PLATTEVILLE, Wis. \u2014 Wisconsin went 0-3 in trophy games during the 2024 season. In those three losses, opponents ran for nearly 650 yards, averaging close to five yards per carry\u2026The Badgers simply weren\u2019t going to stand for it.<\/p>\n
Having just one defensive lineman at 300 pounds or heavier last season, Wisconsin now has nine defenders up front who fit that mold. Adding three transfer defensive linemen to the rotation in the off-season, the Badgers are feeling good about the early returns up front.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor sure, six, seven, eight guys,\u201d defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow<\/a> said when asked how many guys he was comfortable with playing during the season. \u201cThere\u2019s a ton of different combinations. We got a volume body of guys who I trust can go out there and play the game the right way. Feel really good about the depth that we have right now.\u201d<\/p>\n And with that depth comes seemingly endless combinations on Saturdays. Wisconsin has mixed and matched its front constantly throughout fall camp, hoping to create mismatch problems for opposing offensive lines.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery guy has different God-given abilities,\u201d said Whitlow. \u201cWhen you can throw different combinations at an offensive line, that scouting report gets really long for them. For those guys, it allows them to play fast, and fresh, and go. For offensive linemen, you don\u2019t see many guards sub out throughout a drive. We can keep guys coming at them.\u201d<\/p>\n LANE SHAKING THINGS UP<\/p>\n It\u2019s been perhaps a slower start to his Wisconsin career than many imagined for Brandon Lane<\/a>. Transferring in from Stephen F. Austin, Lane was a national transfer recruit who was expected to bolster the Badgers last season. While that didn\u2019t happen, Lane did appear in eight games during the 2024 campaign. Towards the end of spring and now into fall camp, Lane has turned a corner and started earning some first-team reps.<\/p>\n \u201cThe biggest thing, I feel he\u2019s a lot more comfortable with the defense. He\u2019s playing with a lot of confidence, he\u2019s playing aggressive, he\u2019s playing on the attack. Been pleased with how he was in spring, the off-season he\u2019s had, and heading into fall camp, just how fast and how confident he\u2019s playing right now.\u201d<\/p>\n JOHNSON ALSO COMING ALONG<\/p>\n