The Badgers had just scored, going up 27-0, and a desperate Rutgers looked to drive down the field and stay in a game that was getting out of hand. On the first play, quarterback Gary Nova dropped back and was dropped by redshirt sophomore Vince Biegel, who jumped up, celebrating yet another sack, with his mullet flowing in the wind. Biegel is one of many freshmen and sophomores making plays for the Wisconsin defense.
Wisconsin’s defense ranks third in the nation in points allowed, 11th in the country in rushing yards allowed and third in passing yards per game. This all comes with five underclassmen starting, and six coming off the bench and getting significant playing time.
Starting in the secondary, true freshman safety Lubern Figaro has started four games for the Badgers so far in his first year on campus. The ballhawking freshman may not stack the box score with tackles like junior counterpart Michael Caputo, but he acts as a safety net, totaling more interceptions than all of the corners combined, even if that total is just one.
Figaro snagged the starting free safety spot vacated by the departure of Dezmen Southward from redshirt sophomore Leo Musso with his quickness and awareness, but he acknowledges he still has a ways to go in his development.
“I look up to a lot of guys like Caputo and PJ [redshirt senior safety Peniel Jean], all the senior leadership and all that. I mean, they’ve taught me a lot of things along the way, so I’m still learning from those guys,” Figaro said.
Figaro’s defensive mentality is simple: “do whatever you have to do to make plays.” This leads to situations like one in the game against South Florida, where Figaro runs in pursuit of a running back who burned the linebackers on a pass play, only to level a crushing hit and pop the ball out. Figaro truly plays with his motto in mind.
The man who recovered that fumble happens to be another young standout: Vince Biegel. Biegel, quick to point out that due to the year of redshirting, he’s not as young as he seems, has been an anchor of the defense as an outside linebacker.
Biegel is fifth on the team in tackles with 26 and tied for second in sacks with three. Both stats lead all underclassmen, but Biegel isn’t satisfied with that.
“Being fifth in tackles, I obviously want to be higher, and I expect big things from myself and I want to keep being that guy for this team,” Biegel said.
Coming into the season, there were questions if the Badgers could fill the holes left by graduating key linebackers, but Biegel knew what it would take, and he has done it well.
“I think it starts in the offseason, taking mental reps, watching film and preparing yourself for the season, so it starts in the offseason, back in January,” Biegel said. “When we had guys like Chris [Borland] and [Ethan] Armstrong, filling the void for those guys is hard to do, but I think we have stepped up and filled those shoes.”
Biegel has already surpassed his tackle and sack stats from last year, and considering he has played significantly more than last season, that is not a surprise. What is a surprise is the steady calm he plays with on the field, especially for such a young player, but Biegel would be sure to remind everyone that he’s not as young as he seems on the roster.
Biegel isn’t the only young linebacker who has put up solid numbers. Sophomore Leon Jacobs is right behind him, with three less tackles and one less sack. Jacobs didn’t play much last year, but he has made the most of his opportunities this year, and looks to be even more of a force over the next few years once he starts at middle linebacker.
The Wisconsin defensive line has created a huge push all year that acts as the starting point for their stout run defense, and their stingy pass defense, and this is after losing all three starters from last year. Yet again, youth has stepped up.
In terms of defensive ends, redshirt freshman Chikwe Obasih and sophomore Alec James have both played significant minutes together on the field, as well as splitting time based on the defensive package on the field at the time.
“This guy’s got speed,” Obasih says of James. “Have you seen my body? That’s why I play the run.”
Coming from rival high schools, and competing for the same defensive end spot in college, Obasih and James have good reason to have a tense relationship. However, the two are buddies off the field, living in a house together, and constantly ripping on each other when one or the other is being interviewed.
Obasih and James aren’t the only young guys playing on the defensive line. With the injury to senior nose guard Warren Herring in the first game of the year, redshirt sophomore nose guard Arthur Goldberg has started alongside Obasih for much of the season. With the tightness between James and Obasih, it isn’t surprising that Obasih and Goldberg have a similar relationship.
“I have a pretty close bond with Goldberg. Me and him were on the scout team D-Line last year, so we grew up together last year,” Obasih said. “We make sure we are on the same page, looking out for the other one.”
Having a plethora of young talent across the defense makes the future look bright for the Badgers. If the players keep improving in the way they have so far, and Dave Aranda sticks around, in two years, Wisconsin could potentially have the No. 1 defense in the nation. Obasih testifies to the benefits of playing as a freshman.
“As I keep on getting reps, I start to recognize things from other teams, analyze things as they’re going on, get my footwork, focus on the little things as they’re developing in front of me,” Obasih said.
With the new playoff structure, and the rough schedule the Badgers have over the next few years (including Alabama and LSU), the development of young players now will certainly help the Badgers on their journey to national prominence in the future.
