There are still plenty of former Wisconsin Badgers trying to carve out a place in the NFL this preseason, and the list of undrafted free agents is a long one. Wisconsin has 12 UDFAs in the mix, all chasing the same thing: a chance to stick at the next level after a year when not a single Badger was drafted.
Mason Reiger was the name that first stood out, but he was surprisingly waived by the Miami Dolphins, which opens the door for the rest of Wisconsin’s undrafted group to keep making their case.
One of the clearest early standouts is Vinny Anthony II. The Atlanta Falcons have been impressed with what they’ve seen, and he could be a special teams first player for them in 2026. In his first week of preseason action, Anthony posted 90 kickoff return yards and added one reception.
The Los Angeles Rams have two former Badgers on this list, and both made their presence felt. Darryl Peterson, 22, turned in one solo tackle and four assisted tackles in his NFL debut. He’s also the older brother of basketball sensation Darryn Peterson.
The other Rams UDFA worth watching is Nyzier Fourqurean. The 24-year-old cornerback produced three solo tackles and one assisted tackle while knocking off rust after not playing since November 29, 2024.
A few other former Wisconsin players are still in the conversation as honorable mentions: Ricardo Hallman with the Denver Broncos, Parker Petersen with the Carolina Panthers, and Riley Mahlman with the Atlanta Falcons.
In Other News...
Wisconsin Fans Just Sent Luke Fickell A Brutal Message
Since Luke Fickell took over in Madison, the results have been tough enough to show up in the standings, with Wisconsin sitting at 17 wins and 21 losses under his watch. The disappointment has now spilled beyond the field and into the fan base, where season ticket sales have taken a notable hit and the mood around the program feels a lot less patient than it did when he arrived.
Wisconsin sold 47,587 season tickets, down from 54,780 the previous year, a 13.1% drop that sends a clear signal about how supporters are reacting. For Fickell, the message is unmistakable: the margin for error is shrinking, and the pressure is building in a way that could even reach athletic director Shawn Eichorst as the program tries to steady itself. [Read more 🡒]
Former Badgers Star Faces Troubling Recovery Question After Camp Injury
Tyler Biadaszs next chapter with the Chargers has taken an unfortunate turn, with the former Wisconsin star and seasoned NFL center suffering a significant knee injury during a joint practice against the 49ers. He is out indefinitely after the issue was diagnosed as an ACL injury, and the damage also includes his MCL, a setback that immediately raises questions about how soon he can get back on the field.
Biadasz is now seeking additional medical opinions as he sorts through the recovery path, which is where the uncertainty really starts to settle in. Even with the severity of the injury, there is still some hope he could return this season, but for now the focus is on how the Chargers handle a key piece of their offensive line without a clear timetable. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Is Asking One Quarterback To Save Its 2026 Season
Luke Fickell heads into 2026 knowing the margin for patience around Wisconsin football has thinned, and the offense is again the place where the program needs a real lift. The Badgers went into the transfer portal and brought in Colton Joseph from Old Dominion, a move that puts a lot of the seasons hopes on a quarterback who is expected to help change the tone of the attack and give Wisconsin something it has lacked too often in recent years.
For Joseph, the assignment is bigger than just winning a job. If he settles in quickly, Wisconsin can start talking about more than just getting back to a bowl game and instead chase the kind of upward climb that keeps a coaching staff out of trouble. If he does not, the questions around Fickell and the direction of the program are only going to get louder, which is why this quarterback move carries so much weight before a snap has been taken. [Read more 🡒]