When it comes to offseason changes for the Wisconsin Badgers, there hasn’t been a bigger one than the addition of Colton Joseph at quarterback.
Seeking stability and experience at quarterback, the Badgers found one of the top dual-threat options available, getting Joseph from Old Dominion to lead their offense in 2026. But there were some other notable additions on the roster as well.
Wisconsin’s running back room was overhauled, with Abu Sama III, Bryan Jackson, Nate Palmer, and Julius Pope all added to compete with Darrion Dupree. The wide receiver room was completely shifted, with only Tyrell Henry, Chris Brooks, and Eugene Hilton remaining from a season ago.
The offensive line got a couple of new starters, as well as some key depth pieces. The defensive line replaced a ton of outgoing talent with players from the transfer portal. The cornerback room had a complete reset. And even the safety room had a few more additions, with Marvin Burks being one of the team’s top players overall.
So, there was a ton of changes across the board this offseason. Which position group grew the most year to year?
In our weekly Reacts poll, there was a clear answer: quarterback, which got 51 percent of the vote. It makes sense why.
Now, the Badgers didn’t have an awful quarterback room to the start the year. They brought in an established starter who had room to grow with Billy Edwards. However, his early injury led to disaster at the position, as they didn’t have a viable backup. Danny O’Neil really struggled in the pocket, getting thrown into the action early as a sophomore. Hunter Simmons didn’t provide much. And Carter Smith didn’t have much as a passer.
This year, not only did the Badgers bring in Joseph, but Deuce Adams is probably a better backup than the options Wisconsin had last year. True freshman Ryan Hopkins is also impressing in camp, even competing to try and win the No. 2 job. Then, there’s still Carter Smith and a recovering O’Neil.
The offensive line is getting a few upgrades as well when you think of injuries. Kevin Heywood is back after missing all of last season. That’s a big help in itself. Then, there’s also new starters P.J. Wilkins and Austin Kawecki, while we get another year of development from Colin Cubberly and Emerson Mandell.
This group is the biggest wildcard. Wilkins, while he’s got the length and frame at 6’6, 335 pounds, is largely unproven and kicking out from left guard to left tackle. Cubberly and Mandell need to take the next step, be it with consistency or durability. Kawecki is a solid center option who was one of the best at his position in the transfer portal. And Heywood should provide a stable option at right tackle.
Cornerback also had some major changes. There’s three new starters in the room, with Javan Robinson at the boundary spot and Bryce West at the nickel spot. The field corner is currently a competition between redshirt freshman Jai’mier Scott and transfer Eric Fletcher. But there’s finally depth at the position, with Cai Bates also in the mix at the boundary spot.
Overall, there is quite a few rooms who have upgraded from last year. And quarterback feels like it might be the most improved year-to-year.