Projected starting left tackle Kevin Heywood will miss the 2025 Wisconsin football season with an ACL injury, Badgers coach Luke Fickell shared on Tuesday.
The news is a substantial blow to the Badgers’ chances this season, especially with the team set to face what is projected to be one of the nation’s toughest schedules. Heywood was the team’s clear replacement for standout left tackle Jack Nelson, who is off to the NFL after anchoring the offensive line the past few seasons.
Heywood, only sophomore, was one of Luke Fickell’s biggest recruiting wins in the class of 2024. He joined the program as 247Sports’ No. 50 player in the country, No. 4 offensive tackle and No. 1 player from his home state of Pennsylvania. He chose the program over offers from Georgia, Notre Dame, Alabama and Michigan, plus other top contenders Auburn, Kentucky and USC.
The Royersford, Pennsylvania, took little time before backing up his top-end recruiting billing upon arriving in Madison. He was the team’s backup left tackle as a true freshman in 2024 and he saw action in all 12 games, primarily on special teams.
Heywood was one of Wisconsin’s write-in offensive line starters entering 2025, next to returning starters Joe Brunner (left guard), Jake Renfro (center) and Riley Mahlman (right tackle). Together, the unit was projected to be a strength as first-year offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes installs his scheme and identity.
Now, the team has a glaring need at one of the most important positions on the field.
Next on the roster’s depth chart are Leyton Nelson, a former Vanderbilt transfer who missed the 2024 season with a knee injury, and Emerson Mandell, a redshirt freshman and former four-star recruit. The program can return to the transfer portal to bolster the position. The spring window set to open on Wednesday.
Not much is trending positively for the Badgers at this stage of the spring. Heywood is lost for the season and starting tight end Tanner Koziol is reportedly set to enter the portal. Fickell and his staff will have their work cut out to recraft the offensive line and prepare the unit for success after a poor two seasons under Phil Longo.
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