Ricardo Hallman will play a crucial role in an experienced Wisconsin secondary. The redshirt junior had a phenomenal breakout year in 2023, tallying up 34 tackles, seven interceptions, and five tackles for loss. Last year’s success has him ranked alongside some of the best players in the country.
Hallman comes in at No. 62 in ESPN’s Top-100 players entering the 2024 season. He was the only Badger to crack Adam Rittenberg’s list and started the 2023 season off the list entirely.
Player rank is back. We put together the top 100 CFB players for the 2024 season, considering both past performance and future projection. I'm sure there will be zero complaints. https://t.co/6McRGvBVwE
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) August 15, 2024
Wisconsin’s defense ranked among the upper half of the Big Ten last year. The unit totaled 13 interceptions on the year, ranking third in the conference. However, the Badgers had 29 sacks in 2023, which was ninth among Big Ten teams last year.
Fortunately, Wisconsin returns some familiar faces on defense. Safety Hunter Wohler is another bright spot on this defense, totaling the second-most tackles in the Big Ten last year with 74. Linebacker Darryl Peterson also returns for his junior year, having a successful sophomore campaign with eight tackles for loss.
The Badger defense will have their hands full this season against some of the elite offenses in the country, such as Oregon, USC, and even Alabama in their non-conference schedule. It will be up to Hallman and the secondary to keep points at a premium as Luke Fickell looks to take a step forward after a 7-6 season last year.
