It’s been a tough season for the Wisconsin Badgers and really a tough few years for the program, which is going to see back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 1992.
Head coach Luke Fickell
was tasked with elevating the program into the upper echelon of the Big Ten when he was hired three years ago. Instead, the Badgers have gone 16-20 during his tenure, including 9-16 in Big Ten play, due to a variety of factors.
Fickell will return for a fourth year, Athletic Director Chris McIntosh announced earlier this season, and there are certainly some promising factors for the future, such as the development of younger talent.
But, for a good group of players, the road ends shortly for their collegiate careers, as they look to make a professional career. Two of those seniors are wide receiver Vinny Anthony and outside linebacker Darryl Peterson, who have seen some highs, but some big lows during their four years with the program.
Both players have been playmakers over the last two years, with Anthony ascending as the team’s leading receiver and Peterson becoming a versatile outside linebacker that can pass-rush from the inside. With how the program has looked the last few years, there were definitely chances for both to jump ship, as many others did via the transfer portal.
Instead, both have stuck around and will cement their careers at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday in the team’s final home game.
There haven’t been many moments to celebrate over the past few years. But, when it comes to players that have fought hard, competed, and remained positive throughout the lowlights, those two certainly come to mind.
“I just love the game, you know what I’m saying,” Anthony said. “It’s just the way I was raised by my parents, the way I was just brought up. It’s being grateful for even being able to play the game, you know what I’m saying? Some people get it taken like that, and I don’t want to look at it in a negative light, like, ‘oh, I’m not getting the ball, oh I didn’t have a whatever season,’ you know what I’m saying? And I don’t view it like that.
“That obviously did happen. Like, that’s a fact or whatever. But, like, mentally, I try not to let that affect how I go in the building the next day because like I said, I am a leader and I can’t let something that I’m not the happiest about affect me. I’m just a positive person at the end of the day. I mean, I’m not really like a negative person in general, so it’ll be uncomfortable for me to be upset in that situation. So I just try to look at everything in a positive light. I just get an opportunity to play for a great team in general.”
Anthony had a stellar junior campaign, catching 39 passes for 672 yards as a true deep threat for the Badgers, despite dealing with another quarterback injury.
This year, he’s second on the team with a much tamer 27 catches for 299 yards and a touchdown as Wisconsin has played four different quarterbacks. The deep balls haven’t been there and there just hasn’t been much stability at quarterback or in the passing game.
For Anthony, it’s a lesson about adversity and how quickly things can change.
“I feel like this is a good way to describe adversity, you know what I’m saying? We had QBs go down, we’ve had running backs go down, lineman hurt,” Anthony added. “Just a lot going on. And I think it just shows that you just got to take advantage of every chance you get. And that goes for football and in life, you know what I’m saying? I mean, I think it. I think this game shows a lot that can’t be too high and you can’t be too low. So definitely say like the one word is definitely adversity.”
One way that the wideout has grown during the lost season has been as a leader of a young team, which is new to him. Anthony had been a player known for leading by example, but his comfortability and growth has allowed for change in a big way.
“I was the quieter kid, the more shy kid, but obviously like being around like a lot of the guys, like longer and just being more comfortable in this environment, it just allows me to keep growing and maybe get more out of my shell more,” Anthony said. “And trust that my word has power and definitely like being a leader for this team, it’s been an honor. I’ve tried not to take advantage of it and just try to be grateful for every moment.”
Peterson’s story is a different one. A multi-year starter for the Badgers, he was initially known as more of a run defender starting alongside fellow outside linebacker C.J. Goetz in 2022. But, over the past two years, he’s grown significantly as a pass-rusher, being open to whatever the team needs and fighting hard with every snap.
When approached about a role change to rushing more on the inside, Peterson accepted the opportunity. Now, he’s grown into one of the team’s top pass-rushers, seen last weekend with a monster 2.5-sack game. When Luke Fickell talks about players that wear and represent the W, Peterson is immediately one that comes to mind.
“It’s meant a lot [to be a Badger for five years]. A lot to me,” Peterson said. “Obviously haven’t won as many games I would have liked, but the experience, I think, is second to none. And I can’t imagine doing college and playing college football anywhere else. Obviously, if you want to leave, you can go chasing opportunities. As you said, other people have.
“But when I think college football, I think Madison. When I think of playing college football, I think of being a Badger, and I try to pride myself in that on and off the field. And I think I’m grateful for this opportunity that I’ve had to be here, and I’m going to cherish this place for as long as I live.”
There haven’t been many significant victories over the course of Peterson and Anthony’s careers at Wisconsin. But, the Badgers had a huge one over a ranked opponent two weeks ago when they upset the Washington Huskies at Camp Randall Stadium, leading the crowd to rush the field.
Where does that memory rank among the five years for Peterson?
“Probably number one, man. That might be my best memory, man,” the pass-rusher said. “Just knowing everything we’ve been through, not even this year, but just these past few years, it was just a big testament to just continuing to keep chopping, man. We’re on true freshman linebackers, true freshman quarterback, getting back to running the ball, everything, you know what I’m saying?
“It’s just so much. So much happened that we didn’t think would happen to come out there and just be able to [get the win]. And obviously, in Madison fashion, it’s snowing outside and things of that sort. So, yeah, that might be definitely top three. But as of right now, it’s pressing my mind. I’m gonna say number one.”
While the last few years have certainly been demanding, Peterson has continued to rely on his faith and persevere through the tough times.
“I think just my trust in God overall is a big thing for me,” Peterson shared. “I’ve grown in my faith immensely my whole career here. I think this year has challenged me in different ways as far as just trusting the Lord even through tough times. And I think even last week, being able to see some of the fruits of my labor was special. Knowing that I’ve kind of been through a lot and a lot of things have been tough on me mentally.
“So to be able to come out here and just have a season I had this year after a tough one last year, obviously not winning, but statistically as well for myself individually, last year wasn’t a good year for me. So I think just being able to trust God and understand that when I put my trust in him, just keep my head down and keep working and just allow me to feel his presence out here. When I’m out here and doing whatever I’m doing, he’s gonna take care of me. It’s been a big thing for me.”
For both players, there’s a lot to look forward to when it comes to chasing professional opportunities. But first, there’s only one thing on their minds to wrap their college careers: wins.
“Two wins, man, that’s all I really care about,” Peterson said. “Two wins and just individually finishing as strong as I can for this place and for this team. Two wins, man, that’d be awesome.”
“I had to put everything in a bubble, I’d say just go out with a bang,” Anthony said. “Whether that’s a touchdown win, whatever it is, like just the main goal, I really just want to end with a win here. Like that’s my biggest goal for the team and me personally, honestly, like, I just want us to win the right way.”
There’s been a lot that’s happened for the Badgers over the year and especially in 2025. Lost in all that mix is a group of seniors that has continued to fight hard for this team, and Anthony and Peterson are certainly two of those players.
