Wisconsin
Coordinator Mike Tressel shares his goals for Wisconsin’s defense, including thoughts on team’s bigger defensive line
An aerial view of Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.
An aerial view of Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., home of the Wisconsin Badgers.
MADISON – Mike Tressel definitely saw the need for some schematic changes to Wisconsin’s defense last season, but first he felt a change in mindset was required.
As the Badgers defensive coordinator assessed his unit’s play in 2024 he saw a group that played well against teams that spread the field and played with three and four receivers.
But when it was time to get physical UW didn’t measure up. The Badgers ranked 91st in the nation against the run, a struggle that led to a push through the transfer portal to add bigger bodies along the defensive line and in general get bigger bodies on the field.
But before considering the measurables Tressel wanted to know if the want was there.
“The mentality of stopping the run is first,” he said. “The mentality of the physicality of football, which this place has always been about, is first and then you can get into some of the schematic things.”
That was one of the nuggets from Tressel’s interview session Wednesday morning at the McClain. Here are three other takeaways.
Tressel feels D-line additions have brought confidence to unit
Wisconsin has seven players listed 300 pounds or heavier on the defensive line. Last year there were three on the roster though Ben Barten was the only one who played regularly.
This spring the early returns show Barten (6-5,323), Charles Perkins (6-2, 316), Dillan Johnson (6-2, 312), Parker Petersen (6-4, 315), Brandon Lane (6-3, 320) as 300 pounders in the hunt for snaps.
So far, the group has delivered the physical element that was desired.
“One thing I’m seeing is a lot of confidence in the defensive front’s ability to be tough and difference-makers,” Tressel said. “When I talk about confidence I’m talking about the linebackers back behind them. I’m talking about the coaching staff. I’m talking about within their room you can see there is some great confidence in those guys.”
Aaron Witt’s new role takes advantage of his football IQ, instincts
One of the interesting changes to the defense will the hybrid role played by senior Aaron Witt, a former outside linebacker who play a combination of an inside-outside linebacker position.
The role is similar to what UW asked of former Badgers safety Hunter Wohler from a mental standpoint.
“You can’t compare it to what Hunter was doing because you’re going to put Hunter into a lot more space, but in terms of finding a guy with high football IQ and trying to put him in position to do what he does best and make plays, yes in that regard,” said Tressel.
Mike Tressel shared three goals for the defense
In addition to ranking 91st against the run last season, the Badgers were 41st in total defense, 47th in scoring defense and 71st in third-down conversion percentage.
Tressel didn’t mention statistics when talking about his hopes for his unit this year.
“We don’t need to hold them to 3 yards every single play,” he said. “We need to create negatives. We need to create takeaways and then eliminate the explosives. And then dominate in the clutch…
“I’m encouraging the players to have the game-changer mentality but myself, too. I need to call the game with a game-changer mentality. Sound. But we need to be aggressive and have a takeaway, negative-play mentality.”
Wisconsin
Wisconsin authorities put total arrests from clashes at beagle breeding facility at about 25
MADISON (AP) — Around 25 protesters were arrested as around 1,000 animal welfare activists tried to gain entry to a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin and were met by officers firing pepper spray and rubber bullets, authorities said Sunday.
Saturday’s protest was the second attempt in as many months by demonstrators to take beagles from Ridglan Farms in Blue Mounds, about 25 miles (about 40 kilometers) southwest of the capital, Madison. They were turned back by officers who arrested the group’s leader.
Owen Ziliak/Wisconsin State Journal via AP
The Dane County Sheriff’s Office said the situation was “significantly calmer and more peaceful” on Sunday, when around 200 people assembled outside the farm. They dispersed after around two hours, it said.
“We’re pleased with the group’s cooperation today, and their willingness to remain peaceful, while still sending their message of concern for the dogs at Ridglan Farms,” Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said in a statement. “We are happy to support anyone who wants to exercise the right to protest, as long as they do so lawfully.”
Owen Ziliak/The Wisconsin State Journal via AP
The sheriff had said in a video statement Saturday that 300 to 400 protesters were “violently trying to break into the property.” They tried to overcome barricades that included a manure-filled trench, hay bales and a barbed-wire fence.
Owen Ziliak/Wisconsin State Journal via AP
Some got through the fence but were unable to enter the facility, where an estimated 2,000 beagles are kept, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.
Amber Arnold/Wisconsin State Journal via AP
Those arrested included the leader of the Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs, Wayne Hsiung, 44, of New York, who was being held on a tentative felony charge of conspiracy to commit burglary. But most arrestees were just booked and released, the sheriff’s office said Sunday.
“No one should be assaulted for giving aid to a dog, even if damage to property is part of that rescue effort,” Hsuing said in a statement from jail Sunday that also accused authorities of using excessive force. “The animals of this Earth are not “things.” They’re sentient beings. And we have the right to rescue them from abuse,” he concluded.
Protesters took 30 dogs when they broke into the facility in March, when authorities arrested 27 people.
Ridglan denies mistreating animals but agreed in October to give up its state breeding license as of July 1 in a deal to avoid prosecution on animal mistreatment charges.
On its website, the company says “no credible evidence of animal abuse, cruelty, mistreatment or neglect at Ridglan Farms has ever been presented or substantiated.”
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About 1,000 animal welfare activists who tried to gain entry on Saturday to a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin were turned back by police who fired rubber bullets and pepper spray into the crowd and arrested the group’s leader.
It was the second attempt in as many months by protesters to take beagles from the Ridglan Farms facility in Blue Mounds, a small town about 25 miles (about 40 kilometres) southwest of Wisconsin’s capital, Madison.
Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said in a video statement that 300 to 400 protesters were “violently trying to break into the property” and assault officers. He said protesters have ignored designated areas for peaceful protest and blocked roads to prevent emergency vehicles from entering.
“This is not a peaceful protest,” Barrett said.
The sheriff’s department said a “significant” number of people were arrested out of about 1,000 protesters at the site but did not give an exact total as they were still being processed as of the afternoon.
Protesters tried to overcome barricades that included a manure-filled trench, hay bales and a barbed-wire fence. Some protesters did get through the fence but were unable to enter the facility, where an estimated 2,000 beagles are kept, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.
Wisconsin guard Andrew Rohde reflects on early March Madness exit
Wisconsin guard Andrew Rohde said the Badgers ‘thought we could do so many things’ in the NCAA Tournament before it ended abrupty with an upset loss.
Wisconsin men’s basketball has added a sharpshooting wing via the transfer portal.
Miami (Ohio) transfer Eian Elmer has signed with the Badgers, the team announced April 18. The 6-foot-7 wing will join UW with one year of eligibility remaining.
Elmer averaged a career-high 12.7 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 49.8% from the field and 42.9% from 3-point range in 2025-26. His production helped the RedHawks go 32-2 and earn an at-large NCAA Tournament bid.
“We are really excited to add another excellent addition to our spring signees,” UW coach Greg Gard said in a release. “Eian brings a wealth of experience and scoring punch as a 6-7 wing. … A terrific shooter, his skillset and production fit excellently into our plan as we build out next year’s team. Throughout our evaluation process, our staff loved his size, power and skill and truly believe he will thrive in our system.”
Elmer is Wisconsin’s third transfer portal addition since the end of the 2025-26 season, joining former George Washington guard Trey Autry and former Hofstra forward Victory Onuetu. UW also added Australian guard Owen Foxwell.
The additions of Autry, Onuetu and now Elmer leave Gard’s staff with three more roster spots to fill ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The Badgers are looking to replace much of their production from a 2025-26 team that went 24-11. Nolan Winter is expected to be the team’s only returning starter after John Blackwell and Aleksas Bieliauskas entered the transfer portal and Nick Boyd and Andrew Rohde exhausted their eligibility.
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