MADISON – Mason Reiger and Darryl Peterson, two of Wisconsin’s most impactful defenders last season, are attempting to make NFL rosters this summer.
The two combined for 68 tackles, 17½ tackles for a loss and 11½ sacks last season to help Wisconsin finish 15th in the nation in run defense and 24th overall. Matching their production will be tough, but Badgers outside linebackers coach Matt Mitchell doesn’t lack candidates.
Though no standouts return, the position is arguably the deepest on the defense. In Mike Tressel’s scheme outside linebacker / edge rusher has been a spot where Wisconsin has been able to adjust its personnel to fit various situations. It has also been productive as twice in the previous three seasons the Badgers’ top two leaders in tackles for a loss and sacks have come from the position.
Will the outside linebackers lead the way in that regard this season?
The room is a good mix of returning players, transfers and homegrown players with the potential to have a breakout season.
But it’s not just the depth that excites Mitchell. There was a feel for the game that he notices, too.
“Instincts and feel are very underrated,” he said. “I think one thing about my room this year, not to disrespect other rooms that I’ve had in my four years here, but I think overall we’ve got the best instincts in terms of the totality of the room.”
Here is what to watch from the outside linebacker position during fall camp, which begins Aug. 6 on campus.
Wisconsin outside linebackers depth chart
First team
Sebastian Cheeks, grad student, 6-3, 245: Recorded 7 ½ tackles for a loss and five sacks in 22 games over two seasons with the Badgers.
Tyreese Fearbry, R-sr., 6-4, 255: On track for a much larger role after getting 73 snaps last season.
Second team
Nick Clayton, soph., 6-5, 247: Added almost 50 pounds since getting to campus in January 2025.
Justus Boone, 6th-sr, 6-5, 278: Comes to UW after one season at Arkansas. Started his career at Florida.
Third team
Jaylen Williams, R-fr., 6-5, 265: Made most of the extra snaps he received during the spring due to injuries at the position.
Micheal Garner, sr., 6-7, 315: Had strong start to spring ball before missing most of the final half due to injury.
How quickly Justus Boone gets acclimated
The Badgers signed more than 30 players from the transfer portal. Boone has a chance to be one of the most important additions despite missing all but a couple of spring practices due to injury.
Badgers coaches and players have seen enough to believe he can help. Mitchell noted not only the aggressiveness of his play but his feel for the game and intelligence.
There is also no substitute for experience and Boone has plenty of it. He has played 887 career snaps, according to Pro Football Focus, and 38 games.
“He’s a guy who knows what he’s looking at just in terms of the film study,” Cheeks said. “He knows how to fit within the scheme, and ultimately, that’s what they’re asking of us, right? And ultimately that’s going to help us play good on Saturday.”
The continued evolution of Nick Clayton
The Florida native’s youth and size make him an intriguing a prospect to watch. He played a lot of special teams last season and recorded just 15 snaps on defense. Mitchell said Clayton was an injury away from getting more work in the rotation.
Clayton has greatly changed his body since arriving on campus in January 2025, but the added size has not diminished his ability to get off the ball. His strength right now is his pass rush.
“I don’t want to get Sebastian made at me, but I think Clayton may be one of my best pass rushers,” Mitchell said. “Those two guys are probably 1-2 in terms of pure pass rush talent.”
How much will Sebastian Cheeks elevate his game?
At this time two years ago, Cheeks was still playing inside linebacker. It wasn’t until midway through the fall camp of 2024 that he made the switch.
Since then, he has progressively become more of a factor in the unit. Last year he got the third-most snaps at the position behind Reiger and Peterson.
Cheeks’ production has been solid. He went from 12 tackles with two tackles for a loss and two sacks in 2024 to 25 tackles, 5½ tackles for loss and three sacks last season.
The mission this year to to continue to grow Cheeks’ game and as one of the longest standing Badgers at the position help lead the group.
“I feel like I really understand concepts, where I’m supposed to be on the field, how things are working and that allows me to play fast,” he said. “That has been a huge thing for me and my growth is just my overall understanding of the game.”
How Tyreese Fearbry builds on productive spring
The Badgers didn’t get an immediate return from adding Fearbry from the transfer portal after the 2024 season.
Year 2 has been a different story. He consistently ran with the top unit during the spring though the return of Boone will mean more competition for those snaps.
“He’s played a lot of different spots,” Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said. “He’s been asked to play a lot of different positions, whether it’s from the edge to a four-eye to even down inside maybe in some three (technique). The beautiful thing about him is it doesn’t matter what you ask him to do, he’s going to do it with intensity and he’s not going to whine about it.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin’s deep OLB corps could produce the defense’s next playmaker
Reporting by Mark Stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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By Mark Stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
