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.”

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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.”

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