Takeaways from Wisconsin football's 2026 fall roster release
Two noteworthy players from the 2025 class no longer on the roster, jersey changes, new faces and a beloved position group back on the roster.
A beloved position group is officially back on the University of Wisconsin football roster.
Names such as Mark Montgomery, Cecil Martin, Matt Bernstein, Bradie Ewing, Derek Watt, Alec Ingold and many others have been etched in Badgers lore for their versatile capabilities as fullbacks since Barry Alvarez came to Madison. The fullback designation itself hasn’t been listed on a Wisconsin roster since the 2022 season, but that’s no longer the case as seen with the 2026 edition released Monday.
The program now labels redshirt junior Tyler Jansey and walk-on freshman McCoy Smith as fullbacks.
Jansey and NFL-bound Jackson Acker were technically designated as tight ends last year under the umbrella of assistant Nate Letton. But they really could best be described as fullbacks within the scheme of offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, or at the very least fullback-adjacent with their responsibilities (that doesn’t take away how Acker could be used in the offense outside of just being labeled a fullback). One section of Wisconsin’s game notes for the 2025 season opener against Miami (Ohio) even listed Acker as a “FB/TE.”
That’s just one of a few takeaways from the unveiling of the fall roster.
Make sure to take advantage of Badger Observer’s new deal where fans can get ALL the coverage from Big Ten football media days, fall camp, recruiting and much more for $2 a month or $20/year!
Some attrition to Wisconsin’s roster, including 2 scholarship signees from 2025 class
There were still new faces and turnover on the University of Wisconsin football program between spring and preseason practices, even without a spring transfer portal window.
