Show summary Hide summary
Wisconsin showed fight early but was overwhelmed in the second half of its Week 1 loss to No. 4 Notre Dame. With a short week before facing FCS Western Illinois, the Badgers will look to a few defensive takeaways revealed by snap counts to sort their rotation and roles.
Snap-count figures cited below come from Pro Football Focus.
Defensive line
College kickers have taken home $2.2 million from Pat McAfee’s kicking contest this season
Wisconsin loses 41-13 to No. 4 Notre Dame at Lambeau Field
Hammond Russell IV paced the line with 38 snaps, followed by Charles Perkins (26) and Junior Poyser (20). Nolan Vils (15), DeNigel Cooper (13) and Dillan Johnson (11) rounded out the rotation.
Russell and Perkins behaved as the clear top interior options against Notre Dame, while Poyser filled a third-down role. The snap distribution — with Vils and Cooper ahead of Johnson — suggests the group’s fourth spot remains unsettled. It also points to a preference for a four-man rotation up front, a pattern the staff used last season and appears to be testing again.
Inside linebackers
Cooper Catalano logged the most snaps at the position (64), with Mason Posa close behind (60). Jon Jon Kamara saw 18 snaps and Thomas Heiberger played four.
All four projected inside backers appeared in the game, but Heiberger’s opportunities were limited. Kamara’s 18 snaps produced no recorded stats; he was beaten in coverage on Nolan James Jr.’s fourth-quarter touchdown and missed a tackle on the play. Wisconsin also used its “STAR” hybrid linebacker sparingly in this matchup.
Outside linebackers
Sebastian Cheeks led the edge group with 43 snaps, and Michael Garner followed with 33. Tyreese Fearbry (25), Justus Boone (21), Nick Clayton (11) and Aaron Witt (1) filled out the chart.
Cheeks emerged as the primary pass-rush threat, notching a strip sack and consistently causing problems for Notre Dame’s blockers. Garner played significant snaps as a jumbo edge setter and finished with four tackles and a quarterback hit. Clayton’s limited work showed potential as a situational pass-rusher; the staff may expand his role if he continues to produce.
Cornerbacks
Javan Robinson was on the field almost every defensive snap (62). Jai’mier Scott (48) outplayed Eric Fletcher Jr. (16) in terms of playing time, while Bryce West logged 46 snaps and Cai Bates appeared twice.
Robinson’s heavy workload was expected. The snap split between Scott and Fletcher indicates the staff currently favors the younger corner in that matchup battle. West stood out against the Irish and figures to see a large share of snaps this season, with Bates serving as depth for now.
Safeties
Matt Jung played every defensive snap (64), Marvin Burks recorded 53 snaps and Cairo Skanes spelled Burks on 10 plays.
Jung’s full-game presence and Burks’ substantial time suggest the safety duo is settled for the moment. Carson Van Dinter did not play, and there is no immediate sign that the top two roles are in jeopardy.
