Louisville edge rusher Mason Reiger commits to Wisconsin football
Former Louisville edge rusher Mason Reiger has committed to the Wisconsin Badgers football team after an official visit.
Luke Fickell and the University of Wisconsin football program have taken a significant step in revamping its defense with an addition on the edge.
The Badgers made their first portal addition of the offseason, securing a commitment from Louisville outside linebacker Mason Reiger during his visit.
Reiger, a 6-foot-4, 260-pound edge rusher from Hoffman Estates, Illinois, brings a track record of production to Madison and will have one season of eligibility left.
Despite missing the 2024 season due to complications from an offseason knee surgery, Reiger was one of Louisville’s top defensive performers in 2023.
The former walk-on recorded 22 tackles, 6.0 TFLs, 5.0 sacks, two pass breakups, a forced fumble, and 22 pressures.
According to Pro Football Focus, Reiger finished the 2023 season with an 80.1 overall defensive grade, including an 80.8 pass-rushing grade and a 70.5 mark as a run defender. Reiger’s ability to line up at both outside linebacker and on the defensive line in certain alignments highlights his versatility, which will be invaluable for Wisconsin’s front seven.
In three seasons with the Cardinals, Reiger appeared in 32 games, accumulating 49 total tackles, 42 pressures, 26 hurries, 17 tackles for loss, eight sacks, six quarterback hits, and four forced fumbles.
His experience and productivity are a welcome addition to a Badgers unit that delivered just 6.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss and ranked 138th out of 134 teams in havoc rate. It's also worth noting that starters Leon Lowery Jr. entered the transfer portal this offseason, and John Pius exhausted his eligibility.
Wisconsin’s outside linebacker room, led by position coach Mike Mitchell, is getting a much-needed plug-and-play piece with Rieger. With multi-year starter Darryl Peterson set to return and Aaron Witt expected to follow suit, the group needed someone who could play meaningful snaps next season and will now have some options when camp rolls around.
Add in Sebastian Cheeks, who showed flashes this past season in his 123 snaps, rising talents like Thomas Heiberger and Anelu Lafaele, plus the incoming freshman class, and suddenly, there’s some reason for optimism now and in the future.
Reiger’s arrival brings valuable experience to a two-deep that sorely needed it. His skill set complements the physical, aggressive style Wisconsin is aiming to re-establish under Mike Tressel.
After an official visit to Madison, Reiger chose the Badgers over interest from Indiana, Wake Forest, Ole Miss, and Georgia Tech, among others. His decision to call off his other visits reflects the strong recruiting efforts of Fickell and his staff, who continue to retool a Wisconsin roster with no shortage of needs.
As Wisconsin looks to rebound from a disappointing 5-7 season, landing a player of Reiger’s caliber from the transfer portal highlights the program’s commitment to fixing this defense. Reiger’s ability to get after the quarterback will be vital as the Badgers continue building out a roster for the coming season.
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