Wisconsin DC Jim Leonhard teases usage of young LBs in 2020

Wisconsin may get a chance to see some impressive young linebackers in action this season.

The Badgers are no strangers to strong linebacker play with many notable names playing in Madison over the years. In 2019, the Wisconsin defense was led by standout linebackers Jack Sanborn, Chris Orr, and Zack Baun.

With Orr and Baun graduating, Wisconsin is in need of more playmakers on the defensive side of the ball. Heading into the season, defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard believes some of those playmakers will come from young players.

On Friday, Leonhard teased the possibility of young linebackers seeing plenty of playing time in 2020. Jeff Potrykus with the  Milwaukee Journal Sentinel shared Leonhard’s comments:

I've written about #Badgers LBs for 2020 but Jim Leonhard offered this Friday on young OLBs: "There’s going to be some young guys that see the field for us this year.
You’re going to be learning names, run some new stories this year on guys you haven’t."

— Jeff Potrykus (@jaypo1961) October 3, 2020

Though Leonhard did not specify, it is fair to wonder if those players could come from freshmen that were a part of Wisconsin’s 2020 recruiting class. The Badgers signed five outside linebackers in their 2020 class, headlined by four-star prospects in Nick Herbig and Kaden Johnson.

Regardless of who is playing, it certainly sounds like Leonhard is confident in the linebackers that will suit up with the Badgers defense in 2020.