After relying on two players last season, Wisconsin?s linebackers must find a new player to carry them before the fall.

Among the eight starters lost from last year, the linebackers took the biggest hit with the graduation of the team?s two leading tacklers, Nick Greisen and Bryson Thompson.

Greisen started every game last season and led the Big Ten with 167 tackles. The co-captain also finished fourth on the team with four sacks. The Badgers will greatly miss his ability and leadership, but junior Jeff Mack will try to take his place as he moves to inside linebacker this season.

“It?s really hard to replace somebody like Nick,” Mack said. “We?re trying to put more speed in our positions and simplify the defense.”

Mack becomes the new leader with the loss of the senior leadership. He has the most experience among the linebackers, starting eight games last year at outside linebacker before injuring his back. And that injury leaves Mack glad just to be back out there this spring. After three months of recovery, the two stress fractures in his lower vertebrae are fully healed.

Mack?s health is a concern for the Badgers, as they also need to fill the hole left by Bryson Thompson. He finished second on the team behind Greisen in tackles with 110. For a team that went 5-7, the Badgers may struggle without the two linebackers.

“We?ve got a lot of building to do,” defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said. “We looked at everything, tore it apart, and [now] we?ve got to rebuild it.”

With all of the openings on defense, Cosgrove and head coach Barry Alvarez are experimenting this spring. In the biggest change, junior running back Broderick Williams will take Thompson?s spot at linebacker. Being the third-string tailback, Williams had a hunch about the switch and was excited with the opportunity. The junior has a lot to learn before the season begins, but his size and speed are making up for his mistakes.

“He?s doing good,” Mack said. “[Broderick is] so fast you just [have] to tell him to slow it down.”

Everyone on defense has been helpful with Williams? transition. He is getting better everyday but still has to work on his tackling, as he has not played linebacker since his freshman year of high school.

“It?s starting to get easy now,” Williams said. “Being out there [and] getting more reps, that?s what helps a lot.”

Cosgrove has not made any projections for starters, but Mack, Williams, and sophomore Kareem Timbers are the front-runners so far this spring. Timbers played in eight games last year and will move to outside linebacker this season.

The new unit has a lot of work to do to improve on a defense that gave up nearly 29 points per game last season. With the loss of its big-name players, there will be plenty of new faces. The players realize the big shoes that they must fill, but they are still trying to get used to each other on the field.
It?s different,” Mack said. “The fans won?t know who the people are, but hopefully we?ll make an impact enough for them to figure it out.”