The Wisconsin Badgers are entering their annual bye week with an uplifting feeling around a team that could be in a much worse place, considering a season that opened with Notre Dame and soon included Penn State.
So with the Badgers churning through nearly half their season already, now feels like an appropriate time to cover some players who have excelled thus far.
No. 1 Colton Joseph, QB
Joseph was always going to top this list, as he has helped flip one of the nation’s worst offenses in 2025 into a good offense thus far in 2026. His completion rate of 56.6% could use some work, and three interceptions against the Nittany Lions may have rightly watered down some preseason hype, but Joseph has still notched 1,132 yards thus far, along with 10 touchdowns. On the ground,
the Old Dominion transfer brings 262 yards and three more touchdowns, proving he can do it on the ground and through the air.
No. 2 Jacob Harris, TE
For as great a portal pickup as Joseph has been, so has the Bowling Green transfer. Harris has pulled down 13 receptions this season for 238 yards and three touchdowns. Harris’ last three games have seen stat lines of 89, 105 and 35 yards and all three of his scores.
No. 3 Gavin Lahm, K
Special teams can never go overlooked, and so far Lahm has figured as one of the nation’s best kickers. Lahm has gone 9-9 on field goals, reaching as far as 51 yards, and while he is 17-18 on PATs, the Badgers are willing to concede that there won’t be many other times where the ball won’t go through the uprights after a touchdown.
No. 4 Cooper Catalano, LB
Catalano is already nearing his total tackles from last season, with 45 tackles compared to his 56 all of last season. With the increased tackles comes a much more wily pass defender. So far this season, Catalano has already totaled three passes defended, putting himself in the right position more often than not.
No. 5 Sebastian Cheeks, LB
Cheeks has been able to find big plays at will. So far this season, Cheeks has forced two fumbles against Notre Dame and Eastern Michigan, while also adding 2.5 sacks being divided by games against the Fighting Irish, Eagles, and the Nittany Lions.
Honorable Mentions: LB Mason Posa, RB Darrion Dupree, S Matthew Jung, S Marvin Burks Jr. and WR Tyrell Henry
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin Badgers' five best football players from first five games
