The hallmark of Luke Fickell’s tenure with the Wisconsin Badgers has always been a resolute defense. Under coordinator Mike Tressel, the Badgers have kept themselves afloat in games where the offense has fully stalled out. 

This season has been no different. In total offensive yards per game, the Badgers rank No. 121 in the country, notching just 312.9 yards per game, while their defense allows just 284.3 per game, which ranks No. 9 in the nation. 

While there have been several standouts leading Tressel’s defense, perhaps none has been more impactful than linebacker Cooper Catalano. 

Coming out of Germantown, Wis., Catalano held power-conference offers from Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas, Michigan State, and the Badgers before eventually choosing his home-state school. 

So far this season, the former three-star has totaled 86 total tackles, including 48 solo and 38 assisted. All three of those stats rank at the top of the Big Ten. To make things better, Catalano has added a healthy one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and one touchdown in Wisconsin’s blowout win over Eastern Michigan at the front end of the season. 

Catalano isn’t necessarily the team’s best coverage option in the linebacker role; however, in terms of keying in on runs, you will struggle to find many better in the country who can snuff a rush like him.