Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Wisconsin fans and fans across the country.
It’s no secret that the Wisconsin Badgers have made some major changes all around to their football team this offseason, be it the offense, the defense, the coaching staff, or the front office.
As a result of having more resources, the Badgers transformed several position groups, adding a starter at nearly every position on both sides
of the ball, and they’re hoping for far better results in 2026.
With fall camp underway, let’s look at every position group and see which ones have improved the most this offseason in our weekly Reacts poll.
Quarterback is a natural answer, as the Badgers brought in Colton Joseph to be their No. 1 option. The Badgers didn’t have good quarterback play last year with Billy Edwards out, as Danny O’Neil, Hunter Simmons, and Carter Smith all got starts and struggled.
Not only did Wisconsin bring in Joseph, but they also have Deuce Adams and freshman Ryan Hopkins, who both might be improvements on what the Badgers had in the room last year.
Cornerback is another very good position to consider, as Wisconsin has improved the room with much better scheme fits. They’ve prioritized speed this offseason, and Javan Robinson and Eric Fletcher both fit that norm well. Cai Bates has good length on the boundary, and Jai’mier Scott is one of the most improved players on the team. Bryce West also has transitioned well to the starting role in the slot.
Now, success here should come with better results in the front seven, as we saw during the second half of the season. But the talent in the room also feels better than what Wisconsin had last year.
Wisconsin also added quite a bit at running back, landing Abu Sama, who seems primed for a big role this season, as well as Bryan Jackson, Nate Palmer, and Julius Pope to complement Darrion Dupree. Now, Wisconsin had talent in the room last year with Dilin Jones and Gideon Ituka in the fold, but they struggled to run the ball with mixed results from the offensive line.
This year, it feels like they’ve got better top-end talent (Sama) and strong depth in the room to match with what should be a better run-blocking line.
The offensive line has also seen some improvements from a starter and depth perspective. First off, Kevin Heywood is back, which is a big factor in its own right. But Wisconsin also added PJ Wilkins and Lucas Simmons at tackle, Austin Kawecki at center, and Blake Cherry and Stylz Blackmon at guard to compete with their current room.
There are other positions to consider too. Wisconsin has added a lot of bodies at wide receiver. They’ve brought in a ton of defensive linemen. They’ve added good depth at linebacker and safety.
So, what is the most improved position group this offseason? Let us know in our Reacts poll in the article, and share your thoughts in the comments down below!
