Wisconsin made quite a few moves in the transfer portal. Will it be enough?
The Wisconsin Badgers were one of the busiest teams in the transfer portal, losing two dozen players while getting back nearly the same amount to retool their roster.
One of the main positions they targeted was the defensive line, as Wisconsin sought to get bigger to help defend the run at a higher level in 2025. The Badgers were the No. 90 rushing defense in 2024 on a rushing yards allowed per game basis and No. 93 in yards per carry allowed.
Wisconsin landed seven edge or interior defensive linemen in the transfer portal, and all have a good shot at being a part of the two-deep this season. Let’s break down the new-look defensive line, giving my projected depth chart after spring ball for the position.
Starters
Jay’viar Suggs
Ben Barten
Parker Petersen
When it comes to categorizing “starters” with this group, it’s a tougher task as they may not be the team’s top players this season in terms of snap count. Instead, early-down players, such as Ben Barten, may be more suited to defend the run.
Wisconsin should rotate its defensive line quite a bit this season, and it’s a much different look, as the Badgers edge players are bigger, helping with setting the edge.
Ben Barten returns as the team’s top nose tackle, although he’s mainly a two-down player. Jay’viar Suggs is another interior lineman who should see ample playing time, transferring in from LSU. However, he’s better suited as a pass-rusher, so he could be a three-down type of player when rotating in the mix.
Parker Petersen is a 6’4, 315-pound defensive end who should also help the Badgers in the run game coming in from Tulane. All three were frequently among the top group in the spring.
Two-deep
Corey Walker
Charles Perkins
Micheal Garner
All three of these players were pleasant surprises in the spring, with Perkins being the biggest riser coming from UT-Martin.
Deemed arguably the most explosive player in the room by his coaches and teammates, Perkins is a redshirt junior and could be a force in the middle for the defense. He is on the shorter side at 6’2, but nonetheless is a bigger body and accounts for his size with his movement skills.
Walker and Garner are bigger edge players, standing over 270 pounds, which should help Wisconsin set the edge against the run. Their pass-rush potential could determine exactly how much they see the field, but it’s clear why Wisconsin brought them in to help this offseason.
While those two could be considered more as outside linebackers in the defense along with Darryl Peterson, we’ll group them here, given their size.
Other rotational players
Dillan Johnson
Brandon Lane
Jamel Howard
Ernest Willor Jr.
These four would be the next up to crack the rotation this season. Johnson played a good amount as a freshman, burning his redshirt, and will be in the mix again as a sophomore. What that role will be, however, remains a question.
Lane is a bigger-bodied nose tackle who provides depth on early downs at 6’3, 320 pounds.
Howard and Willor Jr. are on the outside looking in currently. The former has yet to make his mark on this team since coming in as a three-star in the 2023 class. He entered the transfer portal this offseason, but returned to Wisconsin. The latter, on the other hand, is still figuring out his position. He seems to be an edge, rather than an interior player, and will look to continue developing as he waits his turn.
Overall, Wisconsin has a group of bigger defensive linemen this season. That should help them improve against the run, but it’s unclear who will step up as a pass-rusher for this team. If they struggle to create pressure, it may be a tough year up front again.