With Wisconsin’s 2026 schedule taking shape, the tight end spot stands out as one of the more interesting matchups on the board. Badgers On SI ranked the top players at each position among Wisconsin’s 12 regular-season opponents, and after quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers, the tight end list brings a mix of proven production, rising talent and a few names that should demand real attention from the Badgers’ defense.
At No. 5, USC’s Walker Bowman earns a spot despite arriving with only limited college tape because the talent is impossible to ignore.
A five-star recruit in the 247Sports Composite, Bowman was originally a 2027 prospect before reclassifying to join the Trojans in 2026, making him the highest-rated tight end USC has signed in years. At 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds, he brings rare athleticism and already looks polished as a route runner and pass catcher.
With Lake McRee and Walker Lyons gone and not much arriving through the portal to replace them, Bowman is set up for a major role right away under Lincoln Riley. Wisconsin gets its first look at him when USC visits Madison in Week 8.
Eastern Michigan’s Logan Long lands at No. 4 after a breakout first season at the FBS level. The junior college transfer played in all 12 games in 2025 and finished with 37 catches for 357 yards and three touchdowns, production that earned him All-MAC Second-Team honors and a spot on the 2026 Mackey Award Preseason Watch List.
Long checks in at 6-foot-5 and 242 pounds, giving him the size to win contested balls and make life difficult for defenders. He wasn’t especially explosive last year, with only two catches going for more than 25 yards, and he’ll have to split attention with top returning wide receiver Nick Devereaux.
Even so, he should be a central piece of the Eagles’ offense when Wisconsin hosts Eastern Michigan in Week 3.
No. 3 goes to Iowa State transfer Benjamin Brahmer, a senior who brings the kind of resume that makes coordinators pay attention. In 2025, he led the Cyclones with 37 receptions and six touchdowns while piling up 446 yards across 12 games, earning All-Big 12 Second-Team recognition.
Over three seasons, he’s totaled 75 catches for 977 yards and nine touchdowns. At 6-foot-7 and 250 pounds, Brahmer is a load to handle, especially in the red zone, and he also shows enough feel in zone coverage to keep defenses honest.
Blocking remains a weaker part of his game, but his production and physical profile make him the clear top tight end threat for Penn State, even with Gabe Burkle and Andrew Rappleyea also in the mix. Wisconsin will see him in Week 4 on the road.
Maryland’s Dorian Fleming checks in at No. 2 after stringing together two solid seasons and entering 2026 with a chance to take another step. He posted 49 receptions for 558 yards and six touchdowns at Georgia State in 2024, then followed that with 40 catches for 351 yards and three scores in 11 games for Maryland in 2025.
Listed at 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, Fleming can line up in-line or work from the slot, which gives him some versatility in Mike Tressel’s scouting report. Drops have shown up at times, but a full year in the Big Ten could help smooth that out.
He’s also one of the few returning pass catchers who already has chemistry with quarterback Malik Washington, making him a key part of the Terrapins’ passing game when Wisconsin heads to SECU Stadium in Week 11.
At No. 1, Iowa’s DJ Vonnahme gets the top spot.
The redshirt sophomore barely saw the field his first two seasons in Iowa City, then broke out in 2025 by leading the Hawkeyes in receptions, yards and touchdowns with 29 catches for 434 yards and three scores in 12 games. He capped the year with a big showing against Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl, going for seven receptions, 146 yards and a touchdown.
Vonnahme, listed at 6-foot-4 and 241 pounds, has drawn praise for his football IQ and toughness as a blocker, and he offers a reliable target underneath and in the intermediate game. He’s also shown enough burst and after-the-catch ability to create bigger plays than Iowa’s offense usually produces.
Kirk Ferentz has not named a starting quarterback between Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown, but whoever gets the job is likely to lean on Vonnahme early. Wisconsin will need to keep him contained in Week 9 at Kinnick Stadium if it wants to reclaim the Heartland Trophy.
In Other News...
Wisconsin Fall Camp Battle For Key Week 1 Roles Is Heating Up
The first eight practices of Wisconsins fall camp have already started to sharpen the picture for Week 1, even if the Badgers are still a long way from making anything official. Across the roster, the early read is less about settled roles than about competition and depth, with the quarterback room, running back group, offensive line and several defensive spots all still under close observation as the staff sorts through injuries and uncertainty.
One of the clearest developments so far has come in the backup battle behind Colton Joseph, where Deuce Adams has pushed himself right into the mix as the most interesting challenger. Tight end is another spot worth watching, too, with Hilton appearing to have surged into the lead in the projection after a strong start to camp, leaving Wisconsin with a few key position calls still very much in motion as the opener approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsins Huge UDFA Class Is Already Giving Badger Fans Hope
The first weekend of NFL preseason action gave Wisconsin fans an early look at just how many former Badgers are trying to carve out pro careers after going undrafted. Twelve Wisconsin players landed with different NFL teams for the 2026 season, and Week 1 offered the first real chance to see who is already making a case for more snaps, more opportunities and a longer stay in camp.
A few of those ex-Badgers showed up with tangible production, filling stat sheets with tackles, receptions and even a sack here and there, while others had quieter nights or simply got limited time on the field. For a fan base that always tracks its alumni closely, the early returns are enough to spark some optimism, even if the roster battles are just getting started. [Read more 🡒]
Eugene Hilton Jr Is Forcing His Way Into Wisconsins Plans
Eugene Hilton Jr. has spent fall camp doing exactly what a second-year receiver needs to do if he wants to crack Wisconsins plans: make himself impossible to ignore. The Badgers have seen real growth from Hilton in practice, where his hands have looked steady, his route-running sharper and his overall comfort in the offense noticeably better than a year ago. For a wideout trying to climb the depth chart, that kind of steady buzz can matter as much as any highlight.
The encouraging part for Wisconsin is that Hilton is not just flashing in one area. Coaches and teammates have pointed to his versatility as a reason he is starting to look like a real piece of the offense rather than just a camp story. If that trajectory holds, he could enter the 2026 season with a much more defined role than anyone might have projected earlier in his career, which is exactly the kind of development the Badgers want to see from a young receiver room. [Read more 🡒]