yessir, want more of a challenge in the running game so going to be testing some sliders in our first few games
The Victory Lap.
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Captain Canada
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The Victory Lap.
Odds you can lure Coco to follow you to Wisconsin? 
The Victory Lap.
Badgers DC Jerome Singleton looking to fix a Wisconsin defense that struggled last year
Rohan Osen -- Badger247 Senior Football Analyst
One of Charles Huff's first phone calls as head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers was to Jerome Singleton, who was the defensive coordinator at South Alabama at the time.
The two crossed paths in Tuscaloosa when Huff was the assistant head coach and running back's coach at Alabama while Singleton was an analyst, working closely with the offensive staff as a defensive mind under offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, Singleton's college coach at USC.
"(Singleton) would dial stuff up at practice with the scout defense that was better than what we were seeing on Saturday's," Huff recalls, "I tried to get him (at Marshall) when he was with the Rams so as soon as I signed the dotted line to come (to Wisconsin), he was my first phone call to join the staff."
Huff describes Singleton as the 'head coach of the defense' with total control of the roster, game planning and game-day play calling. It's an amount of trust that was fermented during their two years together on Alabama's coaching staff and from afar as Huff has watched Singleton blossom into one of high school football's best coaches while at Inglewood High School and leading the Sun Belt's best defense the past years.
Singleton's task is a major one as he'll need to turn around a Wisconsin defense that was one of the worst units in Power 4 football that will be aided by a top sixteen recruiting class that Singleton and Huff were able to secure.
Defensive End
Returning: Curt Neal (Sr), Will McDonald (Rs-Jr), Charles Riley (Rs-So), Ernest Willor Jr. (Rs-So), Marquez Gammon (Rs-Fr), Russ Sampson (Rs-Fr), Joe Coker (Rs-Fr)
Additions: None
Losses: None
The Badgers bring back the same room which is headlined by senior Curt Neal who has tallied 14.5 sacks in the past two seasons as one of the Badgers' best defensive players. What Neal lacks in height -- listed at six-foot -- he makes up for in explosiveness and his ability to rush the passer from the interior as a five-technique. He'll remain in that position as the Badgers are transitioning from a 3-4 defense to a 3-3-5 base under Singleton.
Charles Riley is the other returning starter with six tackles for loss and three sacks as he looks to improve upon that production in his second season as a starter after starting as a true freshman. There is some depth at the position in Will McDonald who has flashed some with his length at six-foot-four as well as Ernest Willor Jr. who might be the twitchiest of the bunch but hasn't played much in his first two seasons with the Badgers.
Nose Tackle
Returning: Stewart Sullivan (Rs-So), Brian Coale (Rs-Fr), Carl Henderson (Rs-Fr)
Additions: 3-star HS Tyrone Gaydosh, 3-star HS Iosefa Thrasher
Losses: Alphonso Tyree (graduation)
Singleton got a lot of production from this position while at South Alabama in Maurice Strong Jr. and R.J. Moss Jr. who could be an All-American next year. The body types are certainly there in Stewart Sullivan who is akin to Moss Jr. with his motor and ability to shed blocks while Brian Cole and Carl Henderson are both around the 300-pound mark as big bodies that can fill up gaps.
How quickly newcomers Tyrone Gaydosh (6'4", 289lbs) and Iosefa Thrasher (6'3", 317lbs) can come online are also key as Singleton has shown a willingness to play freshman and play them early especially in cases like Gaydosh and Thrasher where they possess the physical traits to be potentially game wreckers down the line.
Linebacker
Returning: ILB Sebastian Cheeks (Rs-Sr), ILB Christian Alliegro (Rs-Jr), ILB Landon Gauthier (Rs-So), ILB Malachi Mood (Rs-Sr), OLB Kirk Kennedy (Rs-So), OLB Josh Devey (Rs-Fr), OLB Aiden Filipovic (Rs-Fr), OLB Chauncey Hammer (Rs-Fr), OLB Tim Nall (Rs-Jr)
Additions: 4-star HS ILB David Zelenka, 3-star transfer LB Roddy Orr (Iowa), 3-star HS LB David Dallas, 3-star HS ILB Devaunte Bars, 3-star HS ILB Max McGann, Sophomore OLB Demario Davis (converted defensive end), 3-star transfer DE Tyler Doss (JUCO)
Losses: OLB Darryl Peterson (NFL draft), OLB Aaron Witt (graduation)
Perhaps the biggest mystery of Singleton's defense is how will he deploy his linebackers. In his first season with South Alabama, Singleton used his SAM linebacker -- Aakil Washington -- primarily as a pass rusher with some coverage responsibility while his MIKE and WILL linebackers -- a combination of Taylor Milton, James Calhoun and Dalton Hughes -- were primarily for run support with Calhoun specializing as a coverage linebacker.
Part of what made South Alabama's defense so good in 2025 was the variety of personnel and fronts that the Jaguars used with five linebackers recording over forty tackles and their abilities to be pass rushers on one play and drop into coverage the next.
If Singleton wants to continue that style of defense, the starting three could very well be Sebastian Cheeks, Christian Alliegro and Landon Gauthier as Cheeks and Alliegro started at MIKE and WILL last season in the Badgers' 3-4 defense.
The team's best pass rusher, however, was Kirk Kennedy who doesn't possess the sideline to sideline abilities of Gauthier but did lead the team with eight sacks. There's also Iowa transfer Roddy Orr who does have some coverage ability while also flashing his pass rushing skills with four sacks last season for the Hawkeyes.
This is ultimately a good problem for the Badgers to have as we could see anywhere from five to six linebackers play meaningful roles by season's end.
Cornerback
Returning: Jonas Duclona (Rs-Sr), Amare Snowden (Rs-Jr), Omillio Agard (Rs-So), Jace Arnold (Rs-Jr), Demario Starr (Rs-Fr), Rico Smith (Rs-Fr), Nate Hurns (Rs-Fr)
Additions: 3-star HS CB Quandre Ojabo
Losses: Ricardo Hallman (NFL draft)
If only Hallman had another year of eligibility left as he would have amplified what the Badgers might be able to do on defense with a first-round corner under Singleton who does a good job of putting his corners in positions to win and make big plays.
Hallman's departure means everyone else in the room, especially the experienced guys in Jonas Duclona and Amare Snowden are going to step up their game heading into next season. The drop off after them is pretty steep in terms of talent and experience with Omillio Agard being the only other corner that played a single snap last season.
This is the position with the biggest question mark -- in a negative sense -- heading into the year as its just unclear how this will group will hold up in conference play as there's only so much a defense can hide their corners as zone turns into man coverage at some point.
Safety
Returning: Taylor Medina (Rs-So), Braedyn Moore (Rs-Jr), Mike Sledge (Rs-So)
Additions: 4-star transfer DB Jamison Patton (Iowa State), 3-star HS DB Danny Carden, 3-star HS DB Alex Lampman, RS Sophomore Thomas Heiberger (converted linebacker), 2-star HS DB Alex Lampman
Losses: Quadelle McKinney (graduation), Austin Brown (graduation)
The Thorpe Award has gone to someone in Singleton's safeties group in back-to-back years as Singleton is extremely hands on with this group, which is what ultimately defines this defense.
Singleton was instrumental in the recruitment of transfer Jamison Patton out of Iowa State that recorded forty nine tackles and an interception for the Cyclones before entering the portal as the top safety available.
Patton is a bigger safety at six-foot-two and 200 pounds with is what Singleton seems to prefer, also converting linebacker Thomas Heiberger to a safety at six-foot-four and 218 pounds. The entire room is now over six-feet tall with most of them around the 200-pound mark, which is the case with returning starter Braedyn Moore.
The redshirt junior had 75 tackles last season and will compete for one of those two available safety spots -- assuming that Patton is a starter -- with Heiberger and Taylor Medina.
The Victory Lap.
i was def on the lookout for any south alabama transfers in the portal but only a running back jumped in
crazy how i stole Coco from the Badgers only to end up there a season later smh
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Google[Bot]
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The Victory Lap.
Gaydosh looks like an interesting piece. What’s his speed like? Looks like his size would be suited for the edge
The Victory Lap.
With third head coach in three years, Badgers looking for a stabilizing season in 2026
Adriana Castillo -- usfwire.usatoday.com
From 1990 through 2022, the Wisconsin Badgers have had only four different head coaches. In the past three years, they've gone through three with Charles Huff being hired to replace Mike Locksley after just one-year.
The Badgers haven't won more than seven games since 2022, failing to reach ten wins since Paul Chryst's 2019 team.
"The standard here is Big Ten Championships and competing for Rose Bowls, national championships," said Huff during his introductory press conference.
Prior to Marshall, he was the associate head coach and running backs coach at the University of Alabama. A coach with stints at Mississippi State and Penn State, he has gained the reputation of being one of the top recruiters in college football. The influx of talent is on the way with notable recruiter Jerome Singleton on staff as well but the question is can Huff and his staff show enough positive signs this season to kick start that recruiting momentum?
Ten Best Wisconsin Players
1. LB Sebastian Cheeks, Rs Senior
2. DT Stewart Sullivan, Rs Sophomore
3. HB Alex Timmerman, Sophomore
4. WR Trech Kekahuna, Rs Junior
5. LB Christian Alliegro, Rs Junior
6. DE Curt Neal, Rs Senior
7. G Lamar Yelder, Sophomore
8. CB Jonas Duclona, Rs Senior
9. EDGE Kirk Kennedy, Rs Sophomore
10. S Jamison Patton, Senior
Schedule
Aug 29 vs. Pittsburgh
Sep 5 at Purdue (night game)
Sep 12 at UCLA
Sep 19 vs. #12 Notre Dame
Sep 26 at Iowa (night game)
OPEN
Oct 10 vs. #3 USC (night game)
Oct 17 at Maryland
Oct 24 vs. Western Illinois
OPEN
Nov 7 at #5 Penn State
Nov 14 vs. Rutgers (Homecoming)
Nov 21 vs. Michigan State
Nov. 28 vs. #21 Minnesota
Preseason All Big Ten
Second Team
LB Sebastian Cheeks
What to watch for on offense: The Badgers were able to land a talented quarterback on the recruiting trail in four-star Dean Dalton, who has all of the makings of a future star. Junior quarterback Cole Lacrue returns as a starter but for how long? Lacrue impressed last year, throwing for 3,116 passing yards with thirty touchdowns and fourteen interceptions but ultimately, the Badgers finished the year with just four wins so an appetite for a fresh face could grow if the Badgers get off to a slow start.
What to watch for on defense: This defense underperformed last season in comparison to their talent and with them returning several starters under new defensive coordinator Jerome Singleton, improvement is a must. The front six of Singleton's 3-3-5 defense has ton of talent from all-conference selection Sebastian Cheeks to potential NFL players in defensive end Curt Neal, nose tackle Stewart Sullivan and Cheeks' running mate at linebacker, Christian Alliegro.
The team will be far better if... the Badgers can find that next star running back that the program is known for. The running game took a step back last year but with two talented sophomores set to inherit the throne in Alex Timmerman and Sal McCracken, if one of them can break through, the Badgers offense should be much improved this year.
Defensively, can the corners hold up? The Badgers bring back essentially two corners with experience in Jonas Duclona and Amare Snowden which in today's college football world, isn't much. Omillio Agard and Jace Arnold are talented but can they take that next step especially in games where three or four corners on the field will be a requirement against some of college football's most explosive offenses.
The Schedule: They get early litmus tests with Pittsburgh, Purdue and UCLA which are all similarly talented teams to the Badgers before they host Notre Dame which will be a tough hill to climb.
The schedule doesn't let up after that as they enter conference play with Iowa and USC before a bit of a breather with Maryland and Western Illinois, an FCS opponent. The goal would be to be around that four to five win mark by then before the four game stretch to end the year that includes a road trip to Penn State and home stand against Rutgers, Michigan State and Minnesota.
Best offensive player: A former five-star recruit, it's only a matter of time until Alex Timmerman blossoms into that next great Badger running back and with limited playing time last year, the Wisconsin native averaged 6.7 yards per carry last season with 128 of his 161 yards coming after contact.
With an expended role this year and his abilities as a pass catcher, Timmerman could be in store for a major breakout campaign.
Best defensive player: The only preseason All-Big Ten selection on the team, Sebastian Cheeks is the heart and soul of this defense that should eat in Singleton's defense which lets linebackers play aggressive, down hill and try to make plays on the other side of the ball. Three linebackers from South Alabama finished with more than ten tackles for loss last year, including freshman linebacker Coco Generals who had seventeen.
Key players to a successful season: Trech Kekahuna caught seventy three passes last year for 1,132 yards and eight touchdowns in his first season as a starter. Whoever ends up being the quarterback by season's end will need to rely on the big play artist that averaged 15.5 yards per reception last year with 5.7 yards after the catch average.
The Badgers went into the transfer portal to land Jamison Patton out of Iowa State to sure up that secondary. Patton is going to be the center fielder of this defense with his ability to cover up space and be a sure tackler in open field.
The season will be a success if...the Badgers go bowling and look competitive against the likes of USC, Penn State and Notre Dame.
Key game: The Notre Dame will be key as if the Badgers look outmatched, it could spell trouble for their chances.
Game by Game Predictions
Aug 29 vs. Pittsburgh: W
Sep 5 at Purdue: L
Sep 12 at UCLA: W
Sep 19 vs. #12 Notre Dame: L
Sep 26 at Iowa: W
Oct 10 vs. #3 USC: L
Oct 17 at Maryland: W
Oct 24 vs. Western Illinois: W
Nov 7 at #5 Penn State: L
Nov 14 vs. Rutgers: W
Nov 21 vs. Michigan State: W
Nov. 28 vs. #21 Minnesota: W
The Victory Lap.
He's probably going to stay at NOSE, maybe some five-technique DE down the line if his acceleration and pass rushing improves.
67 ovr, 64 spd, 71 acc, 92 str, 71 pmv, 60 fmv, 70 bsh
The Victory Lap.
Week 0 Preview: vs. Pittsburgh Panthers
Returning Career Leaders
Passing: Eli Holstein (72 cmp%, 245 yards per game, 73 TD, 20 INT)
Rushing: Eli Holstein (45.2 yards per game, 4.9 ypc, 10 TD)
Receiving: Kenny Johnson (68 receptions, 1192 yards, 21 TD)
Pittsburgh Panthers Projected Starters
QB #10 Eli Holstein, Rs Junior | 6'4", 230lbs | 87 ovr, 84 spd, 87 acc, 88 awr, 98 thp, 86 sac, 84 mac, 72 dac
HB #15 Montravius Lloyd, Rs Junior | 5'10", 215lbs | 86 ovr, 86 spd, 91 acc, 94 cod, 88 car, 89 btk, 86 trk
HB #26 Juelz Goff, Junior | 5'9", 190lbs | 77 ovr, 91 spd, 97 acc, 94 cod, 78 car, 72 cth
WR #2 Kenny Johnson, Senior | 6'1", 195lbs | 85 ovr, 93 spd, 94 acc, 96 cod, 87 cth, 97 cit
WR #83 Lamar Seymore, Rs Junior | 6'1", 185lbs | 83 ovr, 94 spd, 94 acc, 93 cod, 86 cth
SLWR #27 Cameron Monteiro, Rs Sophomore | 6'1", 180lbs | 79 ovr, 99 spd, 99 acc, 81 cth
TE #85 Decorion Temple, Rs Senior | 6'5", 240lbs | 80 ovr, 75 spd, 85 acc, 85 sth, 67 rbk
LT #70 Ryan Baer, Rs Senior | 6'7", 325lbs | 84 ovr, 95 str, 83 pbk, 82 rbk
LG #72 Isaiah Montgomery, Rs Senior | 6'4", 300lbs | 88 ovr, 90 str, 88 pbk, 80 rbk
C #62 Rico Rathman, Rs Freshman | 6'3", 291lbs | 75 ovr, 82 str, 71 pbk, 74 rbk
RG #55 Brian Williams, Senior | 6'4", 315lbs | 85 ovr, 89 str, 77 pbk, 80 rbk
RT #77 Jackson Brown, Rs Senior | 6'6", 305lbs | 82 ovr, 90 str, 83 pbk, 81 rbk
Coach Singleton's Notes:
‣ Do not allow Cameron Monteiro to beat us deep. No player, at any point, should be in man coverage with him. Once he's on the field, we are automatically in cover 3 or cover 4 and it's a MUST that we get hands on him EARLY in his route to throw him off
‣ Will dial up blitzes to isolated center Rico Rathman, the weak point of the offensive line making his first career start. When we bring pressure, it's a must that NT Stewy Sullivan wins his one-on-one matchups. Rathman should not be able to block any of our interior lineman.
Last edited by Soapy on 26 Jul 2024, 13:03, edited 1 time in total.