Honestly, looking at the uw badger football depth chart right now feels a bit like staring at a jigsaw puzzle where half the pieces were just swapped for ones from a different box. If you're a fan who took a break after the regular season ended, you might not recognize the roster. Seriously. Luke Fickell hasn't just tweaked things; he’s essentially hit the reset button on a program that finished a brutal 4-8 in 2025.
The stadium seats at Camp Randall still hold that same history, but the names on the backs of the jerseys? Mostly new.
We’re talking about a massive exodus and an even larger influx. Over 20 players hit the portal. In their place, a wave of nearly 30 transfers has arrived. It’s a gamble. It's the kind of high-stakes roster building that either makes a coach a genius or puts him on the hottest seat in the Big Ten.
The Quarterback Room: It’s Colton Joseph’s World Now
Forget the revolving door of 2025. Last year was a mess. Four different guys started games, and let’s be real, the rhythm was never there. The big news? Colton Joseph is the guy. Coming in from Old Dominion, Joseph isn't just a "competition" piece—he’s the unquestioned QB1.
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He’s got that dual-threat spark that Jeff Grimes wants for this offense. Think Fernando Mendoza style, but with a Madison twist.
Behind him, it gets thin. Fast. Danny O’Neil is still around, but he’s coming off a nasty Achilles tear. That's a long road back. Because of that, keep an eye on David McComb, the Kansas transfer. He’s got history with Grimes and while he might not start, he’s the developmental project that could be the "break glass in case of emergency" option.
- Colton Joseph (R-Jr.) - The Starter.
- David McComb (Fr.) or Carter Smith (R-Fr.) - The Battle for QB2.
- Danny O'Neil (So.) - Injury recovery wild card.
Rebuilding the Trenches: The New Look Offensive Line
The "Great Wall of Wisconsin" isn't what it used to be, but the 2026 uw badger football depth chart shows a lot of effort to fix the leaks. We lost a lot. Only two offensive starters from the start of last season are actually coming back.
Emerson Mandell is the name to circle here. He’s basically the Swiss Army knife of this line. He could play guard, he could play tackle, but he’s going to be on the field somewhere.
Then you have Austin Kawecki. He followed the coaches from Oklahoma State and basically walked into the starting center spot. It's a lot of pressure. Center is the brain of the line, and having a veteran who knows the system is the only thing keeping fans from total panic.
- Left Tackle: Kevin Heywood (So.)
- Left Guard: TBD (Major battle here)
- Center: Austin Kawecki (R-Sr.)
- Right Guard: Emerson Mandell (So.)
- Right Tackle: TBD
Skill Positions: Who is Colton Joseph Actually Throwing To?
The wide receiver room lost some heavy hitters to the portal—including a notable move to North Carolina—but it’s not empty. Vinny Anthony II and Trech Kekahuna are the "vets" now. Anthony has that deep-threat capability that can keep safeties honest.
But the real excitement? It’s the height.
Shamar Rigby is 6’3”. Malachi Coleman is 6’4”. These aren't the small, shifty slot guys we’ve seen lately; these are "go up and get it" targets. If the uw badger football depth chart holds, this might be the most athletic receiving corps Wisconsin has had in a decade.
At running back, things are equally spicy. Abu Sama III comes over from Iowa State with nearly 2,000 career yards. He’s explosive. He’s the home-run hitter. But don’t sleep on the incoming freshmen like Amari Latimer. The Latimer family has deep ties to this roster, and Amari has the "gritty" playstyle that Madison loves.
Defense: One Returner, Ten New Faces
This is the part that should probably keep DC Mike Tressel up at night. Out of the 11 guys who started Week 1 last year, only one is left: Sebastian Cheeks.
One.
That is wild. Usually, you have a core. Now, you have a collection of talented strangers. The defensive line was the biggest priority this winter. Fickell went shopping and brought in guys like DeNigel Cooper from App State and Hammond Russell from West Virginia.
The strategy is clear: Get bigger and more experienced up front.
- Sebastian Cheeks (R-Jr.) - The lone survivor and leader at Edge.
- Mason Posa (So.) - The breakout linebacker who stayed despite "poaching" attempts.
- Cooper Catalano (So.) - Part of that young, talented linebacker duo.
- Bryce West (R-So.) - The Ohio State transfer who should lock down a corner spot.
The secondary is a complete overhaul. Bringing in Bryce West and Cai Bates (from Florida State) shows they wanted pedigree. These guys were blue-chip recruits who just needed a change of scenery.
What This Means for the 2026 Season
The uw badger football depth chart is basically a science experiment in the NIL/Transfer Portal era. Can you build a cohesive Big Ten team in three months?
The schedule won't be kind. If this group doesn't gel during spring ball, that 4-8 record might not be a fluke—it might be the new baseline. But the talent level? It’s arguably higher than it was last year.
You have a quarterback who fits the system. You have defensive linemen who actually weigh 300+ pounds. You have speed at receiver.
The biggest limitation right now is chemistry. You can't buy a locker room bond in the portal. Fickell has to manufacture it.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're trying to keep track of this moving target, here is what you need to do:
- Watch the Spring Game specifically for the Left Tackle spot. Kevin Heywood is the projected guy, but if he struggles, the whole offense collapses.
- Follow the Parker twins. Jayvon and Armon Parker (Washington transfers) are the final pieces of the defensive line puzzle. If they commit and stay healthy, the run defense improves instantly.
- Monitor Danny O'Neil's recovery. If he isn't ready by August, the Badgers are one Colton Joseph injury away from a total disaster at quarterback.
The roster is set. The names are in the book. Now, we just have to see if they can actually play together.