Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano didn’t earn starting linebacker spots until the eighth game of their freshmen seasons last October. By the end of Wisconsin’s game at Oregon, after the duo collected 21 total tackles and a pair of pass breakups, it was clear the Badgers had found a special combination.

Posa finished the season by leading Wisconsin with 61 tackles, while Catalano ranked second with 56 tackles. Catalano earned Big Ten defensive player of the week honors against Washington after posting 19 tackles, the most by a Power 4 freshman since 2017. Posa, meanwhile, earned Big Ten freshman of the week honors in the same game after he notched 11 tackles, 2.5 sacks and recorded the game-winning stop on Washington’s final drive.

Much is expected of Posa and Catalano as they prepare for their sophomore seasons. And they both are embracing the opportunity.

“We want more,” Posa said. “We want to be one of the greatest linebacker duos to ever come out of Wisconsin. That’s our goal and that’s what we strive for every single day.”

Added Catalano: “There’s times we can reflect on it and talk about it. But we try to use that as motivation to be even better the next year. We don’t want to be sitting around this time next year talking about how good our freshman year was.”

In the latest Badger Bites episode, Posa and Catalano provide a tour of their apartment and offer a window into their relationship on and off the field. Check out the full episode here: