VIDEO: https://wisconsin.rivals.com/news/week-4-in-state-blitz-2025-inside-linebacker-cooper-catalano
STRENGTHS
Germantown’s Cooper Catalano was on my radar dating back to the winter after racking up 120 tackles as a freshman. Friday night was my first chance to see Catalano live, and I came away impressed after a 33-27 win over Menomonee Falls.
At 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, Catalano is an ultra-productive player from his middle linebacker position. If he’s not involved in a tackle, Catalano is almost always near the football. On the offensive side of the ball, he had a handful of carries and looked comfortable in that role. Germantown also used him as a lead blocker for its quarterback on designed runs, and Catalano created running lanes in that capacity.
Body-wise, Catalano reminds me a lot of former Badgers linebacker Chris Borland (and a little Derek Landisch as well). That’s heavy praise, but the two attack the game the same way and have similar skill sets. Though he’s a little taller, Catalano has a stocky build but has excellent bend and flexible hips. Because of this ability, Catalano is rarely held up at the line of scrimmage by an offensive lineman. He’s almost always roaming free to the football, a reason why the productivity is so high.
Catalano is also an excellent tackler who diagnoses plays well. When he makes contact, the ball carrier moves in the opposite direction. But he’s not all brute strength. On Friday, Catalano showed the ability to move from sideline to sideline in pursuit of the football, as well as the ability to drop back in coverage. The area I thought he excelled the most in, however, was in blitz opportunities. Catalano has a great feel for the snap count and was consistently in the backfield during those snaps.
I’ve seen a lot of Wisconsin targets and commits in person over the last handful of weeks - that includes 2023 inside linebacker commit Tyler Jansey - and Catalano might be the most impressive from that group. Not saying he’s the best player I saw; rather, he’s probably the athlete that exceeded my expectations the most. Frame-wise, he seems to have long arms and isn’t all that filled out in the midsection. With that, I could see him playing in the 230-pound range down the road.
The Wisconsin state record for career tackles is currently held by Black Hawk’s Brady Milz, who racked up 462 stops from 2014-17. If he stays healthy, Catalano will have a chance to break that record.
REMAINING QUESTIONS
Overall speed is the biggest remaining question I have with Catalano after Friday night. According to his Hudl, he runs a 4.81-second 40-yard dash. That time could be outdated and from his freshman year, but it’s something that could concern coaches at the next level. I didn’t ask when we talked on Friday, but I will bring it up the next time we connect.
Even if that’s what Catalano is currently running, you can’t argue with what he puts on tape. It ultimately may prevent him from taking his recruitment to an elite level, but I don’t remember too many in-state athletes who impacted a game at such a young age in comparison to what Catalano is doing right now. He was the best player on the field Friday and it wasn’t even close.
I’d also be a little concerned about the wear and tear on a linebacker who will have played - if he stays healthy - every defensive snap on the varsity level for four years. But there’s no way to prevent that.
OUTLOOK/RECRUITMENT
Bret Bielema and the Illini offered Catalano this summer during a visit in late July. Wisconsin hosted him last weekend, and upcoming trips to Minnesota and Iowa State are expected this fall.
It’s still early in the recruiting process, but I would be very surprised if the Badgers didn’t offer at some point. I think it’s realistic that position coach Mark D’Onofrio sees Catalano at camp in June and pulls the trigger. I could also see a scholarship come beforehand. Should/when that happens, the Badgers will be in a good spot in Catalano’s recruitment.
“I’ve been a Badger fan and I’ve always wanted to play there,” Catalano told BadgerBlitz.com. “It would be a really big dream to play there, but I’m just keeping my options open right now.”
It will be interesting to see if Catalano’s recruitment stays in the Midwest, or if other programs from from coast to coast kick the tires. I think a lot of that will depend on where Catalano camps and how he runs in those settings. If he can test in the 4.5-second 40-yard range, I think Catalano will be a double-digit offer kid.
WISCONSIN COMPARISON ON THE CURRENT ROSTER
Again, the Borland and Landisch comps come to mind here, but they are obviously not on the current roster. Maybe a little Maema Njonmeta in terms of body type, but that’s not a great comparison.
Let me know what you think.
STRENGTHS
Germantown’s Cooper Catalano was on my radar dating back to the winter after racking up 120 tackles as a freshman. Friday night was my first chance to see Catalano live, and I came away impressed after a 33-27 win over Menomonee Falls.
At 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, Catalano is an ultra-productive player from his middle linebacker position. If he’s not involved in a tackle, Catalano is almost always near the football. On the offensive side of the ball, he had a handful of carries and looked comfortable in that role. Germantown also used him as a lead blocker for its quarterback on designed runs, and Catalano created running lanes in that capacity.
Body-wise, Catalano reminds me a lot of former Badgers linebacker Chris Borland (and a little Derek Landisch as well). That’s heavy praise, but the two attack the game the same way and have similar skill sets. Though he’s a little taller, Catalano has a stocky build but has excellent bend and flexible hips. Because of this ability, Catalano is rarely held up at the line of scrimmage by an offensive lineman. He’s almost always roaming free to the football, a reason why the productivity is so high.
Catalano is also an excellent tackler who diagnoses plays well. When he makes contact, the ball carrier moves in the opposite direction. But he’s not all brute strength. On Friday, Catalano showed the ability to move from sideline to sideline in pursuit of the football, as well as the ability to drop back in coverage. The area I thought he excelled the most in, however, was in blitz opportunities. Catalano has a great feel for the snap count and was consistently in the backfield during those snaps.
I’ve seen a lot of Wisconsin targets and commits in person over the last handful of weeks - that includes 2023 inside linebacker commit Tyler Jansey - and Catalano might be the most impressive from that group. Not saying he’s the best player I saw; rather, he’s probably the athlete that exceeded my expectations the most. Frame-wise, he seems to have long arms and isn’t all that filled out in the midsection. With that, I could see him playing in the 230-pound range down the road.
The Wisconsin state record for career tackles is currently held by Black Hawk’s Brady Milz, who racked up 462 stops from 2014-17. If he stays healthy, Catalano will have a chance to break that record.
REMAINING QUESTIONS
Overall speed is the biggest remaining question I have with Catalano after Friday night. According to his Hudl, he runs a 4.81-second 40-yard dash. That time could be outdated and from his freshman year, but it’s something that could concern coaches at the next level. I didn’t ask when we talked on Friday, but I will bring it up the next time we connect.
Even if that’s what Catalano is currently running, you can’t argue with what he puts on tape. It ultimately may prevent him from taking his recruitment to an elite level, but I don’t remember too many in-state athletes who impacted a game at such a young age in comparison to what Catalano is doing right now. He was the best player on the field Friday and it wasn’t even close.
I’d also be a little concerned about the wear and tear on a linebacker who will have played - if he stays healthy - every defensive snap on the varsity level for four years. But there’s no way to prevent that.
OUTLOOK/RECRUITMENT
Bret Bielema and the Illini offered Catalano this summer during a visit in late July. Wisconsin hosted him last weekend, and upcoming trips to Minnesota and Iowa State are expected this fall.
It’s still early in the recruiting process, but I would be very surprised if the Badgers didn’t offer at some point. I think it’s realistic that position coach Mark D’Onofrio sees Catalano at camp in June and pulls the trigger. I could also see a scholarship come beforehand. Should/when that happens, the Badgers will be in a good spot in Catalano’s recruitment.
“I’ve been a Badger fan and I’ve always wanted to play there,” Catalano told BadgerBlitz.com. “It would be a really big dream to play there, but I’m just keeping my options open right now.”
It will be interesting to see if Catalano’s recruitment stays in the Midwest, or if other programs from from coast to coast kick the tires. I think a lot of that will depend on where Catalano camps and how he runs in those settings. If he can test in the 4.5-second 40-yard range, I think Catalano will be a double-digit offer kid.
WISCONSIN COMPARISON ON THE CURRENT ROSTER
Again, the Borland and Landisch comps come to mind here, but they are obviously not on the current roster. Maybe a little Maema Njonmeta in terms of body type, but that’s not a great comparison.
Let me know what you think.
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