Tag: Reggie Pearson

Oklahoma Sooners going all-in to improve defense for 2023

The Oklahoma Sooners are going all-in via the transfer portal to fix a defense that was one of the worst in the country in 2022.

The transfer portal has created a bit of a chaotic element in the world of college football. Players that coaches expect to be around for three to five years may depart after just one season with the immediate eligibility transfer rule.

At the same time, there’s beauty in the transfer portal as well. A team like the Oklahoma Sooners, coming off its worst season since 1998, isn’t forced to stand pat and wait on its players to develop.

After the 2022 season, in which the defense ranked in the bottom 30 of college football and allowed 30 points per game, the Sooners are aggressively improving the talent on the defensive roster for 2023.

[autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and the Oklahoma Sooners have added six players on the defensive side through the transfer portal. And that doesn’t include [autotag]Kendel Dolby[/autotag], who they brought in as a junior college addition through the 2023 recruiting class. So far, they’ve earned transfer commitments from:

  • [autotag]Jacob Lacey[/autotag], DT from Notre Dame
  • [autotag]Dasan McCullough[/autotag], Edge/LB from Indiana
  • [autotag]Reggie Pearson[/autotag], S from Texas Tech
  • [autotag]Trace Ford[/autotag], DE from Oklahoma State
  • [autotag]Rondell Bothroyd[/autotag], DL from Wake Forest
  • [autotag]Davon Sears[/autotag], DT from Texas State

That’s a lot of experience and a lot of production at the collegiate level to add to the defensive depth chart for 2023.

Rondell Bothroyd brings 14 sacks and 26.5 tackles for loss over the last two seasons to Norman. Dasan McCullough had a standout season as a true freshman for the Hoosiers and was an ESPN true freshman All-American. We were witnesses to the thunderous tackling ability that Reggie Pearson brings to the Sooners’ secondary in Oklahoma’s loss to Texas Tech in 2022. Jacob Lacey didn’t play much for Notre Dame in 2022, but he was effective in the three games played.

Trace Ford has battled injuries in Stillwater but has been productive when he played. In his first two seasons at Oklahoma State, Ford procured 7.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss as a true freshman and sophomore. Davon Sears has taken the winding road to the Power Five after spending time at Ellsworth Community College and Texas State. He was an effective interior defensive line presence for the Bobcats, even if the numbers aren’t eye-popping.

The Sooners have some defensive building blocks to work with, including [autotag]Ethan Downs,[/autotag] [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], [autotag]R Mason Thomas[/autotag], [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag], [autotag]Isaiah Coe[/autotag] and [autotag]Jordan Kelley[/autotag].

They have some young guys from the 2022 recruiting class that will have a chance to be impact players in 2023, such as [autotag]Jaren Kanak[/autotag], [autotag]Kobie McKinzie[/autotag], [autotag]Kip Lewis[/autotag], [autotag]Gracen Halton[/autotag], [autotag]Gentry Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Robert Spears-Jennings[/autotag] and [autotag]Jayden Rowe[/autotag]. The Sooners have signed arguably the best defensive recruiting class they’ve had in years.

However, Venables and his coaching staff aren’t waiting around. After a 6-7 season, they felt the mandate to make significant additions to the roster to improve the talent, and they’ve done that. It doesn’t mean Oklahoma will contend for the Big 12 title and the College Football Playoff, but they’re not sitting back to see if the young talent will take the steps this offseason to be the difference makers the Sooners’ defense needs to make significant strides in 2023.

They’ll have a lot to prove when they get into the Big 12 part of their schedule next season. Nonconference play will not give us much of an indication of where this defense is next season. However, with what they’ve done in the transfer portal, the defense should be on an upward trajectory.

[autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and his staff are doing everything they can to fix the defense, and their work in the transfer portal is indicative of those efforts.

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Major Michigan State football transfer target Reggie Pearson commits to Oklahoma

A major Michigan State transfer target has committed to Oklahoma

Yesterday, after a big early signing period that saw fourteen recruits and twelve transfers join the Michigan State football program, Mel Tucker held a press conference where he mentioned that more players, specifically guys from the state of Michigan, may still be on the way, including a safety who is a ‘heavy hitter.’

Many believed that player to be Reggie Pearson a former Wisconsin commit who then transferred to Texas Tech and was one of the most highly coveted players in the transfer portal. Pearson is from River Rouge, Michigan.

Instead, on Thursday, Pearson committed to Oklahoma, seemingly surprising some around the program, unless there is another heavy-hitting safety from Michigan on the way that we don’t know about…

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Michigan State football offers Texas Tech transfer DB Reggie Pearson

Michigan State is looking to bolster their secondary with a local talent that has entered the transfer portal

Michigan State is looking to bolster their secondary with a local talent that has entered the transfer portal.

Reggie Pearson of Inkster, Mich. announced on Wednesday that he’s received an offer from Michigan State. Pearson is in the transfer portal after playing the past two seasons at Texas Tech. He originally played for Wisconsin out of high school and before transferring to Texas Tech.

In his career, Pearson has recorded 174 tackles, four forced fumbles and three interceptions. He was a three-year starter.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on Twitter @RobertBondy5.

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Where recently-transferred former Badgers stand on their new teams’ depth charts

Where recently-transferred former Badgers stand on their new teams’ depth charts

The addition of former Clemson running back Chez Mellusi was one of the biggest offseason storylines for the Wisconsin Badgers.

But while the team added both Mellusi and former Oregon DE Isaac Townsend to the program, there were also quite a few players who chose to transfer out.

RB Nakia Watson went to Washington State, ILB Malik Reed went to Arizona, S Reggie Pearson went to Texas Tech and more.

Well, now that it’s game week across the college football landscape, here is an update via Bally Sports’ Dave Heller on where several former Badgers stand on their new team’s depth charts:

  • Nakia Watson: Backup running back at Washington State
  • Reggie Pearson: Starting LB/S at Texas Tech
  • Malik Reed: No depth chart, but his head coach said he’ll play
  • Madison Cone: Backup safety at Appalachian State
  • Gabe Lloyd (North Dakota State) and Dante Caputo (Pittsburgh): Not listed on two-deep depth chart

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Wisconsin CB transfer Reggie Pearson announces his next school

The former Badger is headed to the FCS

Cornerback Reggie Pearson was one of the hardest hitters on Wisconsin’s roster as a redshirt freshman, but unfortunately a medical issue derailed his time as a Badger. After a strange situation kept Pearson off the field last year, the CB is transferring.

Wisconsin would not medically clear Pearson to play, despite the former Badger saying he had medical clearance from a pair of outside professionals.

Pearson has found a new home, as the Michigan native is headed to South Dakota to continue his collegiate career:

LOOK: Wisconsin releases their official 2020 football roster

With the season kicking off in exactly one month the Wisconsin Badgers will open their fall camp on Wednesday and, as a result, today…

With the season kicking off in exactly one month the Wisconsin Badgers will open their fall camp on Wednesday and, as a result, today released their official 2020 roster.

Here is their group heading into the season:

A surprise addition to the roster is senior offensive lineman Boyd Dietzen, a player who retired two years ago because of injuries.

One absence of note, though, is safety Reggie Pearson after he impressed in his first year as a starter.

Head coach Paul Chryst in a press conference today addressed his absence and cited a physical issue as the reason he isn’t on the roster.

Pearson will still stay in school and with the football program.

A final piece worth noting is the significant weight differences several players have entering the season:

A few names that stick out from this list: Graham Mertz up nine pounds, Cole Van Lanen down seven pounds, Eric Burrell up eight pouynds and Izayah Green-May up 11 pounds.

 

There have been countless schedule releases in the last few months that have made the Badgers’ 2020 football season feel real. This roster release, though, takes the cake. We’re one month from Badger and Big Ten football.

The Wisconsin defense ranked in the top five in power five of this stat by PFF

Last year, the Wisconsin defense was nothing short of amazing for most of the season. They had star players in key positions like Chris Orr at linebacker, Zack Baun at edge rusher, as well as Eric Burrell and Reggie Pearson at safety.

Last year, the Wisconsin defense was nothing short of amazing for most of the season. They had star players in key positions like Chris Orr at linebacker, Zack Baun at edge rusher, as well as Eric Burrell and Reggie Pearson at safety.

Pro Football Focus tweeted the top five power five defenses last season in defensive touchdowns. Wisconsin ranked at fourth tied with the Oregon Ducks at four defensive touchdowns behind Missouri and Utah with five, and Illinois with six. Wisconsin had 21 total turnovers with 11 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries that led to a plus-three turnover margin overall for the Badgers.

The Badgers defense has been consistently rated highly by analysts and other coaches, yet it is a very underrated aspect of this Wisconsin team. This team even had three big parts of their defense from last season return for this year in Reggie Pearson, Jack Sanborn, and Eric Burrell before the postponement of the season. It will be tough to not watch them play this fall, but it will be promising to see how some of our recent highly rated recruits perform in the coming years.

The one stat on defense that will define Wisconsin’s 2020 season

Last month I laid out the one stat on offense that will define the Badgers’ 2020 season. Today, we’re looking at the defensive side of…

Last month I laid out the one stat on offense that will define the Badgers’ 2020 season. Today, we’re looking at the defensive side of the football and finding the one area that will dictate whether Jim Leonhard’s defense is able to repeat their impressive 2019 campaign.

Badger fans know well that the 2018 season was a disappointing one on the defensive side of the football. A combination of youth in the secondary and injuries to key contributors handcuffed a unit that ended up finishing the season with more than 150 rushing yards-per-game allowed and almost 350 total yards-per-game allowed.

The 2019 unit, then, bested the squad from the year before in nearly every category, finishing the year only allowing 101 rush yards-per-game, a 51.7 completion percentage, 187 pass yards-per-game and 288 total yards-per-game.

What was the biggest difference between the two teams, aside from many of the key contributors returning for the 2019 season?

Two things that in the big picture are directly related to each other.

No. 1: a full 1.1-yard difference in their opponents’ rush yards-per-attempt.

No. 2: a more-than 10 percent difference in the rate at which their opponents converted their third down chances.

Like Wisconsin’s offensive attack, Leonhard’s defense prides itself on being tough against the run and controlling the opponents’ ground game.

In 2018, for various reasons, the defense got ran over and, as a result, saw the entire field open up for opposing teams to use run fakes and get young corners to make mistakes on the outside.

Specifically, that year Leonhard’s defense gave up 4.4 yards-per-attempt on the ground and, as mentioned earlier, 155 rush yards-per-game.

Those tallies are both the highest any Badger defense has allowed since the 2005 squad gave up 4.5 yards-per-rush and 165.8 yards-per-game on the ground. For reference, since 2005 the Badger defense have allowed more than 140 rush yards-per-game one time other than 2018 and more than 130 just three times.

Comparing it now to 2019, the team gave up just 3.3 yards-per-attempt and 99.8 yards-per-game on the ground, both impressive numbers by anybody’s standards and a massive improvement from the previous year.

This improvement played a large role in the 6.5-point difference in opponents scoring-per-game and, therefore, the difference between a 10-4 record (with two losses coming against Ohio State, one of the best teams statistically in the last 15 years) and an 8-5 record.

If that was too many numbers and not enough about what it meant to the unit specifically, the insane rushing numbers the Badgers gave up in 2018 handcuffed the young secondary, kept the opposing offense on the field, allowed opponents to control the game like the Badgers so often do with their rushing attack and, finally, allowed teams to have success in stat No. 2 that will be so important to the 2020 season: third down conversion percentage.

The two stats are correlated because when an opposing team is able to run the ball in early-down situations and set up third-and-short chances, their conversion rate will understandably be a lot higher.

And what has been made clear for years now, specially in the Badgers’ case, winning the time of possession battle and controlling the game with the ball in your offense’s hands is how you win football games.

The first step in this is getting the defense off the field by stopping the opponent on third down.

I mentioned the difference above but, specifically, the 2018 defense gave up a 37.43 percent conversion rate on third down. The 2019 team? 27.27 percent.

This ten percent increase equated to the total of 19 extra conversions by the opponent, or 19 more chances for teams to score and keep Jonathan Taylor and the Badger offense off of the field.

Does stopping the opponent on third down start with stopping the run on first and second down? Absolutely. But a ten percent difference is significant no matter how long the conversions are.

Looking forward to 2020 now, Leonhard will need to try to recreate the production of now-NFL linebackers Chris Orr and Zack Baun and find ways to stop opposing offenses without those two players leading the defense.

Will it be an easy task to find 24 sacks, 33.5 tackles-for-loss and 153 total tackles? No, it won’t. But on the bright side the unit now has future-NFL linebacker Jack Sanborn quarterbacking the defense, a great run-stopping safety tandem in Eric Burrell and Reggie Pearson and an up-and-coming defensive tackle Keeanu Benton who showed flashes of absolute dominance last season as only a true freshman.

The phrase “ball control” sounds at times like a secret Big Ten saying that really just means play old-school football and shame the Big 12 and PAC 12 for not playing a lick of defense.

It really matters though and, as pointed out above, was one of the biggest differences between a struggling 2018 defense and an absolutely dominant 2019 one (again taking into account that their worst performances came against Ohio State, one of the best offenses statistically in college football history).

Only time will tell but if the 2020 squad is able to recreate the production from last season and give quarterback Jack Coan more chances to put points on the board, we could be in for a special season in Madison,

Projecting Wisconsin’s 2020 Spring Defensive Depth Chart

Who will open up on Wisconsin’s spring depth chart on the defensive side of the football?

Wisconsin’s defense in 2020 will be missing not only two key players but also two key leaders to not only the defense but the entire team. Those two players being 2019 team captains outside linebacker Zack Baun and inside linebacker Chris Orr. Despite Wisconsin losing Baun and Orr to graduation the Badgers still return an impressive nine starters from last year’s defense.

In this Badgers Wire feature, we project what the spring depth chart on defense will look like when the Badgers open up spring practice.

Projected Spring Depth Chart Defensive Line: DE 1. Isaiahh Loudermilk and Garrett Rand, 2. Matt Henningsen and Isaiah Mullens NT 1. Keeanu Benton 2. Gio Paez

Loudermilk and Rand were able to stay healthy over the course of their redshirt junior seasons and as long as they stay healthy they have established themselves as starters at the defensive end positions. Henningsen used last year’s spring practice to put him in a position to have a terrific redshirt sophomore season. If Henningsen can put together a productive spring like he did in 2019 should allow him to take another step in his development. Mullens appeared in 13 games mostly on special teams as he registered one tackle. With backup defensive end David Pfaff graduating he’ll have a chance in spring football to show why he deserves to be apart of the defensive line rotation. At nose tackle, Keeanu Benton will be going through his first spring practice and will receive plenty of valuable practice reps as Bryson Williams could miss all of spring football as he continues to recover from his left leg injury that he suffered this past season. If Williams can’t go that will mean more reps for redshirt freshman Gio Paez as it will be critical that he takes advantage of his reps.

Projected Spring Depth Chart Linebackers: OLB 1. Noah Burks and Izayah Green-May, 2. Spencer Lytle and Jaylan Franklin ILB 1. Jack Sanborn and Leo Chenal 2. Mike Maskalunas and Maema Njongmeta

Christian Bell would’ve had a chance at competing for one of the starting outside linebacker positions opposite of Noah Burks but instead elected to transfer. That leave’s Green-May as the likely starter opposite of Burks when Wisconsin opens spring football. Green-May initially started the 2019 season as a starter but suffered a right arm injury early in the season, which caused him to miss time. Green-May was able to put together a productive fall camp and the practice habits he developed last year will need to continue if he wants to establish himself as the starter once again. Outside linebackers coach Bobby April will also give Franklin and Lytle a look as a starter opposite of Burks. Making it an important spring for both of them as the Badgers look for a starter who can complement Burks. Wisconsin may lose Chris Orr at middle linebacker but the transition between Orr and Leo Chenal should be a smooth one. Chenal gained valuable experience last year as he played as a true freshman. Chenal will receive plenty of reps over spring football and he should be able to take a nice step in his development. Maskalunas will be Chenal’s top competitor for the other starting inside linebacker position as he’s been serviceable during his time at Wisconsin. Njongmeta redshirted last season and will be going through his first spring practice.

Projected Spring Depth Chart Cornerbacks: 1. Faion Hicks and Rachad Wildgoose 2. Caesar Williams and Semar Melvin

Hicks has been a regular starter at cornerback for Wisconsin the past two seasons and that shouldn’t change heading into spring practices. Wildgoose and Williams started eight and seven games respectively a season ago. The trio has been Wisconsin’s most consistent group of cornerbacks. Semar Melvin is coming off a redshirt season but he was able to take advantage of the redshirt rule by playing in four games without burning a year of eligibility. Melvin was up and down, which is understandable but the reps he does receive during spring practice will be invaluable as he looks to build off of his freshman season. Jim Leonhard will also likely rotate in Donte Burton and Deron Harrell too as the starters at cornerback or with the second string cornerbacks too.

Projected Spring Depth Chart Safety: FS 1. Eric Burrell, 2. John Torchio SS 1. Reggie Pearson, 2. Collin Wilder

Wisconsin Football Season Review: Safeties

Evaluating the play of Wisconsin’s safeties during the 2019 season.

Wisconsin finished its fifth season under head coach Paul Chryst as Chryst improved his overall record to 52-16 and has a posted a 34-10 record in conference games. After not winning the Big Ten West Division title in 2018 the Badgers were back in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship game as the West representative for the fourth time in the last six years since the Big Ten went to its current format.

In this Badgers Wire feature we will examine the play of Wisconsin’s safeties from the 2019 season and take a sneak into what the 2020 season may have in store for the position:

Wisconsin was only set to lose D’Cota Dixon to graduation following the 2018 season at the safety position as it was expected the starters for this past season would be redshirt sophomore Scott Nelson at free safety and redshirt freshman Reggie Pearson at strong safety.

Nelson who missed time as a redshirt freshman only played in one game this past year as he lost for the season with a left leg injury following Wisconsin’s game against South Florida.

Luckily for Wisconsin they had the depth to absorb the loss of Nelson as Eric Burrell stepped in seamlessly at the free safety position.

Between the combination of Burrell and Pearson, the duo formed a formidable safety combination in the Big Ten. As the two did well of making sure they didn’t allow a lot of chunk plays through the air.

Pearson led the two in tackles with 60 but Burrell wasn’t far behind with 55. If there was one area where Burrell succeeded from the safety position it was making a play on the ball as he picked off three passes, registered six pass breakups, forced two fumbles, and recovered two as well.

Burrell also was able to make his way into the backfield as he registered 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. Pearson who is one of the bigger hitters on the defensive side of the football also made his presence in the backfield finishing the year with 3.5 tackles for loss and forced two fumbles.

Burrell was a consensus All-Big Ten Honorable mention selection due to his productivity throughout the season.

Although Pearson and Burrell were able to help make plays for Wisconsin from the safety position the Badgers also had a reliable third safety in Collin Wilder.

Wilder who had to sit out the 2018 season due to him transferring in from Houston was steady in his play. Wilder finished the season with 19 tackles but when the football was thrown in his direction it appeared that he was ready to try and make a play on the football as he registered an interception and broke up six passes.

Madison Cone split his defensive reps between the nickel cornerback position and also at safety. Cone did miss time this year because of injury, which affected his impact on the team as he finished the season with seven tackles in 10 games.

2020 Wisconsin Safeties

The way Burrell played throughout the course of the season will likely allow him to continue to be the starter at free safety. But having your backups at the safety positions be Nelson and Wilder the Badgers, if they want, should be able to interchange their safeties and be comfortable that there won’t be a drop off. In addition, the Badgers have done well in recruiting the position. Although the competition at safety will be high the Badgers will need to continue to develop players like Cone, John Torchio, and Titus Toler. Torchio finished the season in the two deep as he was Burrell’s backup at free safety. Torchio a walk-on saw most of his time when the game was decided but did start the game against Northwestern as Burrell had to miss the first half due to a targeting call. Torchio finished the season with three tackles, two pass breakups, and one interception. Torchio will be a name to keep your eye on as a potential contributor down the road.