The 2025 Badgers will look much different than last year's squad, but maybe that isn't such a bad thing. With as many as 15 new starters, many of them being filled by transfers, the team will strive to get back on track and start a new bowl streak. Here is a way-to-early projection of what the team could look like this fall.
Quarterback
Starter: Billy Edwards Jr.
Backup: Danny O'Neil
For the third straight season the Badgers will start a transfer at quarterback. Edwards Jr. has the tools to succeed in a Jeff Grimes system, and already has plenty of Big Ten experience at Maryland. O'Neil is no slouch either, and will be one of the better backups in the conference.
Running Back
Starter: Darrion Dupree
Backup: Dilin Jones
Dupree started to get some work last season after Chez Mellusi left the team, and showed some signs of potential as a true freshman. Now, after the Badgers opted not to pursue a transfer running back, the backfield will be his, with some sprinkling in of Jones and Cade Yacamelli.
Wide Receiver
Starters: Vinny Anthony II, Mark Hamper, Trech Kekahuna
Backups: Jayden Ballard, Quincy Burroughs
Anthony led the team last season with 672 receiving yards and could have an even bigger year in 2025. Hamper, a four-star transfer from Idaho, has a great chance to be an all-time great receiver for the Badgers with three years of eligibility still left. Kekahuna returns after a brief transfer scare and will fill in at the slot.
Tight End
Starter: Tanner Koziol
Backup: Tucker Ashcraft
Ashcraft will lose his starting role to Koziol, who has NFL-caliber talent. Last year at Ball State, he reeled in 94 passes, and will be huge weapon for the Badgers.
Offensive Line
Starters: Kevin Heywood, Joe Brunner, Jake Renfro, Hardy Watts, Riley Mahlman
Backups: Barrett Nelson, JP Benzshawel
The Wisconsin offensive line will return three starters in Brunner, Renfro and Mahlman. Heywood is a heavily anticipated prospect who will get the nod at left tackle. At guard, Benzschawel is a veteran with experience, but true freshman Watts might have too much talent to pass up.
Defensive Line
Starters: Parker Peterson, Jay'viar Suggs
Backups: Corey Walker, Ben Barten, Brandon Lane
The defensive line was one of the weakest groups of 2024, so the Badgers will start two new transfers in the trenches for 2025. Peterson and Suggs will be a huge upgrade in Wisconsin's effort to get to the quarterback more.
Linebacker
Starters: Darryl Peterson, Christian Alliegro, Tackett Curtis, Tyreese Fearbry
Backups: Mason Reiger, Thomas Heiberger, Sebastian Cheeks, Aaron Witt
The Badgers will look to revamp this unit after the departure of Jake Chaney and the failed experiments of Leon Lowery and John Pius. Transfers Fearbry and Reiger will play a big part in getting after the quarterback.
Cornerback
Starters: Ricardo Hallman, Geimere Latimer, Austin Brown
Backups: Jay Harper, Omilio Agard, D'Yoni Hill
After suffering heavy losses in the portal, the Badgers were decimated in the secondary. Latimer could start on the outside opposite Hallman, who thankfully should be returning for another year.
Safety
Starters: Preston Zachman, Matthew Traynor
Backups: Matt Jung
Wisconsin is a little thin at safety, and may even need some contributions from true freshmen Luke Emmerich, Grant Dean or Remington Moss. Traynor and Jung are very interesting portal additions, though.