The Wisconsin Badgers had two staples at the tackle positions over the past few years, with Jack Nelson and Riley Mahlman manning the left and right tackle spots, respectively.
However, that’ll change in 2025, as Nelson is out of eligibility, declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft. In today’s world, many would go to the transfer portal to replace a key departure. But, Wisconsin is relying on its younger players, turning to sophomore Kevin Heywood as its next left tackle.
Heywood, a four-star recruit in the Class of 2024, was Wisconsin’s swing tackle out of necessity as a true freshman, even playing 35 snaps when Nelson went down against Northwestern.