Wisconsin Football 2024 Spring Practice Preview: Defensive Line
The Badgers will need significant growth from its defensive line room.
Wisconsin Badgers head football coach Luke Fickell and his staff are preparing for their second round of spring practices with the program.
The Badgers are set to begin spring ball on March 22 and run until May 2. Several of those practices are expected to be open to the media.
Here's a look at Wisconsin's defensive line room, along with a player to watch, a newcomer that excites me, and the biggest question mark.
Wisconsin’s Projected DL Depth Chart
Starters: James Thompson Jr., Elijah Hills, Curt Neal
Backups: Ben Barten, TJ Bollers, Jamel Howard
Others: Cade McDonald, Mike Jarvis, Ernest Willor
Following Keeanu Benton's departure to the NFL, Wisconsin football didn't get a ton of production from its defensive line in 2023. As a whole, the unit produced just 59 pressures and four sacks.
James Thompson Jr. emerged as the most productive player with 29 tackles, 18 pressures, 5.5 TFLs, three sacks, and two pass deflections, but the rest of the defensive line struggled to make a significant impact.
Now, with Rodas Johnson departing for Texas A&M via the transfer portal, along with multiple other defensive linemen from last season's roster, the Badgers find themselves relying heavily on Thompson to lead the room. However, his production waned as the season progressed, highlighting the need for more consistency and depth.
Among the returning players, I expect Curt Neal, who had 20 or more snaps in seven of the last eight games, to step into the starting role at nose tackle that Gio Paez held despite his modest contributions.
Albany transfer Elijah Hills is an experienced defensive end with just one year of eligibility remaining. In 2023, he tallied 31 tackles, 15 pressures, 9.0 TFLs, and 1.5 sacks. So, it's safe to assume he'll either start or play a healthy number of snaps this fall.
Ben Barten is another candidate to step into a much bigger role. Per PFF, he had 12 tackles, 8.0 pressures, and a sack in 282 snaps.
Keep an eye on junior TJ Bollers, who transitioned from outside linebacker to the defensive line late last season and added 18 pounds to his frame working alongside Brady Collins. With his size and athleticism, Bollers has the potential to push for snaps on an unproven defensive line.
The Badgers also look to younger talents like Ernest Willor, a freshman enrolling early, and Jamel Howard from the 2023 recruiting class to provide depth and potentially contribute early on. As new defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow takes the helm, the pressure is on to develop these young talents and revitalize the Wisconsin football defensive front.
Badgers Player to Watch
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