Madison, Wis. – Entering the 2022 college football season, Wisconsin’s defensive coordinator, Jim Leonhard, returned to the field with just three starters from last year’s top-ranked defensive unit.
Perhaps to a fault, the assumption was that Wisconsin would remain one of the top defenses in the country despite the significant roster turnover.
So far, Wisconsin’s defense has been good, not great, which is understandable, considering the Badgers replaced eight starters from last season and are still learning how to mesh.
It also doesn’t help that UW has gone without the No. 1 cornerback Alexander Smith for the entire season thus far, in addition to losing starting safety Hunter Wohler in week 1, forcing an already young defense to search for answers down the depth chart.