TJ Watt and Zack Baun gave Wisconsin fans a familiar kind of NFL flash this week, and it came with an uncomfortable reminder for Luke Fickell.
The former Badgers were all over the NFL defensive awards in Week 1, with Watt earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week and Baun taking home NFC Defensive Player of the Week. For a fan base used to seeing Wisconsin names show up on Sundays, it was a clean snapshot of what the program used to churn out - and what it hasn’t been producing enough of lately under Fickell.
That backdrop matters even more because Fickell’s most recent graduating class sent zero players through the NFL Draft. The NFL still has plenty of Badgers in it, but those names aren’t being built from the current Wisconsin operation. This week only sharpened that contrast.
Watt’s performance was the loudest of the two. His pick-six was the centerpiece, a play in which he rose up and snatched the ball above his blocker. He finished with two sacks and four tackles.
Baun put together a forceful outing of his own, piling up 12 total tackles and two pass breakups. He was a major factor for the Eagles, helping them get past the Washington Redskins 24-22.
The conversation, though, is bigger than one week of NFL honors. It comes back to how Wisconsin gets back to consistently producing players like Watt and Baun.
That takes two things: better recruiting and better development. Under Fickell, the Badgers haven’t done either well enough.
There are signs of movement on the recruiting side. Wisconsin is currently sitting on a top-25 recruiting class for 2027, and the staff is still in the hunt for 5-star Jalanie George.
George’s recent comments also offered a small window into the development side. While watching the Western Illinois game, he said, "And man, oh my God, Sebastian Cheeks, that man. I had my eyes on him all game, and I can’t lie, like, whatever Coach Mitch is doing is working, because he was always back there, like creating pressure."
George may not ultimately choose Madison, but the fact that Wisconsin remains high on his list, along with what he noticed from the Badgers’ edge pressure, points to the path Fickell has to follow. Recruit better.
Develop better. And make sure the next wave of Wisconsin defenders looks a lot more like Watt and Baun.
In Other News...
Wisconsin Fans Have A New Abu Sama Question After Week 3
Wisconsin got through its game against Eastern Michigan without Abu Sama, and that alone was enough to raise a fresh question for Badgers fans who were already watching the backfield closely. Sama had been cleared to play, but the coaching staff ultimately made a game-time call to keep him out, leaving Wisconsin to piece together its ground attack without the tailback it had been counting on.
The result only sharpened the curiosity. Quarterback Colton Joseph ended up leading the team in rushing yards, while the tailbacks combined for modest production, the kind of output that makes any absence look bigger in hindsight. Luke Fickell said the decision came down to Samas readiness and the conditions on game day, but with the running game still searching for traction, the bigger issue now is when Wisconsin will decide the back is ready for real. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Fans May View Penn State Very Differently After This Line
Wisconsin heads into Beaver Stadium this week as a three-field-goal underdog, a number that may surprise anyone who has been following Penn States recent run. The No. 14 Nittany Lions have been rolling past lesser opponents, but the line suggests oddsmakers see a game that is closer than the reputation would indicate, especially with a new coach in Matt Campbell changing the feel around the program.
Penn State still has plenty of talent, but it no longer carries quite the same overpowering aura it has had in past seasons, and that opens the door for Wisconsin to view this trip as more than just another tough road test. For Badgers fans, the takeaway is simple enough: the matchup looks more competitive than expected, even if the challenge of winning in State College remains very real. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsins Backfield Debate Is Getting Bigger For This Offense
Two weeks into the season, Wisconsins backfield has already started to sort itself out, at least in terms of early production. The Badgers have leaned on a rotating group of runners, and the first look at the room has produced a clear pecking order based on carries and yardage. Nate Palmer, Bryan Jackson II, Darrion Dupree and Abu Sama III have all had their chances, but the touches have not been distributed evenly.
Abu Sama III has made the loudest case so far, leading the group with 156 rushing yards and flashing the kind of burst that can change a game in one play. His 72-yard touchdown stands out as the kind of run that can reshape how a staff views the backfield, even with the rest of the rotation still working to establish its footing. For Wisconsin, the bigger question is no longer just who gets touches, but how soon one back forces the issue. [Read more 🡒]