For years, the Wisconsin Badgers built their football identity on two cornerstones: a punishing ground game and the big men up front who made it possible. Running backs churned out 100-yard games like clockwork, and offensive linemen seemed to graduate straight into the NFL.
While defensive stars like J.J. Watt and T.J.
Watt have added some flash to the Badgers’ resume, Wisconsin’s brand was forged in the trenches.
Under head coach Luke Fickell, the program has evolved, shifting toward a more modern, balanced approach. But if the latest transfer portal moves are any indication-targeting running backs and offensive linemen-there may be a return to that old-school Badger DNA. And that’s welcome news in Madison.
Meanwhile, in the NFL, two former Wisconsin linemen are turning heads in a big way-and not just among Badger faithful. According to Pro Football Focus, Tanor Bortolini and Cole Van Lanen were among the league’s breakout offensive linemen in 2025. Let’s break down how each player carved out their place in the spotlight.
Tanor Bortolini: From Kewaunee to Center Stage
Tanor Bortolini didn’t exactly sneak into the league unnoticed. After a solid four-year career at Wisconsin, the Kewaunee native was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. His rookie year showed flashes-12 games played, five starts-but it was 2025 when he truly arrived.
Bortolini started all 16 games for the Colts this past season, anchoring the interior of the offensive line with a physical, technically sound presence. According to PFF, he posted an 88.2 run-blocking grade-third-best among all centers in the league.
Only Miami’s Aaron Brewer and Kansas City’s Creed Humphrey graded higher. That’s elite company.
He also ranked third among centers in positively graded run-play rate, earning a positive grade on 19.4% of his run-blocking snaps. Translation: nearly one in five run plays saw Bortolini do something that directly helped spring the ball carrier. That’s not just solid-that’s dominant.
And here’s the kicker: he’s opening lanes for none other than Jonathan Taylor, another former Badger. Watching those two team up again, this time on Sundays, is a full-circle moment for Wisconsin fans.
Cole Van Lanen: The Ultimate Utility Man
Cole Van Lanen’s NFL journey hasn’t been as straightforward. Drafted in the sixth round by the Green Bay Packers back in 2021, he spent just one season with his hometown team before moving on to the Jacksonville Jaguars. It took a few years, but 2025 was the season Van Lanen finally got his due.
Initially projected as a depth piece-essentially a sixth offensive lineman in heavy formations-Van Lanen’s role expanded quickly due to a rash of injuries along the Jaguars’ front. He stepped in wherever needed: left guard, right tackle, right guard.
By Week 11, he was starting at left guard and finished the game at left tackle. That kind of versatility is rare, and it didn’t go unnoticed.
Even after the Jaguars got healthier, Van Lanen held onto the starting left tackle job. He was rewarded with a three-year, $51 million contract extension-proof that Jacksonville sees him as a cornerstone.
PFF backed it up with the numbers. Among 35 qualifying left tackles, Van Lanen ranked ninth in overall grade (79.9) and allowed pressure on just 5.9% of pass plays, the 12th-best mark at the position. For a guy who wasn’t even supposed to start, that’s an incredible leap.
A Return to Form for Wisconsin?
Bortolini and Van Lanen are doing more than just playing well-they’re helping reshape the narrative around Wisconsin’s offensive line legacy. For a program that used to churn out NFL-ready linemen with regularity, their success is a reminder of what the Badgers can be when they stick to their roots.
If Fickell and his staff can capitalize on that momentum-bringing in the right talent and developing it the way Wisconsin used to-it’s not hard to imagine the Badgers reclaiming their status as an offensive line factory.
For now, though, Bortolini and Van Lanen are carrying the torch. And they’re doing it with the kind of grit, technique, and toughness that built the Wisconsin brand in the first place.