Wisconsin football CB bringing ‘different mindset and attitude’ into final season
Ricardo Hallman is back—and better than ever. The veteran corner is stronger, faster, and emerging as a leader this Spring for the Wisconsin Badgers.
Something’s different about Ricardo Hallman—and the University of Wisconsin football program's coaching staff hasn’t had to squint very hard to see it.
This Spring was supposed to be an opportunity for the Badgers' young players to get reps and prove themselves. Head coach Luke Fickell made that clear early on: more reps for the underclassmen, fewer for the veterans.
The plan was to let young players grow into the new systems on both sides of the ball. But then the pads came on.
And with each passing practice, a new realization took hold: to get where they want to be by fall camp, the Badgers need their best players on the field now and let them get comfortable in this defense.
That’s where Hallman comes in.
This isn’t your typical spring ball platitude. It’s not a vague “he’s turning the corner” soundbite from the coach. The growth with Hallman? It’s real. It’s visible.
And if you ask Fickell, it couldn’t be more obvious.
“I'll be honest, this is a different Rico than I've seen, and I mean that in a lot of different ways,” Fickell told reporters. “Rico is bigger, Rico is stronger, Rico is faster. I know last year was tough because he had to miss all of the offseason with shoulder surgery, but I think more than anything, Rico's got a little bit different mindset and attitude, and it has been noticeable, to be honest with you. I'm really excited about what Rico's done."
That’s not just coach speak. That’s a window into what this Wisconsin football staff is seeing from a player who’s quietly been one of the most consistent defenders in the Big Ten over the last two seasons.
Now, heading into his final year of eligibility, Hallman isn’t just back—he’s sharpening his game to give himself the best shot at an NFL future.
To appreciate the jump he’s made, it’s worth revisiting where he’s been.
Hallman’s return to Wisconsin for a fifth season was already a major offseason win for the Badgers. He’s started every game since Fickell and his staff arrived in Madison and was an All-American in 2023 after leading the country with seven interceptions. That year, Hallman allowed a completion rate of just 50.8% and recorded a PFF grade of 83.5—ranking top five among Big Ten cornerbacks who logged half of their team’s snaps.
Dig a little deeper into the advanced metrics, and the efficiency stands out even more. Hallman finished in the 94th percentile nationally in coverage grade on passes that took longer than three seconds to develop that season—a sign of his ability to stay sticky in coverage.
Even more impressive? He was in the 98th percentile in opposing passer rating, making life miserable for quarterbacks who dared to test him in coverage.
But 2024 was much quieter.
Hallman didn’t snag an interception, and he missed out on spring ball due to shoulder surgery. He still held down the field corner spot, allowing just 21 catches on 35 targets across 319 coverage snaps, per PFF. That’s a reception allowed every 8.7 snaps—9th-best in the Power 5. But the splash plays weren’t there.
Because more often than not, opposing quarterbacks didn’t even bother testing Hallman—choosing instead to target the other side of the field. Still, the South Florida native finished the year with 16 tackles and four pass breakups—quietly showing he could impact games even when the ball didn’t come his way.
Which brings us back to spring practice 2025.
From Fickell’s perspective, Hallman isn’t just back on the field going through the motions—he’s helping raise the standard for everyone around him.
“I think more than anything, he's starting to become a leader and an example,” Fickell said. “The hard work is paying off… he’s dedicated himself to developing his body. He’s done a heck of a job.”
That growth—both mental and physical—comes at a pivotal time for the Badgers. The cornerback room has been in flux since the end of last season. Nyzier Fourqurean returned after being granted an extra year of eligibility. Jonas Duclona and Amare Snowden hit the portal. Xavier Lucas was at the center of a messy transfer fiasco that ultimately ended with him enrolling at Miami—even though he never formally entered the portal.
All told, Wisconsin has still lost key pieces and is retooling in the secondary. The starting duo is back at cornerback, but the staff is still sorting out who’s ready to step into the depth roles behind them.
That matters—because this defense wants to be more aggressive in 2025, and for Mike Tressel to turn up the heat, he’ll need to lean on a starting group that could be one of the team’s biggest strengths.
“The thing that we were just talking about, where we set our objectives as negative plays and takeaways and not our objectives of being perfect, our objectives being the process and not perfection, I think has changed it,” Tressel explained.
“And we can go back and show how we created some negatives, we can show how we're attacking the football, and as long as we don't give up explosives, the vision of perfect, we have to get rid of that 'cause we do have guys that want to do right.
"It's not like they're going to go rogue. They're going to want to do right. So skip perfect,” Tressel continued. “We say, 'Don't worry about it, we'll figure it out later.' Attack, attack, attack, you guys will play.”
That’s why Hallman matters now more than ever.
The 5-foot-10 senior is now the anchor for a room that features transfers Geimere Latimer (Jacksonville State) and D’Yoni Hill (Miami), as well as promising redshirt freshmen like Omillio Agard and Jay Harper. Freshmen Jaimier Scott and Cairo Skanes round out the depth but will be joined by Jahmare Washington later this summer when he arrives on campus.
That group needs a North Star. Hallman’s becoming that—not just with his voice, but with the way he’s played the past two seasons. And now, with a full offseason to get healthy and work on his craft, it looks like Hallman might have taken another step toward unlocking another gear.
Suppose this spring practice version of Hallman is any indication of what’s ahead. In that case, Wisconsin isn’t just getting a savvy vet back—they might be getting a stronger, more complete version of the guy who once led the country in INTs on his way to All-American honors.
He’ll have every opportunity to showcase it, too. In Tressel’s system, the field corner plays on an island. It’s a role that demands anticipation, confidence, and toughness. Hallman has shown all three—and now, according to Fickell, he’s added strength, speed, and more of a presence to the mix.
That’s also why the staff wants to get him even more involved in 2025—because a Wisconsin defense that forced just 12 turnovers last season (110th in the FBS) needs its best playmakers around the ball more often. That’s just the reality.
Because quarterbacks have largely avoided throwing his way, the Badgers are exploring ways to move Hallman around—giving him a chance to impact the game in new ways. That includes getting him some looks in the slot on clear passing downs.
“Rico’s gonna play some in there as well, more so on some third down packages or dime packages,” Fickell said, noting the staff wants to keep Hallman closer to the ball in key passing situations.
It’s another example of how much trust this staff has in their corner—and another sign that the version of Hallman we’re seeing this Spring might be the best yet.
There’s a long way to go before August. But if you’re wondering who’s stepping up behind the scenes this Spring, start with No. 2. He’s not just running it back—he’s trying to finish on a high note and set himself up for a shot at the pros.
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