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Wisconsin football enters 2024 with one of PFF’s highest-graded cornerbacks

Wisconsin football enters 2024 with one of PFF’s highest-graded cornerbacks

Wisconsin star cornerback Ricardo Hallman enters the 2024 football season as one of ProFootballFocus’ highest-graded returning Big Ten cornerbacks.

His mark of 83.5 ranked sixth in the conference, behind only Iowa‘s Sebastian Castro, Indiana’s Cedarius Doss and D’Angelo Ponds, Nebraska‘s Tommi Hill and Michigan‘s Aamir Hall.

Related: Which Wisconsin Badgers will be selected in the 2025 NFL draft?

Hallman was a breakout star of the 2023 season for the Badgers. He finished the year with 34 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 7 interceptions and 5 pass deflections. His emergence was a big part of Wisconsin’s defense finishing the season as ESPN SP+’s No. 7-ranked unit.

The senior cornerback enters the 2024 season with expectations of a repeat performance. He and star Hunter Wohler are set to lead a Badgers’ defense that is expected to even improve upon its 2023 output.

Hallman’s play while trailing opposing teams’ top wide receivers will be a big factor in whether that improvement happens.

Wisconsin does face a gauntlet of offensive units in 2024. It will line up against USC (SP+ No. 4 offense), Penn State (SP+ No. 18 offense), Alabama (SP+ No. 7 offense) and Oregon (SP+ No. 1 offense).

The counting statistics may take a hit against that lineup of opponents. But strong years from Hallman, Wohler and Wisconsin’s other defensive leaders will have a big say in whether the Badgers can escape those contests with upset victories.

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A former Badger is PFF’s highest-graded edge defender in the NFL this season

Several former Wisconsin Badgers in the NFL have started the 2020 season with a purpose, cementing their status as some of the best…

Several former Wisconsin Badgers in the NFL have started the 2020 season with a purpose, cementing their status as some of the best players the league has at their respective positions.

There’s Russell Wilson leading the MVP race and looking like the best quarterback in the league, there’s Jonathan Taylor finding the field and succeeding in his first season, there’s J.J. Watt continuing to play a high level and many more.

One of the most notable performances by a Wisconsin product in the NFL this season has been that of T.J. Watt, ProFootballFocus’ highest-graded edge defender thus far.

As seen above, his name falls ahead of NFL greats Khalil Mack, young stud Myles Garrett, Demarcus Lawrence and every other player that plays the position.

Through six games this season, Watt has recorded 17 solo tackles, 20 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, 1 interception, 3 passes defended, 8 run stuffs, 12 tackles-for-loss and 16 quarterback hits.

This his No. 4 season in the league, Watt’s play is only improving after a first-team All-Pro season in 2019 as he leads the Pittsburgh Steelers’ vaunted defensive unit.