Wisconsin
Why Charles Perkins feels he was overlooked and 3 other updates on the Wisconsin Badgers 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 – The key word for the Wisconsin defensive line this spring is twitchy.
The Badgers coaches don’t feel they added only size to the interior defensive line, but believe they’ve brought in players who bring an element of athleticism to the position.
With that size and strength, the Badgers hope to come up with more plays made behind the line of scrimmage.
“The biggest thing we talked about heading into this offseason was creating more negative-yardage plays and playing in the opponent’s backfield,” defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow said. “We just really talked about attacking and being aggressive and knock back and playing north and south and just being the aggressor.”
Whitlow and some of his players met with reporters April 21. Here is what we learned.
Charles Perkins feels he was overlooked in high school
Players who make the jump from the FCS level either developed into FBS players at some point in their college career or were somehow overlooked in recruiting.
Charles Perkins, a redshirt junior who has worked regularly with the first team, feels he was overlooked. His junior season of high school ball was canceled due to COVID-19, which prevented him from having a springboard into a key time in the recruiting process.
Perkins’ coach, Cedric Miller, would try to tell FBS recruiters about him. In two seasons at FCS Tennessee Martin for them to really take notice.
“So I had two great seasons at UT Martin, jumping into the portal was nothing new to me,” he said. “I knew I was (destined) to play big-time football. It’s nothing new to me, just new to the people who found out who I was.”
Life without wrestling allows Dillan Johnson to change body
This offseason provided a testing ground for Dillan Johnson. As a former star high school wrestler, the rising sophomore often spent his winters competing in that sport and limiting his weight to 275 pounds.
This football offseason was the first time Johnson didn’t have to worry about his weight because of wrestling. As a result he started spring ball 19 pounds heavier than he was listed last season According to the roster, the Plainfield, Illinois, native was listed as 6-foot-2, 312 pounds at the start of spring ball.
He carries it well.
“Right now I’m shooting to be as lean as I can healthily,” he said, “305 and then at that point I’m focused on building strength, keeping quick and improving as a D-lineman.”
Ben Barten, a teacher in training, coach on the field
The Badgers’ defensive front was hit hard with transfer portal losses during the offseason. One of the players who decided to return was Ben Barten, a six-year player who is also wrapping up his teaching degree.
He is listed as 323 pounds, a 15-pound jump over last season, and has emerged as a leader in the room.
“The biggest thing with Ben heading into this is that he wanted to continue to put on mass … and then continuing for the game to slow down for him,” Whitlow said. “Obviously when you’re a guy who has played as many snaps as he’s played you become a coach in the field because you’ve been there, you’ve done it.”
Confidence isn’t a question
The Badgers’ top six on the defensive front so far have been Barten, transfers Perkins, Parker Peterson and Jai’viar Suggs, senior Brandon Lane and Johnson.
Also redshirt sophomore Jamel Howard has turned heads this spring.
The group is generating excitement inside the room.
“I just think we took our opportunities and ran with them,” Petersen said. “I just love how confident we play. I don’t think there is really any hesitation in the way we play the game.”
A Wisconsin man has been arrested in Colorado in connection with a fatal north suburban hit-and-run earlier this year that left a 50-year-old woman killed.
According to the Winthrop Harbor Police Department, Travis Kern, 35, of Pleasant Prairie, turned himself into police in Lakewood Colorado on an arrest warrant. Kern was charged with two felonies, police said, and remains in custody in Colorado pending extradition proceedings.
About 11:10 p.m. on February 26, a pedestrian was struck in the 1400 block of Sheridan Road in Winthrop Harbor by a driver of a vehicle heading northbound. The vehicle then fled the scene, police said.
The pedestrian, later identified as Shanna White, 50, of Waukegan, was transported to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead.
According to court documents, Kern’s next scheduled court date is set for July 22.
WHITEWATER, Wis. (WMTV) – The Kids from Wisconsin troupe is kicking off its 56th annual tour this week.
Kids from Wisconsin is a traveling show with 22 singer-dancers and 14 band members. The troupe performs across Wisconsin, hosting workshops for kids and helping fundraise for youth arts programs.
This year’s theme is “America’s Soundtrack: The Pulse of a Nation.” The theme honors the 250th anniversary of America and features music by all-American composers, bands and performers.
Kids from Wisconsin bassist and student leader Alex Coller said that range is what makes this year’s tour stand out.
“The theme is really just celebrating American music. And I think it’s definitely one of the most cohesive and like diverse shows I have played with this organization,” Coller said. “Even though its just American music it’s really cool to see. Anyone no matter who you are, or what your musical background is, or whether you like music or not, there is something here for everyone to enjoy.”
Kids from Wisconsin’s artistic and choral director, Taras Nahirniak, said audiences won’t want to miss it.
“Find a show near you, you are not going to want to miss this show. It’s just spectacular, the kids are so talented,” Nahirniak said. “We are just finishing up our camp right now, and they are just working their tails off. To really go around the state and show the state what they have.”
The tour premieres Thursday night at Young Auditorium in Whitewater. For tickets, tour dates or to find a show, visit kidsfromwi.org.
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Marquette poll shows Wisconsin voters unfocused on governor race
A Marquette University Law School poll reveals Wisconsin voters lack focus on the governor’s race, with most undecided 5 months before the primary.
MADISON – Former Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. CEO Missy Hughes is dropping out of the Democratic primary race for governor and endorsing Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez.
Hughes, who was the most moderate candidate in the Democratic field for governor, suspended her campaign days after placing last in a straw poll of party delegates at the Democratic Party of Wisconsin state convention in Madison.
Her endorsement of Rodriguez comes as some Democrats are eyeing an alternative to state Rep. Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, and former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who leans further left than current Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. Hong and Barnes are considered frontrunners in the primary race.
In a statement, Hughes flicked at the approach of Hong and other candidates to her left who have proposed significant changes to state government.
“I believe there is great hope in these small efforts to find common ground. I wanted to make sure that Wisconsinites understand we have created something valuable and that investing in ourselves and our communities is well-deserved,” Hughes said. “We do not need to tear it all down, and there is real and important work to do to improve what we already have.”
Hughes suggested Rodriguez would make more reasonable decisions as governor than her primary opponents.
“This job is about running the state, and getting things done. As you consider what is important to you, I urge you to look beyond the talking points, social media posts, and gilded promises and consider what you think is essential to do the job,” she said. “Stop asking, ‘Who will win?’ and start asking who you trust to make big decisions that impact our families and the wellbeing of our loved ones, neighbors and communities.”
This developing story will be updated.
Molly Beck can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com.
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