The Walk-On Reserve with Sixth-Season Grit and ILB Instincts
Mike Maskalunas, a 6-3, 217-pound walk-on ILB for the Wisconsin Badgers, stands out not for flashy stats but for his relentless sixth-season intensity and walk-on resilience. Playing 48 games with 2 starts and recording 41 tackles, 2.0 TFLs, and 2 fumble recoveries in 2024, he’s a high-intensity reserve who thrives in filling gaps—like when he stepped in for Leo Chenal. His differentiator is pure grit: a long road from Lincolnshire, IL, to consecutive starts, driven by the mantra “My Plan A is to play football for as long as I can.” He’s a perfect fit for teams needing a personality-driven, injury-proof reserve with elite situational awareness and no ego.
