After looking at who stood out on the offensive side of the ball for Wisconsin in spring practices, it’s time to look at who stood out on the defensive side. Based on what media members stated through practices, it feels like the defense was better. There’s a lot of returning producers from last year’s defense. Here are three players on that side of the ball who I believe stood out.
Hunter Wohler
We haven’t had a chance to see what Hunter Wohler can do consistently yet. As a freshman in 2021, he spent a majority of his playing time on special teams. You could see the talent was there. As a sophomore in 2022, Wohler suffered a lower leg injury in the season opener and missed a few months. As a junior, I think he is one of those players that can break out.
#Badgers done with practice No. 8 of spring. Good day for the defense. Some guys that stood out:
QB Braedyn Locke
WR CJ Williams
WR Quincy Burroughs
LB Jordan Turner
CB Ricardo Hallman
S Hunter Wohler
S Austin Brown
S Kamo’i Latu— Zach Heilprin (@ZachHeilprin) April 11, 2023
I thought a lot of defensive players had a good spring, but Wohler was always out there and always a player that stood out according to the media members in attendance. If you look through Zach Heilprin’s tweets throughout the spring, you’ll find Hunter Wohler as a player that stood out in a majority of them. If he can have the break out year he’s capable of having, I think he has a shot to hear his name called in the 2024 NFL Draft. I think he’s that good
Ricardo Hallman
If someone argued Ricardo Hallman had the best spring overall, I would not disagree. Hallman was all over the field. Between the practice before The Launch and during The Launch, Hallman had six interceptions. Granted the quarterbacks struggled those two days, but Hallman was making life tough as well.
Hallman started seven games as a redshirt freshman last year, but saw his playing time diminish once the cornerback room got healthier. During that stretch, we saw flashes of being a top corner one day on this defense. This just might be the year he does it. Wisconsin does have to address the position as a few corners left in the transfer portal this week, but right now Hallman has solidified himself as a starting corner along with Alexander Smith when fall camp opens.
Jason Maitre
Defensive Coordinator Mike Tressel likes to use a 3-3-5 base defense. That means there is room for a nickel corner and a players to defend in the slot. Boston College grad transfer Jason Maitre has taken a hold of that position.
Fans are really gonna like Jason Maitre.
Boston College transfer will stick his face in the fan — even against Braelon Allen.#Badgers @JasonMaitre pic.twitter.com/yNapptjBBH
— Evan Flood (@Evan_Flood) April 20, 2023
Maitre is not afraid to stick his nose in the pile, which is especially tough against a big man like Braelon Allen. Maitre had a good spring and that’s to be expected for a seasoned veteran who has 30 career starts. He should provide some stability at the slot position. That should give this staff enough time to address depth this secondary needs as well.
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