I’d be joyful with either one right now.
Other players we should see include Cade McDonald, Ernest Willor Jr., Elijah Hills and Jamel Howard.
Defenders: Darryl Peterson, Jaheim Thomas, Jake Chaney, John Pius
I think this Wisconsin football team has seven starters at linebacker. It will be intriguing to see if it is a committee position where a vast group of players get significant plays. I think it will be and should be.
From the outside, I liked the strides Darryl Peterson made last year. He finished as Wisconsin football’s sack leader in 2023. Transfer John Pius had a really solid spring season. He or Leon Lowry, another transfer, could be in contention for that spot.
Inside, it seems pretty settled with Jaheim Thomas and Jake Chaney. Fickell even said at Big Ten Media Days that Chaney was the starter. Thomas, who had 90 tackles at Arkansas last year, is a large man at 6’4, 245 pounds. He’ll fill the second starting spot.
Other players to watch include Tackett Curtis, who transferred to USC, Sebastian Cheeks, who transferred to North Carolina, and Christian Alliegro.
Secondaries: Ricardo Hallman, Nyzier Fourqurean, Hunter Wohler, Kamo’i Latu, Austin Brown (Nickel)
The best part is that all five of these players played large roles last season. There shouldn’t be many, if any, changes on defense. Hunter Wohler is one of the best players in the Big Ten and a very good defensive end. Despite Kamo’i Latu’s large step back last season, I think his ball sense and physicality will give him a leg up on Wohler this season.
By the end of the season, Hallman and Fourqurean were the starting corners. Hallman was named All-Conference, and coaches raved about Fourqurean’s spring. I also like Austin Brown’s touch and physicality. He could be the starting safety, but he can also play nickel.
Other Wisconsin football safeties to watch include Preston Zachman and Brayden Moore. Corners to watch include RJ Delancy, Xavier Lucas, and Jonas Duclona.
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