Wisconsin Badgers football depth chart projections for 2026 from QB to kicker

MADISON – The Wisconsin football team completed fall camp Aug. 23. Here is the Journal Sentinel’s take on where the depth chart stands 13 days before the Badgers' season opener against Notre Dame at Lambeau Field.

OffenseQuarterback

1. Colton Joseph, sr., 6-2, 215

2. Deuce Adams, jr., 6-2, 207 or Ryan Hopkins, fr., 6-3, 205.

4. Danny O'Neil, jr., 6-0, 202.

5. Carter Smith soph., 6-4, 208.

The lowdown: Camp concluded without a clear-cut winner for top backup. Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes categorized the competition as on-going on Aug. 21. At this point, there is no reason for the coaches to tip their hand about who wins the job. Either way, the depth chart shows how UW has improved at the position since last season. O'Neil, who made three starts last season as the No. 2 QB last season, returned to action midway through camp after missing nine months due to an Achilles tendon tear.

Running backs

1. Abu Sama, sr., 5-11, 215

2. Darrion Dupree, jr., 5-11, 218

3. Nate Palmer, jr., 5-10, 205 or Bryan Jackson, jr., 6-2, 238

The lowdown: Sama solidified his status as the No. 1 back by not only breaking big plays to the outside but also showing an ability to navigate between tackles. Dupree’s running, route running, blocking – as well as his availability – put him position to be the top backup. Palmer and Jackson weren’t far behind but both were banged up in camp, which affected their practice time.

ReceiversFirst team

Eugene Hilton Jr, soph., 6-2, 204

Chris Brooks Jr., 5th, 6-2, 224

Tyrell Henry, 5th, 6-0, 184

Second team

Shamar Rigby, jr., 6-4, 198

Malachi Coleman, sr., 6-5, 205

Kash Brock, fr., 6-3, 190

Jaylon Domingeaux, sr., 6-3, 213

The lowdown: The UW receivers don't have a star, but in Brooks and Henry the group has a strong group of leaders whose voices have carried beyond the position group. Hilton had the most consistent camp of the bunch, but this is a group that will be mixed and matched depending on the situation and package.

Tight end

1. Jacob Harris, sr., 6-6, 265
2. Grant Stec, jr., 6-6, 258
3. Emmett Bork, soph., 6-6, 257
4. Ryan Schwedeman, 5th-year, 6-4, 252

The lowdown: Harris' pass catching ability and his development as a blocker put him at the top of our list, but there isn't much separation. This is a position where all four players have a chance to make an impact or be the starter in a given week due to the numerous tight end packages and combinations that offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes can use.

Offensive lineLeft tackle

1. PJ Wilkins, sr., 6-6, 325
2. Lucas Simmons-Johannson, sr., 6-7, 323
3. Peyton Lange, sr., 6-9, 345

Left guard

1. Colin Cubberly, jr., 6-6, 325

2. Logan Powell, soph., 6-5, 308 or Michael Roeske, soph., 6-8, 324

Center

1. Austin Kawecki, 5th, 6-4, 310
2. Ryan Cory, jr., 6-4, 310
3. Aiden Dirksen, fr., 6-6, 338

Right guard

1. Emerson Mandell, jr., 6-5, 325
2. Stylz Blackmon, jr., 6-4, 316
3. Blake Cherry, soph., 6-5, 310 or Nolan Davenport, soph., 6-6, 308

Right tackle

1. Kevin Heywood, jr., 6-9, 320
2. Lucas Simmons-Johannson, sr., 6-7, 323
3. Barrett Nelson, 5th, 6-6, 308 or Hardy Watts, soph., 6-5, 321

The lowdown: There is the starting lineup UW hopes to have for the season opener, and then there is the unit that practiced during fall camp due to injuries. That group featured Simmons-Johansson working with the top unit at right tackle and Blackmon, who has moved ahead of Cherry in the bid to fill Mandell’s spot at guard. UW bolstered this spot through the transfer portal, and Kawecki and Wilkins have provided immediate help. This is a key part of the Badgers’ rebuild, but the top players in the unit have not had a lot of time playing together.

DefenseTacklesFirst team

Charles Perkins, 6-2, 5th, 6-2, 333

Hammond Russell IV, 5th, 6-4, 320

Second team

Dillan Johnson, jr., 6-2, 315

Junior Poyser, sr., 6-2, 331

Third team

Nolan Vils, sr., 6-2, 305

Jacob Anderson, 5th, 6-4, 305 or DeNigel Cooper, jr., 6-3, 277

The lowdown: The Badgers needed to replace their top four performers from last season and the early returns have been promising. The position is a nice mix of returning players who have upped their games (Perkins, Johnson, Vils) and newcomers ready to make an immediate impact (Russell, Poyser, Anderson, Cooper). This position has been one of the team’s strengths so far

Outside linebackersFirst team

Micheal Garner, sr., 6-7, 315

Sebastian Cheeks, 5th, 6-3, 243

Second team

Tyreese Fearbry, 5th, 6-4, 255

Justus Boone, 5th, 6-5, 278

Third team

Nick Clayton, soph., 6-5, 247

Jaylen Williams, soph., 6-5, 265 or Will McDonald, sr., 6-4, 270

The lowdown: With the exception of Boone, a transfer from Arkansas, this was a position the Badgers will lean on returning players, many of whom are in their second year in the program, to produce. Fearbry, Garner, Clayton and Williams fit this description. There is optimism that Cheeks is ready to take his game to a new level this season. This is a position where you'll see a variety of tandems.

Inside linebackersMiddle

1. Cooper Catalano, soph., 6-1, 232
2. Taylor Schaefer, jr., 6-3, 242

Weakside

1. Mason Posa, soph., 6-3, 235
2. Thomas Heiberger, jr., 6-4, 230

Nickel linebacker

1. Jon Jon Kamara, jr, 6-4, 243
2. Aaron Witt, 5th, 6-6, 241 or Landon Gauthier, jr., 6-3, 237

The lowdown: Posa and Catalano are two of the Badgers’s most promising players, but this entire position group oozes of potential. What will be the impact of Kamara? Heiberger is as healthy, confident and capable of playing all three positions. How will that transfer to his productivity. Most of the top players have multiple years of eligibility remaining.

CornerbacksField corner

1. Jai’mier Scott, soph., 6-1, 192
2. Eric Fletcher, jr., 6-1, 193

Boundary corner

1. Javan Robinson, 5th, 5-11, 184
2. Cai Bates, jr., 6-3, 200

Slot corner

1. Bryce West, jr., 5-11, 200
2. Raphael Dunn, jr., 6-4, 220

The lowdown: The competition between Scott and Fletcher was tight throughout spring and the first week of camp, but Scott appeared to gain an edge from there. There is good depth here. Expect to see some type of rotation at the outside corner spots.

SafetiesField safety

1. Marvin Burks, sr., 6-2, 210
2. Cairo Skanes, soph., 6-2, 195
3. Grant Dean, soph., 6-1, 200

Boundary safety

1. Matt Jung, 5th, 6-3, 213
2. Carson Van Dinter, jr., 6-2, 207 or Matt Traynor, sr., 6-2, 211

The lowdown: Experience is the key world at the top of the lineup. Burks has played 1,287 snaps in college; Jung ranked third in that category for UW last season. Traynor returned to practice midway through camp after missing the spring and final half of 2025 due to an ACL injury.

Special teamsPunter

1. Sean West, soph., 6-2, 205
2. Ethan Tranel, sr., 6-1, 225

Kicker

1. Gavin Lahm, 5th, 6-1, 218
2. Brady Melum, fr, 6-0, 221

Long snapper

1. Andrew Goodman, R-sr.,  5-11, 223
2. James Roe, jr., 6-0, 219

The lowdown: Lahm redshirted last season in order to be the kicker this season. He has a powerful leg and should give UW a shot at points from 50 yards and maybe beyond. West took over at midway through last season and could benefit this season from the staff's focus on improving its punt coverage.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Badgers football depth chart projections for 2026 from QB to kicker