MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin cornerback Ricardo Hallman will return for his fifth season with the program, he informed The Athletic, a decision that represents a massive addition for the Badgers.

Hallman has played in 37 career games with 33 starts, including starting every game the past two seasons. He produced a breakout campaign in 2023 when he was one of just two players in the country to record seven interceptions — the most by a Wisconsin player since 2007. Hallman earned third-team Associated Press All-America honors.

Although Hallman didn’t register an interception last season, he also wasn’t targeted nearly as much. According to Pro Football Focus, passes targeted in his direction decreased from 63 to 33. His 33 targets on 319 coverage snaps during the regular season were the fewest for any cornerback in the country with 300-plus coverage snaps. Hallman finished the season with 16 tackles and four pass breakups.

Hallman, a 5-foot-10 Miami native, could have left school to pursue the NFL Draft but now becomes one of the most significant pieces to a revamped Wisconsin defense. He’ll be one of three upperclassmen among the cornerbacks, joining Miami transfer D’Yoni Hill and South Carolina State transfer Geimere Latimer. Senior Austin Brown, a safety, could also contribute as the slot corner. Other scholarship cornerbacks include redshirt freshmen Jay Harper and Omillio Agard, as well as incoming freshmen Jahmare Washington and Cairo Skanes.

Wisconsin’s cornerbacks have undergone a massive roster turnover this offseason. Nyzier Fourqurean and RJ Delancy III used up their eligibility while Max Lofy, Jonas Duclona, Amare Snowden and Jace Arnold entered the transfer portal. Xavier Lucas also intends on entering the transfer portal, though he remains engaged in a dispute with Wisconsin over the processing of his paperwork and has hired a lawyer. The Badgers had 11 scholarship corners on the roster last season and currently have seven, though they continue to search for reinforcements through the transfer portal.

Of Wisconsin’s 19 transfer portal additions, 12 have come on defense. But there will be some key returners. Two other defensive players have informed The Athletic that they plan to come back for one more season: sixth-year senior defensive lineman Ben Barten and sixth-year senior outside linebacker Aaron Witt.

(Photo: Jeff Hanisch / Imagn Images)