Wisconsin’s defense has emerged as one of college football’s most dominant units, and its collective success is starting to spotlight individual players for the NFL. Outside linebacker Sebastian Cheeks has been a breakout performer this season and is attracting draft attention after a standout showing against USC.
The Badgers overwhelmed the Trojans at the line of scrimmage and consistently pressured quarterback Jayden Maiava. USC finished the game with a staggering -17 rushing yards, and the team managed just seven points — the fewest scored by a Lincoln Riley-coached squad. Wisconsin also recorded nine tackles for loss in that matchup.
Those single-game signs mirror season-long metrics. Wisconsin allows only 3.9 yards per play, the lowest figure in the country. The Badgers sit at No. 13 in total defense (280.1 yards allowed per game) and are tied for No. 10 in scoring defense, yielding an average of 15.29 points a game.
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Coordinator Mike Tressel’s unit has earned praise for its cohesion rather than solely its talent on paper. After the USC win, head coach Luke Fickell highlighted the collaborative nature of the staff: “It starts with their ability to have a lot of guys that do a lot of things, and I mean that as a coaching staff. It’s not a one-man show. Coach Tress does call the defense, Coach Tress is the guy that makes the decision. But how he works with Coach Haynes, who works with the back end, how he listens to those guys up front, I mean, we don’t work separately,” Fickell said. “Those guys are in there grinding together every single day, and that’s what’s special about it.”
Cheeks drawing NFL draft praise
Among the Badgers’ standouts, Sebastian Cheeks has generated notable buzz from draft analysts. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. singled out Cheeks’ pass-rush versatility after the USC game, pointing to his ability to attack from multiple angles and to finish plays.
“I love how Wisconsin edge rusher Sebastian Cheeks varies his path to the quarterback. He can get home on the inside or outside with explosion, and he always has a secondary move ready to go. We saw that against USC, with 2.5 sacks. And at 6-3 and 243 pounds, he plays with more power than you might think — he can drive offensive tackles back with his bull rush. His motor never stops,” Kiper said, and he added that he currently views Cheeks as a third- or fourth-round prospect.
Cheeks has been a consistent disruptor this season. His 34 pressures are tied for third nationwide and rank as the second-most among players from the Power Four conferences, trailing only Virginia’s Matthew Fobbs-White. That combination of twitch, bend, speed to the quarterback and surprising power underpins his draft appeal.
Wisconsin did not produce a draft pick in 2026 — the program’s first season without a draftee since 1978. Cheeks’ rise offers a clear chance to reverse that streak in the 2027 class, and his performances are likely to be a focal point for scouts as the season continues.
