‘Bigger, Stronger, Faster,’ Brandon Lane’s Big Off-Season Leads to Starting Role in Wisconsin Defense

MADISON, Wis. — Brandon Lane has had a history of being on the move in his collegiate career. A two-time transfer who also made numerous verbal commitments prior to landing at Wisconsin ahead of the 2024 season, Lane wasn’t going to run this time.

With the transfer portal being what it is, the Badgers have certainly had their share of one-year rental players who weren’t seniors. Heck, even this past spring, Tanner Koziol and Mark Hamper only made it through a handful of practices before they hit the door. Even though Lane was spending more time on the sidelines than he would have liked in 2024, he wasn’t going to be one of them.

“It was very challenging last year, but I also knew in the back of my head, my time was coming,” Lane told Badger Blitz. “I was going to buckle down and take it day by day, do everything they ask of me. It made me more hungry, ready to attack each day stronger.”

Lane’s Long Path to Wisconsin

A native of Kansas City, Lane began his career at South Dakota in 2020. Appearing in just three games over two seasons with the Coyotes, Lane transferred to Stephen F. Austin ahead of the 2022 season. As a redshirt sophomore, Lane appeared in seven games, tallying 11 tackles. 2023 is where Lane started to take off. During his breakout campaign, Lane posted 44.0 tackles, 6.5 for loss, and 1.5 sacks.

Following his redshirt junior season, Lane put his name in the transfer portal, where he generated national attention. Florida State, USC, and LSU were a few of the programs involved with the On3 three-star transfer prospect. Lane made commitments to both Michigan and Louisville before flipping to Wisconsin in July of 2024.

Expected to compete for a starting job in Madison, Lane was often a seldom-used reserve, appearing in eight games and totalling eight tackles. The Badgers kept waiting for Lane to emerge in a defensive line room that lacked depth, but that breakout never came. Following the season, defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow made it clear to Lane, it wasn’t about talent and challenged Lane to be more consistent.

“They challenged me to take it day by day, work, and show I had the ability to play here,” said Lane. “They recruited me here because they saw I had the ability. Just challenged me to show up every day.”

A Year Later, Lane is Now a Co-Starter

Wisconsin added two transfer defensive linemen, Charles Perkins and Jay’viar Suggs, in the off-season. The Badgers also returned senior Ben Barten and sophomore Dillan Johnson. Given the depth in the room, there’d be no reason to thrust Lane into a co-starting role unless he had truly earned it.

“He’s playing with a lot more confidence,” Whitlow said during fall camp. “He’s playing aggressive, he’s playing on the attack. Really been pleased with how he was in the spring, the off-season he’s had heading into fall camp, just how fast and how confident he’s playing right now.”

And few players had a better fall camp than Lane, who was a wrecking ball at times up front, making numerous plays behind the line of scrimmage.

“Definitely very satisfied with the number one by my name,” he said. “Just grinding, day in and day out, working after practice, really trying to give it my all in each and everything that I do.”

“I wanted to show that I belonged here,” Lane added.

Off-Season Leads to Lane’s Surge

Lane was a mid-year transfer last season, which presents a lot of challenges. Not only was he adjusting from life in the FCS to the Big Ten, but Lane had to learn a new defense and play an entirely different role. Given his July commitment, he had little time before fall camp to get any sort of a head start.

“The play-style was different. I was playing a 4-I front. I was used to four-down linemen and playing off the tackle,” Lane explained. “I came here, went back to three-tech, playing through the guards and double teams. In FCS, I was playing the five-tech, too. It was a big transition.”

In the off-season, Lane gained 20 pounds and is now playing at 320. He also credits strength and conditioning coach Brady Collins and his staff for getting him twitchier and more explosive off the ball, despite the added weight.

“I’m able to play fast, not think, and just attack,” he said. “I do feel more explosive and quicker. I weigh a little more, but I’m explosive like crazy. With the bigger o-linemen we’re playing this year, I’m ready to explode and attack.”

Lane’s teammates see and feel the difference as well.

“He’s bigger, stronger, and faster,” senior center Jake Renfro said. “He’s really taken it to another level. He’s tough to block, he’s quick. That stafe, that athleticism that he brings to our defensive line is special.”