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Wisconsin Football: Freshman DL Bryson Williams

By Christian Borman

LAS VEGAS - SEPTEMBER 04: A Wisconsin Badgers cheerleader runs a flag through the end zone after a Wisconsin touchdown against the UNLV Rebels at Sam Boyd Stadium September 4, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Wisconsin won 41-21. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS - SEPTEMBER 04: A Wisconsin Badgers cheerleader runs a flag through the end zone after a Wisconsin touchdown against the UNLV Rebels at Sam Boyd Stadium September 4, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Wisconsin won 41-21. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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Wisconsin Football defensive lineman Bryson Williams is the next subject of Badger of Honor’s Freshman Focus series.

The defensive line for Wisconsin football is getting a lot stronger this fall with the addition of Bryson Williams.

Literally.

Williams committed to Wisconsin and enrolled in the program early and immediately turned heads in the weight room. This video from Williams’ Twitter account shows him squatting 550 pounds during offseason workouts.

I’d say the six-foot-two, 290-pound defensive lineman will fit right in with Olive Sagapolu and the rest of the Wisconsin defensive line.

Recruitment

Williams is from Lincoln, Nebraska, in the Cornhusker’s backyard. While in high school, Williams was getting plenty of attention nationally. He earned 18 scholarship offers from programs including Wisconsin, Iowa, UCF and Virginia Tech, among others.

One school he never heard from? His hometown Nebraska Cornhuskers. Huskers coach Mike Riley chose instead to offer another in-state defensive lineman, Masry Mapieu.

Williams eventually committed to Wisconsin in July before his senior season. Williams had an impressive 77 tackles and three sacks during his senior season.

Things got interesting when Nebraska fired head coach Mike Riley and hired University of Central Florida’s head coach, Scott Frost. Frost was after Williams for a long time while he was at UCF. One of his first acts as head coach of Nebraska was to offer Williams a scholarship. When Nebraska offered Williams, there was understandably a bit for him to think about. His hometown team offered him a chance to play for them.

Ultimately, Williams decided to stick with Wisconsin because he wanted to “remain a man of his word” according to a Land of 10 article.

What to expect

Willams was a 3-star recruit and ranked the 67th overall defensive tackle in the nation.

Williams could be a freshman who could make an immediate impact. He will be playing noseguard and backup Olive Sagapolu. Once Sagapolu is gone, look for Williams to step in and replace him.

In his senior highlight video, Willams shows a high motor. He is consistently taking on double teams and still getting through the line and harassing the quarterback. Williams has good awareness and speed, sniffing out screen plays and drops the running back for a loss rather than biting and over-pursuing the quarterback.

Williams is in a prime spot to backup Sagapolu and learn a lot. When it is his turn, look for him to tear up opposing offensive lines for the next few years. He has a chance to make a big impact on the Wisconsin defense.

Next: Most underrated Badgers going into 2018

Fellow incoming freshman linebacker Jack Sanborn could help keep the defense on Wisconsin football elite.