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Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wisconsin football boasts one of PFF's top returning Big Ten offensive tackles
Wisconsin football veteran lineman Riley Mahlman is ProFootballFocus' sixth-best returning Big Ten offensive tackle entering the 2025 season. Mahlman, the Badgers' starting right tackle since 2022, graded out at 76.0 last season. He's ranked below only Michigan State right tackle Conner Moore (via Montana State) at 79.5, Indiana left tackle Carter Smith at 80.2, Northwestern left tackle Caleb Tiernan at 84.6, Oregon right tackle Alex Harkey (via Texas State) at 85.8 and Iowa right tackle Gennings Dunker at 90.2. Advertisement When transfers Moore and Harkey are not considered, Mahlman is the fourth-highest-graded returning Big Ten offensive tackle. ProFootballFocus outlined Mahlman's strong standing back in February, when it ranked him as the No. 10-ranked tackle in college football entering 2025. "Mahlman entered 2024 as our No. 8 offensive tackle in college football and remains in the top 10 a year later. The only returning Power Four tackle who's been more valuable than him over the last two years is Wagner according to PFF's WAA metric. Mahlman's 79.6 grade in that span is tied for 34th among all tackles in the nation. The player tied with him is Olu Fashanu, a top-15 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He's both a good pass-blocker and run-blocker, earning 75.0-plus grades in each over the last two seasons." Mahlman's strong position entering 2025 is no surprise. The standout tackle has been a mainstay on Wisconsin's offensive line since his redshirt freshman season in 2022, excelling in 2023 and 2024 despite the overall struggles of Phil Longo's air raid scheme. His play will be key to Wisconsin's success in 2025. New offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes is set to return the unit to its pro-style roots, a shift that should help the entire offensive line. A spring practice injury to starting left tackle Kevin Heywood raises some questions about the unit's alignment and performance. It will bring increased focus to Mahlman's play, especially as the team is likely forced to scheme help for its blind-side replacement. Advertisement We get a first look at Mahlman, Wisconsin's offensive line and the mentioned new-look pro-style scheme when the Badgers begin their season on Thursday, Aug. 28, at home against Miami (OH). Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin Badgers tackle Riley Mahlman among PFF's top Big Ten OTs
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Athlon Sports lists Wisconsin veteran lineman as All-America and All-Big Ten Teamer
Wisconsin football veteran offensive lineman Riley Mahlman was named to Athlon Sports' preseason All-Big Ten first team on Wednesday. Mahlman, entering his fifth season as a member of the Badgers' program, was named a First-Team All-Big Ten selection alongside offensive lineman Olaivavega Ioane (Penn State), J.C. Davis (Illinois), Gennings Dunker (Iowa) and Emmanuel Pregnon (Oregon). The conference's First-Team was headlined by quarterback Drew Allar (Penn State), running back Nicholas Singleton (Penn State) and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State). Advertisement The right tackle's position on the list doesn't come as much of a surprise. The program veteran was recently included in ProFootballFocus' list of top returning Big Ten offensive tackles, and he's served as a starter on Wisconsin's offensive line since 2022. Specifically, Mahlman was listed behind Indiana left tackle Carter Smith, Northwestern left tackle Caleb Tiernan and Iowa right tackle Gennings Dunker in PFF's list of the highest-graded returning offensive tackles in the Big Ten. The star tackle has appeared in 25 contests since the beginning of the 2023 season, playing as one of Wisconsin's more consistent offensive line starters under former offensive coordinator Phil Longo. Advertisement The veteran's contributions will be even more significant in 2025 under newly hired offensive Jeff Grimes, who will implement a pro-style approach to a program which traditionally relies on its strength in the trenches. With transfer quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. under center, coupled with an increase in touches for running backs Darrion Dupree and Cade Yacamelli, Mahlman will need to put together arguably his most prolific season as a member of UW's offensive line. UW and Mahlman will open the season on Thursday, Aug. 28, at home against Miami (OH). Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football OL Riley Mahlman on Athlon Sports All Big Ten team
