Badgers coach Luke Fickell shares lesson from former player Chris Orr
Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell talked about ‘family’ and ‘brotherhood,’ echoing a sentiment he heard from former Paul Chryst era player Chris Orr.
- The Wisconsin Badgers’ linebacker group is young but experienced, led by sophomores Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano.
- Posa and Catalano, who started late last season, were the team’s top two tacklers.
- The team is looking to develop a third starting linebacker, with Jon Jon Kamara and Thomas Heiberger competing for the spot.
MADISON – The Wisconsin roster received an overhaul after last season.
The linebacker position, however, was in pretty good shape.
The mid-season decision to start freshmen Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano helped the Badgers score two late-season, ranked wins. The duo also helped UW win the offseason as key parts of a youth movement in the team’s leadership that brought some much-needed juice to the team.
Expectations will be higher in Year 2.
“All the stuff we did was awesome,” Posa said, “but now it’s the real test.”
Despite not playing extensively until the second half of the season, Posa and Catalano ranked 1-2 on the Badgers in tackles. Include redshirt sophomore Thomas Heiberger and the Badgers return three of their top four players at the position.
Those players are part of a linebacker corps that has just two upperclassman among the entire position group.
“I think it’s a group that, No. 1, plays the game the right way (and) plays the game hard with some nasty intentions. ,,,” Wisconsin linebackers coach Tuf Borland said. “You can walk them up on the line of scrimmage, bring different pressure paths. That’s exactly who we want to be and what Coach Fick’s philosophy is all about.”
Wisconsin linebackers depth chart
First team
Cooper Catalano, soph., 6-1, 232: Started final five games and finished second on team in tackles (56).
Mason Posa, soph., 6-3, 235: Started final five games, led UW in tackles (61) and received freshman All-American distinction from the Football Writers Association of American and On3.
Jon Jon Kamara, R-soph., 6-4, 243: Played in 12 games and made three starts at Kansas last season, finishing with 13 tackles.
Second team
Aaron Witt, grad student, 6-6, 241: Switches to the position after playing a hybrid of outside linebacker and safety last season.
Taylor Schaefer, jr., 6-3, 242: Southern Door graduate makes transition to UW after two standout seasons at Iowa Central Community College.
Thomas Heiberger, R-soph., 6-4, 230: Played 81% of his snaps last season during the final four games.
Here is what to watch with the Badgers linebackers during fall camp, which begins Aug. 6.
The continued evolution of Mason Posa, Cooper Catalano
What will the Badgers dynamic duo do to avoid a sophomore slump?
For Posa, the work started with changing his body. His goal was to add weight as well as strength and speed. He played at 225 or 226 pounds last season and felt too light. He is listed as 235 pounds this year.
Catalano’s focus has been improving in pass coverage.
Both players have a sharpened eye for the game this year.
“I think a lot of it last year what we saw was them playing off feel and instincts,” Borland said. “It’s really cool to see what they’re doing from just how far they’ve come from just understanding football and formational tendencies and what offenses are giving you a pre-snap.”
Who will claim the third linebacker spot
During the Badgers’ mid-season run of injuries last season that they began using a three-linebacker alignment that called for the third linebacker to replace the nickel corner. The switch allowed UW of keep Posa and Catalano on the field while accounting for Christian Alliegro’s return from a broken arm or Heiberger’s growing impact.
This year Kamara and Heiberger split reps with the No. 1 unit in the spring. The two bring an athleticism to a position that will ask them to do a little over everything: cover, rush the passer, stop the run.
For Kamara, the chance to get after the quarterback played a large role in his decision to come to UW.
“I put some good stuff on tape at my previous school, but it wasn’t like anything to be over the moon about,” he said. “They just sold me on that I could come here and get developed, and they got an opportunity for me, but I’m going to have to earn it “
How will Taylor Schaefer settle in at UW
In addition to adding Kamara, UW signed Schaefer from the junior college ranks. This spring he brought the necessary physicality and edge to the position.
But in some ways he is playing catch up. Borland explained.
“I’m not talking about the speed of the game because there’s athleticism at that level too, but just how fast defense can pile up on you,” he said. “It looks like you’re going out there and executing plays, but you’re learning how to set yourself up to study the game and prepare the right way so you can go on the field and execute the way that you need to. He’s still learning to do that. He’s picking it up well.”
Will Thomas Heiberger stay healthy?
No player’s development for Wiscosin has been slowed by injury as much as Heiberger, who missed a good chunk of his turn freshman season due to a leg injury and was out most of the spring 2025 with another lower leg injury.
A full fall camp would give him a chance to build on a promising spring and perhaps gain a starting role.. As noted earlier, he is a high-level athlete with playmaking potential.
“Most people don’t understand how young and maybe a little bit inexperienced he is just with some of the injuries that he’s had over the course of his career, but he’s done an unbelievable job approaching it the right way this offseason and has set himself up in a really good way,” Borland said.
