Marcus Freeman is known for staying on script in his press conferences. Part of his script this week, ahead of Week 1 versus Wisconsin, was to shout out one player on the offense and one on the defense. He had high praise for both quarterback Colten Joseph and linebacker Mason Posa. His comments were high enough praise that it truly didn't just feel like coach speak.
As he navigated his thinking about Wisconsin, it started with Luke Fickell and how he knows intimately what his teams are like, from when he was on Fickell's staff. It moved towards the offense and Joseph: "They obviously have a quarterback that was Player of the Year in the Sun Belt last year, and he’s as fast and athletic as anyone you’ll see on that team.”
While technically, Joseph wasn't the Player of the Year in the Sun Belt last year, that was Alonza Barnett III. Joseph was the Offensive Player of the Year, so Freeman can have a small pass. Either way, the high praise of saying, "He's as fast and athletic as anyone you'll see on that team."
His stress was on the fact that Wisconsin will run the ball in a variety of ways, even with the quarterback and Joseph's athletic ability. However, he saved his highest praise for Posa.
Marcus Freeman says that Mason Posa is as good as any linebacker they will see all season
Related: Wisconsin QB Colton Joseph doubles down on Luke Fickell's Leonard Moore comments
For Posa, he was clearly impressed, "Eight might be as good as anyone we see this season.” (No. 8 is Posa's number). The linebackers are a strength that Freeman has identified on the Badgers' side of the ball. Even mentioning Cheeks' ability to get free off the edge and cause problems in the backfield.
Though we need to pause for a second on that comment about Posa, "might be as good as anyone we see this season." That's extremely high praise from Freeman, who doesn't dive into hyperbole very often. He means it. Posa is elite, and he's seen it with his own eyes on tape. But even to compare him to the rest of Notre Dame's schedule is big.
Notre Dame's schedule isn't all that impressive, but the Irish will see Cade Uluave from BYU, who had almost 100 tackles last season. SMU has some legit linebackers in Alexander Kilgore and Brandon Booker. Even Miami is prepared to have a great season at linebacker with Mohamed Toure. A stud redshirt senior, ready for a big final season.
Yet, Freeman says Posa is 'as good as anyone,' and that's not news to Badger fans. But it is respect for a coach who clearly knows the ball. Posa is elite, and Badger fans are anticipating a huge year for the true sophomore linebacker. And if Notre Dame has circled him on tape, that's only good things for both Posa and the Wisconsin defense.
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