Wisconsin’s roster looks a lot different heading into the 2026 season, and the national spotlight is starting to catch up.
The Badgers have clearly added more size, speed and length in key spots during the offseason, with the biggest changes showing up in the trenches and in the secondary. That upgrade in athleticism has fueled plenty of optimism in Madison as Luke Fickell prepares for his fourth season in charge, and it also helped put three Wisconsin transfers on Bruce Feldman’s annual “Freaks List.”
Feldman’s list, a preseason ranking of the top-100 athletic freaks in college football, has become a familiar measuring stick over the years. This fall, Wisconsin placed three players on it after having two representatives in the 2025 edition.
Defensive lineman Junior Poyser checked in at No. 46, running back Abu Sama landed at No. 53 and cornerback Javan Robinson came in at No. 77. All three are transfers, and all three bring the kind of physical traits Wisconsin has been trying to stockpile.
Sama probably fits the “freak” label most naturally. He brings a mix of open-field elusiveness and power, with enough burst to make defenders miss and enough strength to keep running through contact. Poyser and Robinson were already known as productive players at their previous stops, but both finishing near the top 50 is a strong sign of just how impressive their athletic profiles are.
There are also several other Badgers who could have a case for the list if Feldman keeps digging through the roster.
Quarterback Colton Joseph has already shown he can move, with a run last fall timed at 21-plus miles-per-hour. Wide receiver Malachi Coleman stands out immediately at 6-foot-5 and brings blazing speed to that frame. Former consensus top-65 national recruit has no testing numbers listed here, but the raw tools are obvious.
Tight end Jacob Harris is another intriguing name. At 6-foot-6 and 270 pounds, he’s a big receiving threat who has soft hands and enough wiggle to do damage after the catch, even if his camp production has been limited so far.
On the defensive line, Charles Perkins has the kind of size and motor that can give interior blockers real problems if he keeps his weight down. He’s also more agile than you’d expect for a player with that build.
And then there are linebackers Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano, both of whom bring their own kind of athletic edge. Posa’s background in wrestling gives him one kind of advantage, while Catalano’s speed and instincts give him another. Either one would have a legitimate argument for inclusion based on what they’ve shown on the field.
In Other News...
Malachi Coleman Is Suddenly Pushing Into A Huge Wisconsin Role
Malachi Coleman kept turning heads on day four of Wisconsins fall camp, showing up with a significant gain on a dig route as the Badgers continued sorting through their receiving options. The wideouts combination of size and speed has always made him an intriguing piece, and in a camp where every rep matters, he is starting to look like more than just a project player with upside.
Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes has made clear the offense still needs a receiver to stretch the field and create that true vertical presence, which gives Coleman a real opening if his progress keeps building. He entered camp with limited career production, but his recruiting pedigree and the flashes he has shown so far have put him in the mix for a bigger job, one that could grow quickly if he keeps stacking plays. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Position Battles Are Starting To Heat Up At Fall Camp
Wisconsins fall camp continues to sort itself out, and the fourth practice offered a fresh look at how the roster is beginning to take shape. Rain and lightning briefly pushed the session indoors, but a handful of players still made their presence felt once work resumed. A tall receiver named Coleman drew attention for his size, while offensive lineman Kawecki, inside backers Catalano and Mason Posa, pass rusher Clayton, Kansas transfer Manning and quarterback Hopkins all showed traits that could matter when the Badgers start lining up for real.
The encouraging part for Wisconsin is that these early reps are already giving the staff a clearer sense of who can handle bigger roles this season. Some players stood out for technique, some for physical tools and some for their potential fit in the lineup, which is exactly the sort of mix that makes camp worth watching. The competition is still developing, but the Badgers are starting to learn where the strongest battles may be won, and where the depth chart could still shift before the opener. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsins Offensive Line Is Facing An Early Camp Stress Test
Wisconsins fall camp has already put its offensive line depth under a microscope, with two starters currently sidelined as the Badgers sort through the early stages of camp. Guard Emerson Mandell is still working back from foot surgery, while tackle Kevin Heywood is dealing with an injury that has left the line short-handed at a key spot. Even in August, that is the kind of situation that forces coaches to learn a lot fast.
Heywood has remained around the program, but the missed practice time has opened the door for others to get reps, and Lucas Simmons-Johansson has been taking over at right tackle in his place. For Wisconsin, the immediate concern is less about long-term panic than finding out which combinations can hold up if the depth chart gets tested early, because camp has a way of revealing just how thin a line can feel before the season even starts. [Read more 🡒]