A team leader in both sacks and tackles for a loss in 2025, Wisconsin edge rusher Darryl Peterson III was a bright spot in a down year for the program. In his redshirt senior season, he ended up with 6.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for a loss, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition in the process.
In an era of players leaving for other schools in the transfer portal, Peterson is a rare modern example of someone who stayed with his program the whole way through. After serving as a cornerstone of the Badgers’ defense these last few years, he’s looking to carry his success over to the NFL level.
PFSN spoke to Peterson about his collegiate career, his deep arsenal as a pass rusher, his relationship with his brother, Kansas guard and top 2026 NBA Draft prospect Darryn Peterson, and much more.
JI: You put together career-high numbers in sacks and tackles this year. What went into your preparation for your final year at Wisconsin?
DP: I think just really being really intentional about the type of player I wanted to be. I knew I would be asked to do some different things, from being on the edge to doing some things interior, with the 3-tech stuff, too. Being able to be versatile and being able to be comfortable in that stuff in the offseason is really important.
Throughout spring ball and different things of that sort, I’m watching guys from Maxx Crosby to Aaron Donald, as two different players, but watching all different types of things, to be able to see how guys are winning and things of that sort. [I] obviously put some weight on, as well, [and] definitely got a lot stronger.
I put on about 12, 15-ish pounds from where I was the season before that, so I think that helped a lot, especially when it came to stopping the run and things of that sort.
JI: Through the ups and downs, through the head coaching change early in your time there, you were a constant presence and a reliable contributor at Wisconsin. What does it mean to you to have stuck around through that adversity?
DP: Yeah, that stuff isn’t really heard of anymore. I take pride in the place. Obviously, the W means a lot to me, and I think being able to be there through those ups and downs, it made me love the place even more, because the place didn’t change.
Things have changed, wins and losses are part of the game, but being able to be some place you love and be able to know that, down the road, once I’m done playing, having somewhere I can come back to means the world to me.
JI: Going through your pass-rushing arsenal, what are some of the things that determine which moves you’re using against which offensive linemen?
DP: It really just depends on where I’m at. If I’m in a 3-tech or 2-high or out there on the edge, I think that’s the first thing. If I’m lined up on a guard in the 3-tech, I’m watching all week when I’m watching tape, I’m like, “Well, is he shooting his hands fast?” Because those guards, things happen a lot faster than on the interior, so is he trying to get his hands on me fast? Is he kind of waiting for me to make a move?
If he’s a guy who waits to make a move, I’m gonna run through his face. If he waits to give me even a split second, I gotta run through his face as fast as possible. It’s a quicker line of quarterbacks.
If I’m going against a guard, the quarterback’s more likely right there a couple yards behind, so [it’s an] easy way to get some pressure right there right through guys face. Maybe if it’s a guy who shoots his hands and wants his hands on me faster, I’m gonna have my hands just a little bit faster than it is to swipe them or chop them down or something like that sort. I think when it comes to the edge stuff, it’s kind of the same thing.
Obviously, you’ve been watching all week, but I guess it’s a lot of difference between different sets. Of course, we’re out there on an island on the edge, so [there’s] a lot more space to work with. I can play with my alignment some, but I’m seeing if he’s a deep setter or short setter, if it’s vertical or it’s horizontal, and where his hands are: is he trying to get me low, or is he a high puncher?
That’ll determine the move. If I have a low puncher, I’m going chop or something like that. If he’s a high puncher, I’m going double swipe or trying to maybe ghost them, or some of that sort. Obviously, just like the same case with the guards, if he’s patient with his hands, I’m gonna use my power to my advantage and run through on the bull rush.
JI: With your brother heading to the NBA and you on your way to the NFL, how does it feel knowing both of you guys are about to achieve your dreams?
DP: Yeah, man, it’s crazy. We talk about all the time how we grew up and how militant our dad was. We didn’t understand then, but knowing what he was preparing us for, and we’re getting the fruits of our labor, it’s been special, man. It’s really cool to be able to…obviously, basketball, you can come out of one year, and I’ve been in college for five, but to be able to do it in the same year is truly special. Being able to do it together, I’d rather have it this way than if I had came out a year ago or something like that. I’m really excited [for us].
JI: How’s the pre-draft process been going for you?
DP: It’s been going really smooth. I’m training at Bommarito in Miami, Florida, for the Pro Day. I had my Pro Day [a few weeks] ago, and it went really well, talking to some teams. I’m really excited to see what the future holds. I’m looking to get some individual workouts here soon in the next couple of weeks.
Almost everybody’s Pro Days are over, so I’m excited to get this thing rolling. It feels like a long time, because you’re used to [being in the] college world, like, all right, there’s training and spring balls and whatever. It’s like you’re really just training, and it’s a lot different than training to go hit somebody; you’re training to be as in shape and as fast as possible, so it’s a lot different, but I’ve enjoyed it up to this point, for sure.
JI: How do you like to spend your free time outside of football?
DP: When I’m not playing football, man, I love to cook. I’m a foodie. I love to try new places. When I was in Miami for training, it was my goal to go to a new place every week. Every weekend, I try to go to new places and get a steak or something like that. I definitely love to eat, cook, and things of that sort. I love to make music too, rap and singing kind of thing.
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I fell in love with that back in high school, and that’s a good pastime. I’m not really a “go out and party” kind of guy, so I’m doing things like that to keep me grounded. One of my guilty pleasures is shopping. I do love to shop a little bit: clothes, shoes, things of that sort. I’d say those three things, for sure.
JI: What are some of your favorite things to cook?
DP: Definitely steak. I love steaks, and being able to cook when I finally was able to perfect the medium, medium rare kind of thing, that’s when I like making those more. Definitely steak, and I make a good chicken alfredo pasta. My mom taught me how to make a sauce from scratch, so I make my own sauce.
JI: Let’s say I’m an NFL general manager. What would I be getting if I drafted you to my team?
DP: You’ll be getting a leader. I’m a guy who won’t be able to show if things are going good or going bad. [I’m a] real stoic guy who’s gonna be one of the hardest workers, if not the hardest worker, on your team. He’s gonna lead by example first, obviously, being a young guy, but I think [he] will grow into that local leader. He’s gonna make plays, he’s gonna stop the run. He’s gonna be super physical. He’s gonna run through guys.
I’m gonna get to the quarterback, as well. He’s gonna have fun doing it. He’s gonna make everybody around him better, not just on the field, but off the field, as well. He’s gonna make everybody around him better. No matter if it’s the janitor or somebody cooking our food, or the head coach or the general manager, they’re all going to get treated the same by me, and they’re all going to love me.
