Wisconsin defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow met with the media earlier this week as the Badgers progressed through their first week of 2024 training camp.
Defensive line is one of the bigger unknowns entering the season, that due largely to sub-par 2023 performance, key departures from the room and two impactful transfer additions both coming from the FCS level.
Related: Everything to know about the Wisconsin Badgers defensive line entering 2024 season
Whitlow acknowledged that unknown, noting that the room is still working to build trust entering the season.
“Guys have to come out here with the right mentality and work on and off the field, in the weight room, doing all those little things right to earn that trust,” Whitlow said. “And have that trust, for your brothers that they believe in you and that we can roll guys so we can play the game the way it’s supposed to be played.”
His next line sums up where the position stands entering training camp:
“Everybody in the room has a piece of the pie, if they earn it.”
In other words: There are available snaps to go around to everybody, but those snaps won’t be won without the requisite performance level, approach and consistency.
Those in the room specifically include redshirt senior James Thompson Jr. (29 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, 2 pass deflections in 2023), redshirt sophomore Curt Neal (13 tackles, 1.5 TFLs in 2023), redshirt senior Ben Barten (13 tackles, 1.0 TFLs, 1.0 sacks, 1 pass deflection in 2023) and transfers Elijah Hills (Albany) and Brandon Lane (Stephen F. Austin).
“Everybody in the room has a piece of the pie, if they earn it.”@CoachWhit_UW’s full availability | https://t.co/tf2puRjCTV pic.twitter.com/AVHBMWCLs4
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) August 1, 2024
The group looks somewhat deep and effective if both Hills and Lane can translate their previous production to the Big Ten level. Both had strong careers before transferring to Wisconsin, though didn’t face Big Ten-caliber offensive lines every week.
That’s where Whitlow’s comments directly apply. Thompson Jr. is cemented as the room’s leader, with Curt Neal gradually developing and both Barten and senior Cade McDonald set to play rotational roles. The wild cards are the two transfers. If everything is handled correctly and the two both earn legitimate snaps, the position may not be as big of a weakness as most believe it to be.
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2024 Preseason Previews
Big Ten Team Previews: Indiana Hoosiers — Purdue Boilermakers — Illinois Fighting Illini — Northwestern Wildcats — Minnesota Golden Gophers — Nebraska Cornhuskers — Iowa Hawkeyes — Rutgers Scarlet Knights — Maryland Terrapins — Michigan State Spartans — USC Trojans — UCLA Bruins — Washington Huskies — Michigan Wolverines — Penn State Nittany Lions — Ohio State Buckeyes — Oregon Ducks — Wisconsin Badgers
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