Wisconsin ended its season on a winning note with a 24-17 over Oklahoma State in the Guaranteed Bowl on Dec. 27. After a brief break, UW will kick up winter conditioning as it begins its early preparation for the 2023 campaign.
Over the next two weeks, BadgerBlitz.com will review each position before turning the page from the 2022 season. Today we'll examine the defensive line.
2022 HIGH: KEEANU BENTON AND RODAS JOHNSON
Keeanu Benton was a draftable NFL player when the 2021 season ended, but the Janesville native said one of the reasons he was returning for his senior season was the belief he could reach a higher level. He achieved that in playing all 12 regular-season games, achieving personal bests in total tackles (35), tackles for loss (10), and sacks (4.5). Despite battling through a knee injury for the final two months of the season, Benton was his most dominant in his final four games, registering seven tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks to help UW qualify for a bowl game for the 21st consecutive season.
Benton’s presence elevated the play of the others around him, notably Rodas Johnson. Registering a total of eight tackles in 13 games during his first two seasons in a reserve role, Johnson earned the starting spot vacated by Matt Henningsen and started every game that UW opened with a three-man defensive front. The results were 23 tackles and six tackles for loss.
Those two were partly responsible for the Badgers finishing ninth nationally in rush defense, allowing 99.2 per game.
2022 LOW: THE START OF BIG TEN PLAY
UW took care of business stuffing running games through the nonconference portion of the schedule, limiting Illinois State, Washington State, and New Mexico State to an average of 76.0 yards and two total touchdowns. The line also helped clear the way with a combined 20 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Little did we know that Washington State finished 116th nationally in the FBS and Illinois State finished 98th in the FCS, thus padding the stats. That became evident with how UW started conference play, as the Badgers were taken to the woodshed by Ohio State and Illinois.
The Buckeyes came in averaging 565.3 yards and 47.7 points per game. They finished the first half with 328 yards – 181 rushing and 147 passing – and a 31-7 lead. They finished with 258 RUSH yards and averaged 6.0 yards per carry in a thorough 52-21 thrashing.
Arguably, the home loss to Illinois the following week was more embarrassing. A far cry from a College Football Playoff team like Ohio State, the Illini pummeled UW in Bret Bielema’s homecoming by rushing for four touchdowns among their 137 yards.
In a seven-day period, UW allowed three 100-yard rushers, fell to 0-2 in the conference, and Paul Chryst lost his job.
ONE STORYLINE TO FOLLOW BEFORE THE 2023 SEASON: HOW DEEP WILL THE ROTATION BE ON THE DEFENSIVE LINE?
Both head coach Luke Fickell and defensive coordinator Mike Tressel have pointed out that the lack of depth on the defensive line is concerning and something the Badgers are going to have to address through the transfer portal and recruiting.
UW took a step in that direction Thursday with the announcement of former Temple defensive end Darian Varner. Expected to have two seasons of eligibility remaining, Varner had 35 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks last season. He said in an interview with BadgerBlitz.com that he can play any position on the defensive line, so the Badgers will have options with where he lines up.
Not only did Johnson take a big step forward after his year of starting experience, but the Badgers should also be excited about the steps taken by defensive end James Thompson Jr. The sophomore played in all 13 games, started six of the last seven regular season games with Isaiah Mullens out, and equaled Johnson's numbers with 23 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks.
The rest of the room is full of unknowns, without a clear option to replace the production of Benton. Gio Paez filled in for Benton in the bowl game and will likely be given the first opportunity entering his senior season, needing to improve his reading and reacting. Curtis Neal is the only nose tackle listed on the current roster, but the freshman was limited to four games late in the season as he recovered from a high school ACL injury.
UW will also need to evaluate if juniors Cade McDonald (127 snaps) and Ben Barten (89) are ready to handle a bigger workload, where senior Isaac Townsend and sophomore Mike Jarvis are health-wise after missing last season with leg injuries, and if walk-ons Tommy Brunner (senior) and Gabe Kirschke (sophomore) can contribute in some way.
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