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Wisconsin Badgers Football: Billy Edwards Jr's Injury Update is Encouraging But QB1's Return Timeline Is Still A Cause for Concern 1 The Wisconsin Badgers football runs onto the field before their game against Miami (Ohio) Thursday, August 28, 2025 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Badgers Safety Earns B1G Player of the Week Honors After Impressive Game

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics
By Jarrett Guerrera | Last updated Sep 1, 2025 10:04 PM ET

The Wisconsin Badgers displayed a formative defense against the Miami (OH) RedHawks, and one man in particular stood out above the rest.

Preston Zachman, a senior safety from Pennsylvania, solidified himself as a valuable part of the Wisconsin defense the past two seasons. Zachman entered the game against the RedHawks with 118 total tackles, five interceptions, and eight pass defenses for the Badgers during his career. The safety has recorded two interceptions in each of the last two seasons for the Badgers, but may surpass that total this season.

Wisconsin Badgers Safety Preston Zachman Secures Conference Defensive Player of the Week Honors With Two INT Performance

Zachman was the star of the defensive show for the Wisconsin Badgers after snagging two interceptions and two tackles against the RedHawks. The safety managed to match his interception total from the previous two seasons in his first showing this season, which could be a fluke or could be a sign of something special to come.

The safety provided two vital stops that helped Wisconsin shutout the RedHawks offense, which was hyped up before the game due to transfer additions like Dequan Finn and Deion Colzie. The pair of interceptions Zachman provided for the Badgers defense took the wind out of the sails of the RedHawks offense and was a key reason why Wisconsin was able to keep a clean sheet.

Wisconsin Badgers Safety Earns B1G Player of the Week Honors After Impressive Game 2 Wisconsin safety Preston Zachman (14) is shown during spring football practice Thursday, April 25, 2024 in Madison, Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Badgers football team plays their season opener against Western Michigan on August 31.

Zachman may have had an exceptional showing for the Badgers against the RedHawks, but the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders could allow for an even bigger performance out of the safety. Middle Tennessee is coming off of a 34-14 loss to the Austin Peay Governors, an FCS program that had not defeated an FBS program since 1987. The Blue Raiders are at an all-time low currently, and while the team could improve against Wisconsin the likely outcome will be far from a bounce-back.

Middle Tennessee looked lost on offense and often could not win pushes against a rather small defensive line. With the new beef the Wisconsin Badgers added up front, the Blue Raiders could be in for another very long and disruptive night on offense.

In the secondary, Zachman has the potential to have a great game as the Blue Raiders ran a more conservative offense against Austin Peay that would keep most of the action in front of the safety. If the Blue Raiders do opt to throw the ball more aggressively against the Badgers defense, Zachman could nab another interception given the past struggles of starting quarterback Nicholas Vattiato. The starter has thrown 23 interceptions in the past two seasons for Middle Tennessee.

Wisconsin Badgers Safety Earns B1G Player of the Week Honors After Impressive Game 3 Wisconsin cornerback Max Lofy (12) and safety Preston Zachman (14) are shown during the first quarter of their game Saturday, October 5, 2024 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin beat Purdue 52-6.Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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