LOOK: Wisconsin starting linebacker to switch to single-digit number for 2024

Wisconsin starting inside linebacker Jake Chaney will switch his jersey number from No. 36 to No. 1 this fall, per his recent Instagram post.

After starting in nine of UW’s 13 contests a season ago, Chaney is poised to lead Wisconsin’s left insider linebacker group in 2024. The Cape Coral, Florida native enters his fourth season in Madison as a staple in the middle of Mike Tressel’s defensive unit.

As a junior, the 5-foot-11, 210-pounder tallied 80 tackles in 2023, ranking second in the category behind star safety Hunter Wohler. Chaney registered a career-best 11 tackles against Iowa on Oct. 14 and notched seven tackles in the Badgers’ primetime matchup vs. Ohio State on Oct. 28.

The senior appeared in 12 games as a sophomore 2022, totaling 38 tackles and 4 tackles for loss. He made his collegiate debut at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois against Notre Dame in 2021.

Jaheim Thomas projects to be the starting inside linebacker along side Chaney. Christian Alliegro, and transfer additions Tackett Curtis and Sebastian Cheeks project to round out the unit.

With contests against Alabama, USC and Oregon on UW’s 2024 schedule, Chaney and company will have their hands full against some of the nation’s top offenses. Transfer additions of outside linebackers Leon Lowery (Syracuse) and John Pius (William & Mary), paired with returning stars Wohler and Ricardo Hallman, will give the unit a much-needed boost.