Badger of Honor
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Wisconsin Football: “Death Row” is home to the best linebacker duo in the nation

By Dillon Graff

MADISON, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 13: Leo Chenal #5 of the Wisconsin Badgers reacts after a play against the Northwestern Wildcats in the first half at Camp Randall Stadium on November 13, 2021 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 13: Leo Chenal #5 of the Wisconsin Badgers reacts after a play against the Northwestern Wildcats in the first half at Camp Randall Stadium on November 13, 2021 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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Leo Chenal; Wisconsin football
Wisconsin linebacker Leo Chenal (5) tackles Illinois running back Chase Brown (2) during their game Saturday, October 9, 2021 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill. Wisconsin beat Illinois 24-0.MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINELMjs Uwgrid10 32 Jpg Uwgrid10 /

Leo Chenal by the numbers:

Overall grade: (92.0)  – 1st among all qualifying linebackers

Run-defense grade: (94.3) – 1st among all qualifying linebackers

Tackling grade: (87.4) – 18th among all qualifying linebackers

Pass-rush grade: (92.4) – 2nd among all qualifying linebackers

As it stands, Leo Chenal leads the Badgers with 81 tackles, has 15 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks. Those totals are all the more impressive considering Chenal missed the first two games of the season because of COVID-19.

Leo Chenal has also been credited with 49 defensive stops which not only leads Wisconsin, it also leads all linebackers in the Big Ten.

Chenal has proved to be incredible at blowing plays up, and he’s given the freedom to do so because of how sound his partner Jack Sanborn is. The team can live with Chenal making a mistake because they have the utmost confidence in Sanborn’s ability to clean up the mess.