Wisconsin Football Spring Roster Reveals Unexpected Omissions

Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin Badgers football program are under two weeks away from the beginning of spring practice.

Due to renovations taking place at Camp Randall Stadium, there will be no spring game. However, the Badgers anticipate a return in 2025 and will host an open practice in August during fall camp, per UW athletics.

Spring ball is scheduled to begin on March 22 and conclude on May 2. Therefore, it was inevitable that the Wisconsin football team would release its spring roster sooner or later — and with today’s reveal, I couldn’t help but notice a few Badgers players were noticeably absent.

Wisconsin’s 2024 spring football roster. pic.twitter.com/8HAY0GTRGN

— Dillon Graff (@DillonGraff) March 13, 2024

Bryan Sanborn and Jeff Pietrowski Missing From Wisconsin Football Roster

Upon my initial scan of the Wisconsin Badgers 2024 spring roster update, the names missing that were on the team last season were outside linebacker Jeff Pietrowski, tight end Cole Dakovich, inside linebacker Bryan Sanborn, and walk on’s Deven Magli and Sean Timmis.

While not shocking, seeing Pietrowski left off the Badgers spring football roster was somewhat surprising. Pietrowski played 260 snaps, totaling 21 tackles, 13 pressures, and 3 quarterback hits.

He was one of just three players the Badgers consistently rotated at outside linebacker in 2023. While Pietrowski wasn’t a starting-caliber player, he was a viable depth piece for Wisconsin football. According to Pro Football Focus, Pietrowski earned a 62.8 defensive grade, which is considered above average by their metric.

Given the additions of Leon Lowery and John Pius in the transfer portal, the writing must have been on the wall for the former Michigan State LB.

The other name that was disappointing to see was Sanborn. He is the younger brother of former Wisconsin Badgers great Jack Sanborn and appeared to be on the cusp of cracking the two-deep at one point under Paul Chryst. Sanborn played 18 snaps on defense in 2022 and registered eight tackles.

That said, Sanborn was recruited over by the new Wisconsin football coaching staff this offseason, the same as Pietrowski, and hopefully, he can find a new home in the transfer portal.

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