The Wisconsin Badgers brought in a ton of talent this offseason, adding at nearly every position on the roster, so there are a ton of new faces that will play snaps at Camp Randall this Fall.
But who will be the team’s most important players?
While I concede that any list such as this one is dripping with subjectivity, I’m fairly certain that most, if not all, of these players would rank pretty highly on your own list if you made one. I’m obviously taking talent into account, but a player’s role and
momentum in fall practice could move them up or down significantly.
So, let’s start today with numbers 14 through 8 and go down the list.
Honorable Mentions: CB Bryce West and OL Emerson Mandell
Bryce West seems to be a locked-in starter at cornerback in the slot, which might be the most targeted defensive back of them all. He’s got the potential and the pedigree, but we haven’t seen the results yet, as he hasn’t seen much game experience.
Emerson Mandell is in a similar boat: young, touted recruit who is ready to step into a bigger role. Injuries and a position change hurt Mandell last year, but his potential is also quite high, and the Badgers need their offensive line to be better in 2026.
No. 14: RB Abu Sama III
Any team that wants to get back to claiming the title RBU needs a stable of really good running backs, and the 2026 group in Madison looks like a talented one. No, it’s not Melvin Gordon, James White, and Montee Ball good, but it should be an upgrade from the recent past, and Sama is the best of the bunch.
Strong, sturdy, and elusive, the Iowa State transfer should get the majority of the carries this fall, and I expect him to flourish in this role. I don’t see him getting a silly percentage of the totes, but he should get enough to threaten 1,000 yards.
No. 13: TE Jacob Harris
I’m fully aware that the Tight Ends room at 1440 Monroe Street has a number of capable dudes, some with a lot of future upside (see Bork, Emmett), but Harris, and his nose for the end zone, will be a nice fit for the Grimes offense featuring a quarterback who might struggle a bit to find downfield success.
It’s easy to imagine the sure-handed Harris running with this role and ending up a real weapon for the Badgers. I don’t envision a high-volume role for him, but definitely an important one.
No. 12: CB Jai’mier Scott
I’ve seen Scott on a few breakout lists already, and his performance both this spring and in August have definitely raised his profile. Currently slated to be featured across from experienced senior Javan Robinson, Scott has the size, speed, and instincts to flourish in defensive coordinator Mike Tressel’s secondary-heavy scheme.
He’s very young and will still have some growing pains, but his emergence would be a massive value add for the Badgers’ cornerback room, and hitting the ceiling on his 4-star high school pedigree would help validate Fickell’s developmental system.
No. 11: EDGE Sebastian Cheeks
Losing bull in a china shop Mason Reiger was a sizable blow to the Badgers’ pass rush, but one steady and experienced guy is back to see if he can take his game to the next level. Cheeks has been a solid player in Madison but will simply need to be more than that if Wisconsin hopes to provide enough pass rush pressure to succeed in 2026.
His coaches seem to be high on him, so I’m excited to see what Cheeks 3.0 will look like in Madison this fall. If he can approach double digits in sacks, it will be a very good sign.
No. 10: DL Charles Perkins
Perkins will be relied upon to lead a room that took a massive attrition hit after so much of last season’s reliable group moved on.
The key for him will be staying healthy, but if he can, there’s true potential for him to turn into a real weapon for the Badgers, especially with dudes like Mason Posa and Cheeks wreaking havoc around him. An effective Perkins will be a true floor raiser for the Wisconsin defense.
No. 9: WR Eugene Hilton Jr.
It may seem odd to some of you that I have Hilton over foundational offensive linemen, but the reality is simply this: in order for Wisconsin’s offensive ecosystem to reach anywhere near its 2026 ceiling, it will badly need someone in the wide receiver room to step up and be a consistent performer who can put some pressure on a defense.
While he won’t need to be a star, Hilton seems the squad’s best bet at being reliable. His performance thus far in fall camp is hinting at his ability to be just that guy, and there is an open road of opportunity there for him.
No. 8: OL PJ Wilkins
The fact that a converted guard is suddenly slated to play left tackle has largely flown under the radar, but transfer portal addition PJ Wilkins is a massively important piece for Wisconsin’s offense. A lot of the 2025 line’s struggles began with leaky blindside tackle play, and while this improved later in the season after some shuffling, that line never looked quite right.
Enter Wilkins, the Ole Miss transfer who found his way on the field for a really good SEC team last season. A position change appears a bit curious, but I’ll put my trust in the well-regarded wiles of offensive line coach Eric Mateos.
