#44

Cooper Catalano

LB · Wisconsin · R-Jr. · #44

Returning to Wisconsin for 2026
R-Jr. · Richfield, Wis. → Germantown
via uwbadgers.com ↗
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Cooper Catalano

LB · Wisconsin · Fr · #44

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★
#867 national
CFB
College
Wisconsin
2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2025Wisconsin4-8HC: Luke Fickell · Run-heavy, slow tempo

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Wisconsin56315.01.01----
Career56315.01.01----

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 11 · 2025

W 13–10

vs Washington

1 TFL  ·  12 SOLO  ·  19 TOT

A wire-to-wire battle — won by 3 at home.

How he plays

Play style

Is steady in every phase without a signature trait.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Wisconsin

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Linebacker · Wisconsin

Returning around him

  • 40% of 2024 offensive production back (Moderate turnover)
  • Transfer portal: +8 net (33 in / 25 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Wisconsin · Last season: 4-8 · Talent rank #28 · 2026 recruiting class #78

DNA match

Player DNA

Balanced Linebacker

Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.

LB

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Jaiden Ausberry’s 2024 season.

Notre Dame · 2024

#2

Kip Lewis

Oklahoma · 2023

82%
#3

Ben Cutter

West Virginia · 2023

77%
#4

Ethan Wesloski

North Texas · 2023

76%
#5

Liona Lefau

Texas · 2024

75%

Matches Jaiden on

TFL rate
Solo tackle rate
Weight

Differs from Jaiden on

Height (lower)

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Antoine Deslauriers's freshman season at Syracuse (2025).

Syracuse · 2025

#2
78%
#3

Josh Ferguson

New Mexico State · 2021

75%
#4

Chris Jones

Southern Miss · 2024

73%
#5

Ethan Wesloski

North Texas · 2023

72%

Matches Antoine on

Solo tackle rate
Weight
TFL rate

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #10144

Final rank
#10456
Avg #10360.7
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #10144 this season.

Background

Honors and Awards 2025: Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 9) 2025 Season: Played in all 12 games, making five starts at linebacker as a true freshman … finished the season with 56 tackles, 2.0 sacks and 4.5 TFLs… earned the Big Ten Defensive player of the Week award for his breakout perf...

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