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Wisconsin Badgers Tasked With Finding Next Man Up Following Brutal 5th-Year Loss 1 Oct 26, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Beau Pribula (9) is tackled by Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Jaheim Thomas (7) and cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean (3) during the fourth quarter at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Wisconsin Badgers Tasked With Finding Next Man Up Following Brutal 5th-Year Loss

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics
By Jarrett Guerrera | Last updated Jul 16, 2025 3:23 PM ET

With the Wisconsin Badgers now down a defensive back, someone will have to step-up on defense or the staff will need to get creative moving forward.

Graduate corner back Nyzier Fourqurean was granted a waiver in February that allowed the defensive back to play another year of college football. However, the waiver was overturned as the court of appeals ruled his claim did not pertain to the rest of college football and was rather a situational issue. Fourqurean can still potentially play for the Badgers, but with limited time before the season starts the defender may be out of time.

Without Fourqurean, who was expected to be a significant contributor for the team, the Wisconsin Badgers will need someone to take over for the defensive back. Some players currently at the position could potentially move up, while another player could slide over to a position he has experience with.

Wisconsin Badgers Need Cairo Skanes, Omilio Agard to Step Up in a Major Way

Last season, Fourqurean finished the year with 51 total tackles, five pass defenses, and one interception while becoming a pivotal part of the defense. Fourqurean was expected to take another step forward this season, but without him a younger corner back on the roster.

Cairo Skanes is one of the first players the staff could consider due to a similar frame and play-style as Fourqurean. Skanes can play inside and outside and would be a logical player to have step into the shoes of Fourqurean moving forward.

Wisconsin Badgers Tasked With Finding Next Man Up Following Brutal 5th-Year Loss 2 Oct 12, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean (3) celebrates after a defense stop during the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Another young option would be Omilio Agard, who already has a year under his belt and could be the most fluid transition. Agard understands what college football looks like and spent last season learning from veteran leader Ricardo Hallman. The absence of Fourqurean could be the chance that Agard needs to prove himself and earn serious playing time moving forward.

Could the Wisconsin Badgers Move a Player Over to Corner Back Moving Forward?

Without Fourqurean, there is also the possibility that a safety plays corner back for the Wisconsin Badgers during the upcoming season. One such player could do so as corner back is a position that previously came naturally to the athlete.

Austin Brown could be the player that takes over for Fourqurean at corner back after moving around multiple times a season ago. Brown was far from a traditional safety last season for Wisconsin due to injuries and need, and the versatility of the safety came in handy for the Badgers staff. Making the full-time switch to corner back could be the move that the Badgers feel the most comfortable with making due to the potential benefit it could have.

Wisconsin Badgers Tasked With Finding Next Man Up Following Brutal 5th-Year Loss 3 Wisconsin safety Austin Brown (9) 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 30.

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

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