Wisconsin’s inside linebacker room is starting to take shape in fall camp, and Tuf Borland didn’t hide which pieces are standing out after Sunday’s practice.
The biggest buzz around the group right now centers on Thomas Heiberger. Borland said the second-year linebacker has put together a strong camp and is continuing to fight through the kind of adversity that has followed him around his college career.
"I mean, he's had a great, great camp so far. Credit to him.
You know, he's facing adversity all throughout his career to this point, and he's battled his injuries, and he just keeps coming back, and you know, he's a guy that's continuing to earn trust and, you know, providing versatility to the room, and playing multiple spots, and doing a really good job at it. So, you know, we're excited about Tommy."
That kind of update matters because Heiberger arrived in Madison with real pedigree. The four-star from South Dakota in the class of 2024 came in with plenty of hype, and when he’s been on the field, his size, athleticism and flexibility have shown up.
Heiberger said earlier that he feels as good as he has in college, and that confidence has been visible in camp, where he has already flashed with plays in pass pressure. With Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano already leading the way and Jon Jon Kamara drawing attention for the athleticism he brings to the 'X' spot at linebacker, Heiberger’s emergence gives Wisconsin even more to work with if the group stays healthy.
Borland also offered a sharp read on the room’s two most prominent voices, and the contrast between Posa and Catalano is part of what makes them such an effective pair.
"I think it's, two different personalities, right? I think naturally, Posa is a little bit more outspoken, leads a little bit more through, you know, what he says, the energy he brings and plays with and Coop is a little bit more of that rock solid, steady, lead by example type of guy.
So, you know, the challenge with them is like, okay, Coop, like, step out of your comfort zone and speak up and make yourself uncomfortable, let people hear you, Posa, okay, you're still a young guy, like, we can always be more consistent in our everyday actions, you know, and at the end of the day, leaders are seen, heard and felt, and you know, you strive to hit all three of those benchmarks."
That fits the way the two linebackers have been discussed throughout their time in the program. Posa and Catalano bring different styles, but they complement each other well, and Borland clearly sees that dynamic as a strength. They’ve been close since the recruiting process, and neither one seems shy about pushing the other.
The final name Borland singled out was Drew Braam, the Oak Creek native who has built his role the hard way. Braam started as a walk-on, picked up snaps on special teams in 2025, and now looks like a player who can help Wisconsin in multiple ways.
"He earns trust every single day, and that's a guy that, with the three linebacker spots in our defense, he knows all three. And certainly a guy that's going to have to play a role for us on special teams, and he knows that, and you know, he's a guy that will die on the field for this place. And so there's always a place for guys like that in this program."
Braam’s path has made him a well-liked and respected figure in the room, and his ability to handle all three linebacker spots only strengthens his case. He is expected to be a key special teams piece while also competing for more work in the two-deep. For a player who has quietly gone about his business, that kind of trust says a lot.
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