The Badgers have a couple of returning stars. But, are they one of the best players in the country?
The Wisconsin Badgers are entering a crucial year in 2025, as they look to return to the postseason after missing a bowl game for the first time in 22 years in 2024.
To prepare for the upcoming year, Wisconsin was a major player in the transfer portal, adding nearly two dozen new faces in addition to their 2025 recruiting class.
Still, the Badgers do return a few key players on both sides of the ball. Offensively, Wisconsin has some continuity along the offensive line, with Jake Renfro, Joe Brunner, and Riley Mahlman all back.
Defensively, Wisconsin has Ricardo Hallman at cornerback for another season. While Hallman didn’t have the statistical season that he had in 2023, he was still good in coverage and was one of the fewest targeted defensive backs in the country for parts of last year.
With all of the movement and returners, do the Badgers have a top-50 player in the country?
PFF ranked their top 50 players for the 2025 college season, and the Big Ten had several names make the list. However, Wisconsin did not see one of its players among the group of talented athletes.
Here’s the full group of Big Ten players who were ranked between 11-50 (PFF hasn’t released the top 10 yet).
No. 48 EDGE Dani Dannis-Sutton (Penn State)
No. 39: DL Zane Durant (Penn State)
No. 38: WR Elijah Sarratt (Indiana)
No. 37 RB Makhi Hughes (Oregon)
No. 36: EDGE Mikail Kamara (Indiana)
No. 32: RB Jonah Coleman (Washington)
No. 31: RB Nicholas Singleton (PSU)
No. 25: S Dillon Thieneman (Oregon)
No. 24: CB D’Angelo Ponds (Indiana)
No. 22: QB Drew Allar (PSU)
No. 20: S Koi Perich (Minnesota)
Wisconsin is relying on a good amount of younger talent, so perhaps that changes by next offseason. But, they don’t have anyone in the top 50 yet heading into the 2025 season.