Luke Fickell has turned the Wisconsin Badgers program on its head, in the best way possible. The hype around this team in 2023 and beyond has reached limits we haven’t seen in years. Both offensively and defensively we are seeing a new level of commitment. Highlighted by multiple four-star recruits joining the team on both sides of the ball, current Badgers players are taking notice. One key defensive player for the Badgers announced he will return for one more year. Defensive End Isaiah Mullens will be back in Madison for the 2023 season.
Defensive End Isaiah Mullens Will Be Back For 2023
Isaiah Mullens took to Twitter to announce that he will be returning for one more year:https://twitter.com/MullensIsaiah/status/1608125978861277184?s=20&t=12MKEwFVXB_1d2a5-xu96Q
While the stat sheet doesn’t jump out at you from the 2022 season, teammates have been vocal about how meaningful he is to this defensive line. Mullens only appeared in 7 games in 2022 due to injuries. In those seven games he recorded 11 total tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Per Evan Flood:
Isaiah Mullens might be the most under-appreciated player on the Badgers defense. UW also makes this 300-pounder constantly bust his butt on and off the field to get in/out of the nickel package.
This is what the Badgers Defensive Line Coach had to say about Mullens before the 2022 season:
“He’s a freakishly strong man,” said defensive line coach Ross Kolodziej, who presided over the UW weight room as the strength and conditioning coordinator before taking over a position group. “You go back to any era here, or anywhere, he’d be the strongest guy in the room … the ’80s, ’90s, early 2000’s.”
Freakishly strong grabs attention. Like Mullens did squatting 700 pounds in March. “I’d say I’m decently strong,” he amended with a laugh. “Ever since I was a little kid, I was strong. I was naturally strong. But Coach Snee brought it up to a whole different level and helped me be as strong as I can be.”
Isaiah Mullens will look to come back to a Badgers team with a ridiculous amount of hype surrounding it. Badgers fans can’t wait to see big #99 back on the field!
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