Wisconsin Football: Five Players Receive Preseason Honors from Phil Steele

According to Dillon Graff of AthlonSport's AllBadgers.com, famed college football analyst Phil Steele listed five Wisconsin Badger football players with preseason All-Big Ten honors before the 2024 season. Strong safety Hunter Wohler received second-team All-Big Ten, and cornerback Ricardo Hallman earned third-team All-Big Ten preseason honors. Rounding out the fourth-team All-Big honors were slot wide receiver Will Pauling and offensive linemen Joe Huber and Riley Mahlman.

Hunter Wohler returns to Wisconsin after an outstanding 2023 season, where he earned Associated Press All-Big Ten honors and Academic All-American honors. Wohler led the Badgers' defense in total tackles with 120, which includes a team-high 74 solo tackles. His two-interception game against Georgia Southern on September 16th was critical, as the Badgers avoided an early-season upset. Look for Wohler to provide significant leadership in the locker room.     

FanSided contributor Ericka Brockish listed Richard Hallman and Will Pauling as Badger players as crucial for the upcoming season. Hallman led the Badger defense with seven interceptions on his way to earning Associated Press Third-Team All-American Honors. On the offensive side of the ball, Will Pauling blossomed after transferring from Cincinnati. The slot wide receiver was second in the Big Ten in receptions with 74 and third last year with 837 receiving yards. 

Another Cincinnati transfer, Joe Huber, played well after arriving in Madison. Pro Football Focus (PFF) considered Huber one of the top-ten returning interior offensive linemen. Riley Mahlman, perhaps the best of the returning Wisconsin Badgers offensive linemen, was given a 78.1 PFF grade that placed him among the best OTs in the country. Mahlman is a phenomenal run blocker, given his size at 6' 8''. 

The Wisconsin Badgers have a daunting schedule thatfeatures home games against Alabama, Penn State, and Oregon, plus road games to USC, Iowa, and Nebraska. If the Badgers want to improve from their pedestrian 7-6 record, these five players have to show out. They have the talent to compete with these teams, but it has to be proven on the field.