Wisconsin’s defense, as is the case year in and year out given the talent on that side of the football moving on to the next level, will be asking certain players to step forward into larger roles.
With the loss of players like Nick Herbig and Keeanu Benton, both of whom who ironically ended up with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Luke Fickell and a brand new staff will need players to rise up around the unit.
One of those breakout candidates is Maema Njongmeta, who the Badgers are expecting to be one of the defensive leaders. Coming off of a third-team All-Big Ten campaign in 2022, the rising senior put up 53 tackles and had an interception last season.
Pro Football Focus sees him as one of the breakout candidates on the defensive side, alongside a pair of Georgia Bulldogs and a member of the Alabama defense:
DEFENSIVE BREAKOUT CANDIDATES🚀 pic.twitter.com/tVmXcdgaFe
— PFF College (@PFF_College) August 20, 2023