Takeaways from Wisconsin football fall camp practice No. 2
Some good pressure was brought on from the Badgers on Wednesday.
PLATTEVILLE, WIS. — Wednesday’s practice gave a glimmer of what one edge rusher could bring to a University of Wisconsin football team that critically needs to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks this season.
Wisconsin finished with only 17 sacks and 42 tackles for loss last season, the latter stat ranked the Badgers dead last in the FBS. The defensive front was retooled with more length and weight during the offseason, which included former Louisville lineman Mason Reiger.
There’s always a disclaimer that this was only the second fall camp practice at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium, and there’s another caveat that it wasn’t fully padded (the team only wore spider pads). But Reiger was one of the outside linebackers that worked into the backfield on multiple occasions.
Reiger transferred from Louisville during the winter but missed opportunities during spring ball due to recovering from offseason surgery. He’s resurfaced to receive first-team reps during the first two fall camp practices.
Wednesday’s session saw him make a nice stop behind the line of scrimmage on a Trech Kekahuna run during the first 11-on-11 team period, not allowing the shifty receiver to get further off the edge. Reiger stood out in back-to-back plays during another 11-on-11 period, notching what would have been a sack off the edge and followed that up with a pressure thereafter.
He also recorded another would-be tackle for loss and pressure during one series near the end of practice.
Reiger recorded 13 tackles for loss from 2022-23 and finished with five sacks during the 2023 season. He could become a key contributory in a deeper outside linebacker group if he stays healthy and continues this trajectory.