Wisconsin ended its season on a profitable notice with a 24-17 over Oklahoma State within the Assured Bowl on Dec. 27. After a short break, UW will kick up winter conditioning because it begins its early preparation for the 2023 marketing campaign.
Over the following two weeks, BadgerBlitz.com will evaluate every place earlier than turning the web page from the 2022 season. At this time we’ll study the defensive position.
QBs | TEs | RBs | WRs | OLs |
2022 Wisconsin Defensive Line Stats
*Writer’s notice: All snap counts are per Professional Soccer Focus
Keeanu Benton was a draftable NFL participant when the 2021 season ended, however the Janesville native mentioned one of many causes he was returning for his senior season was the assumption he might attain a better degree. He achieved that in taking part in all 12 regular-season video games, attaining private bests in whole tackles (35), tackles for loss (10), and sacks (4.5). Regardless of battling by way of a knee harm for the ultimate two months of the season, Benton was his most dominant in his remaining 4 video games, registering seven tackles for loss and a pair of.5 sacks to assist UW qualify for a bowl recreation for the twenty first consecutive season.
Benton’s presence elevated the play of the others round him, notably Rodas Johnson. Registering a complete of eight tackles in 13 video games throughout his first two seasons in a reserve function, Johnson earned the beginning spot vacated by Matt Henningsen and began each recreation that UW opened with a three-man defensive entrance. The outcomes have been 23 tackles and 6 tackles for loss.
These two have been partly chargeable for the Badgers ending ninth nationally in rush protection, permitting 99.2 per recreation.
UW took care of enterprise stuffing working video games by way of the nonconference portion of the schedule, limiting Illinois State, Washington State, and New Mexico State to a mean of 76.0 yards and two whole touchdowns. The road additionally helped clear the way in which with a mixed 20 tackles for loss and 7 sacks. Little did we all know that Washington State completed 116th nationally within the FBS and Illinois State completed 98th within the FCS, thus padding the stats. That grew to become evident with how UW began convention play, because the Badgers have been taken to the woodshed by Ohio State and Illinois.
The Buckeyes got here in averaging 565.3 yards and 47.7 factors per recreation. They completed the primary half with 328 yards – 181 dashing and 147 passing – and a 31-7 lead. They completed with 258 RUSH yards and averaged 6.0 yards per carry in an intensive 52-21 thrashing.
Arguably, the house loss to Illinois the next week was extra embarrassing. A far cry from a School Soccer Playoff workforce like Ohio State, the Illini pummeled UW in Bret Bielema’s homecoming by dashing for 4 touchdowns amongst their 137 yards.
In a seven-day interval, UW allowed three 100-yard rushers, fell to 0-2 within the convention, and Paul Chryst misplaced his job.
Each head coach Luke Fickell and defensive coordinator Mike Tressel have identified that the shortage of depth on the defensive position is regarding and one thing the Badgers are going to have to handle by way of the switch portal and recruiting.
UW took a step in that course Thursday with the announcement of former Temple defensive finish Darian Varner. Anticipated to have two seasons of eligibility remaining, Varner had 35 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and seven.5 sacks final season. He mentioned in an interview with BadgerBlitz.com that he can play any place on the defensive position, so the Badgers could have choices with the place he strains up.
Not solely did Johnson take an enormous step ahead after his yr of beginning expertise, however the Badgers also needs to be excited concerning the steps taken by defensive finish James Thompson Jr. The sophomore performed in all 13 video games, began six of the final seven common season video games with Isaiah Mullens out, and equaled Johnson’s numbers with 23 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks.
The remainder of the room is filled with unknowns, and not using a clear possibility to exchange the manufacturing of Benton. Gio Paez crammed in for Benton within the bowl recreation and can possible be given the primary alternative getting into his senior season, needing to enhance his studying and reacting. Curtis Neal is the one nostril deal with listed on the present roster, however the freshman was restricted to 4 video games late within the season as he recovered from a highschool ACL harm.
UW may even want to judge if juniors Cade McDonald (127 snaps) and Ben Barten (89) are able to deal with an even bigger workload, the place senior Isaac Townsend and sophomore Mike Jarvis are health-wise after lacking final season with leg accidents, and if walk-ons Tommy Brunner (senior) and Gabe Kirschke (sophomore) can contribute not directly.
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