The Wisconsin Badgers just pulled off a HUGE 24-20 upset win over the Penn State Nittany Lions on the road, pushing their record to a sweet 3-1 on the season. And let me tell you, while the offense had its moments, it was the defense that absolutely sealed the deal. They were flat-out excellent, especially when it mattered most in the fourth quarter, forcing four massive three-and-outs to give the offense a shot at that comeback. This unit showed up, and some players are truly emerging as game-changers.
DL Is Deep and Dangerous
You want impact? Let’s talk about the defensive line. DeNigel Cooper is a guy whose snaps are just climbing, and for good reason. He logged three pressures on just 14 pass rush snaps against Penn State, rocking a 15.4 percent pass-rush win rate. The dude is making the most of every single opportunity. Then you’ve got Hammond Russell IV, who’s not just a big factor, he’s been the Badgers’ best defensive lineman all season so far. This West Virginia transfer went off, snagging 1.5 sacks, two pressures, two stops, and that monster batted pass that set up Charles Perkins’ interception. What a play. This group lives and dies by its depth, and it’s clear Russell, Cooper, Perkins, Junior Poyser, Nolan Vils, and Dillan Johnson are the main guys making it happen. Vils is consistently in the teens for snaps, showing that steady presence they need.
Cheeks and the Edge Rushers Are Dominating
But if you want to talk about a breakout star, Sebastian Cheeks is the name you need to know. He’s been a top-three player on this defense all year, playing alongside the star linebacker duo. Cheeks isn’t just playing a ton of snaps, he’s legitimately one of the best pass-rushers in the entire country through these first four weeks. Against Penn State, he added five more pressures against their tackles, good for a 20.8 percent pass-rush win rate, plus two stops. Seriously, through four weeks, Cheeks has 18 pressures and 10 on just 80 pass-rushing snaps. That’s ridiculous! For reference, he had 27 pressures all of last season. He’s already almost there. Tyreese Fearbry is also a trusted player on the edge, putting up two pressures and two stops in the game, even with a couple of missed tackles. And Nicolas Clayton? He got his biggest workload yet in the biggest game yet, and his snaps are steadily increasing, too. He dropped three pressures with a 17.6 percent win rate. The future is bright for these guys coming off the edge.
Linebackers Are the Heartbeat
And finally, you gotta give props to the linebackers. Cooper Catalano and Mason Posa were absolutely fantastic against Penn State. Catalano, man, he snagged the highest defensive grade on the entire team at 81.7. Posa wasn’t far behind with a 79.5 grade. These two are the heart of this defense, and they were flying around making plays all day.
This Badgers defense is showing us something special, especially with guys like Cheeks exploding and the depth on the line stepping up. If they keep this level of play, especially with that clutch fourth-quarter performance, the rest of the season is going to be a wild ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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