Wisconsin Releases Week One Depth Chart For Miami (OH)

MADISON, Wis. — Year three of the Luke Fickell era gets underway Thursday as Wisconsin hosts Miami (OH) in the 2025 season opener. The Badgers and Red Hawks last met in the 2015 season, a 58-0 win for UW at Camp Randall Stadium. Prior to Monday’s press conference, UW released its week one depth chart…

Quarterback

1. Billy Edwards – Sr.

2. Danny O’Neil – So.

Edwards, the Maryland transfer, leads the way for the Wisconsin offense. In 11 starts last season for the Terrapins, Edwards was second in the Big Ten in passing yards per game (261.9) and fourth in completions (273). Entering 2025, Edwards has 26 games of experience under his belt. O’Neil comes over from San Diego State, where he was a starter as a true freshman and earned honorable mention All-Mountain West honors.

Running Back

1. Dilin Jones – Fr.

2. Cade Yacamelli – Jr. OR Darrion Dupree – So.

Wisconsin is expected to use three tailbacks throughout the 2025 season. Jones emerged with a big fall camp. As a true freshman in 2024, Jones played in just three games, but ran for 65 yards on seven carries against Purdue in October. Dupree is coming off a strong true freshman season in which he was second on the Badgers with 317 rushing yards and a touchdown. Yacamelli saw 12 games of action and posted a team-best 8.3 yards per carry as a sophomore, but didn’t get a rushing attempt in any of UW’s final five games of the season. The running back depth chart could fluctuate throughout the season.

Wide Receiver

1. Vinny Anthony – Sr.

2. Dekel Crowdus – Sr. OR Eugene Hilton – Fr.

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1. Chris Brooks Jr. – Jr.

2. Jayden Ballard – Sr.

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1. Trech Kekahuna – So.

2. Tyrell Henry – Sr.

Wisconsin lost some key wide receiver additions from last season, but returns the most important piece, Anthony, who led the Badgers with 672 receiving yards and four touchdowns after a breakout junior campaign. Ballard, a former high school All-American and four-star recruit, comes over from Ohio State, where he could potentially take some pressure off Anthony on the other side. Brooks getting the start was a surprise, however. Kekahuna, who flashed as a redshirt freshman with 339 receiving yards and a pair of scores, now moves into a starting role.

Tight End

1. Lance Mason – Sr. OR Jackson Acker – Sr.

2. Grant Stec – Fr. OR Jackson McGohan – Jr.

Tucker Ashcraft went down in fall camp and is expected to be out indefinitely. Mason, the Missouri State transfer, enrolled at Wisconsin in the summer and started to catch on during fall camp. A third-team FCS All-American in 2024, Mason caught 34 passes for 590 yards and six touchdowns.

Offensive Line

First Team

LT: Davis Heinzen – Sr.

LG: Joe Brunner – Jr.

C: Jake Renfro – Sr.

RG: Emerson Mandell – Fr.

RT: Riley Mahlman – Sr.

Second Team

LT: Leyton Nelson – Jr.

LG: Collin Cubberly – Fr.

C: Ryan Cory – Fr.

RG: Kerry Kodanko – Sr.

RT: JP Benzschawel – Sr.

Wisconsin returns three starters up front — Mahlman, Brunner, and Renfro. A four-year starter, Mahlman has 33 games of experience under his belt. Entering his second season as a starter, Brunner remains at left guard going into his junior season. Renfro suffered a leg injury in fall camp, but he’s expected to get the start on Thursday. After missing nearly two seasons due to injury between Cincinnati and Wisconsin, Renfro returned fully healthy in 2024, starting all 12 games at center.

Heinzen, a transfer from Central Michigan, started the last 36 games for the Chippewas. He steps in for the injured Kevin Heywood, who was likely lost for the season in the spring with an ACL injury. After redshirting in 2024, Mandell won a starting job at right guard during fall camp.

Defensive Line

1. Ben Barten – Sr. OR Parker Peterson – Sr.

2. Dillan Johnson – So.

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1. Jay’Viar Suggs – Sr. OR Brandon Lane – Sr.

2. Charles Perkins – Jr.

This depth chart is probably fluid as well, and rotations likely change week-to-week. Opting to return for a sixth season, Barten anchors Wisconsin’s defensive line in 2025. Barten started all 12 games for the Badgers last season and owns 32 games of experience. He finished with 22 tackles and five pass breakups. An LSU transfer, Suggs saw 12 games of action for the Tigers last season. Suggs began his career at Division 2 powerhouse Grand Valley State.

Inside Linebacker

1. Tackett Curtis – Jr.

2. Thomas Heiberger – Fr.

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1. Christian Alliegro – Jr.

2. Cooper Catalano – Sr. OR Mason Posa – Sr.

While Wisconsin is replacing a pair of starters, both Curtis and Alliegro have big-game experience. Alliegro hasn’t missed a game in his Badger career. As a reserve, he posted an impressive 66.0 tackles and led the team with 3.0 sacks. A former starter at USC, Curtis played much of last season injured, but still appeared in 12 contests. Curtis registered 27.0 tackles during the 2024 season.

Outside Linebacker/Edge

1. Darryl Peterson – Sr. OR Mason Reiger – Sr.

2. Tyreese Fearbry – Jr.

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1. Corey Walker – Sr. OR Sebastian Cheeks – Jr.

2. Aaron Witt – Sr.

Cornerback

1. Ricardo Hallman – Sr.

2. Cairo Skanes – Fr.

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1. Omillio Agard – Fr. – OR D’Yoni Hill – Sr.

2. Jaimier Scott – Fr.

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Nickel

1. Geimere Latimer Jr. – Jr.

2. Owen Arnett – Sr.

With Nyzier Fourqurean ineligible, Wisconsin finds itself in a bind at cornerback. Hallman is back, which is significant. Arguably the team’s best player, Hallman owns 37 games of experience. Hallman has eight career interceptions, including seven picks in his stellar sophomore campaign. Hill, a transfer from Miami (FL), and Agard will be relied upon heavily. Starting at nickel, Latimer is one of the better off-season transfer portal additions for the Badgers. He had 46.0 tackles and three interceptions as a sophomore at Jacksonville State.

Safety

1. Austin Brown – Sr.

2.

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1. Preston Zachman – Sr.

2.

Wisconsin returns a pair of starters at safety in Brown and Zachman. Brown has played in 38 games over the last three seasons. As a junior, Brown tallied 51.0 tackles and three pass breakups. Coming off a breakout 2024 season, Zachman had a career-high 58.0 tackles, six pass breakups, and two interceptions. He’s appeared in 32 career games for the Badgers and owns five picks. The transfer additions of Jung (Bethel) and Traynor (Richmond) give UW some good depth at the safety position.

Special Teams

Punter

1. Atticus Bertrams – Jr.

2. Sean West – Fr.

Field Goal Kicker

1. Nathanial Vakos – Sr. OR Gavin Lahm – Sr.

Punt Returner

1. Tyrell Henry – Sr.

2. Trech Kekahuna – So.

While many special teams starters returned, there was some uncertainty regarding the depth chart during fall camp. However, many of the returners retained their jobs.

Wisconsin did not list anything at kick return. Anthony averaged 27.9 yards per kickoff return during his junior season, a mark that ranked second in the Big Ten.

A preseason Ray Guy Award Watch List nominee, Bertrams averaged 45.3 yards per punt in 2024, the second-best mark in the Big Ten. His 21 punts inside the 20-yard line stood fourth in the league.

Since coming over from Miami (OH), Vakos has appeared in 25 games for Wisconsin. He was 12-of-19 on field goal attempts last season with a long of 53. Vakos is 27-of-38 on field goal attempts in his UW career.