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Wisconsin football announces the signing of five preferred walk-ons

The Wisconsin Badgers signed five preferred walk-ons as part of Early Signing Day, including four from inside the state.

Matt Belz

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The Wisconsin Badgers have had longstanding success with walk-ons. Over the past decade, there have been six former walk-ons selected in the NFL Draft from Wisconsin, while countless others went on to become major contributors within the program. 

This past season alone, senior safety John Torchio led the team in interceptions and was a First-team All-Big Ten selection despite beginning his career as a walk-on. Ahead of the Guaranteed Rate Bowl on December 27, the Badgers have six current or former walk-ons on their offensive and defensive depth chart for the game as well. 

So with such a storied walk-on tradition, the Wisconsin Badgers officially announce a new group of walk-ons to the program on Thursday as part of the Early Signing Period. 

Here is a look at the five new players officially walking-on with the Badgers. 

Contents

  1. Will McDonald (defensive end from Hudson, Wis.)
  2. Zack Mlsna (offensive lineman from Cashton, Wis.)
  3. Angel Toombs (defensive end from Milwaukee, Wis.)
  4. Manny Mullens (DL from Columbus, Ohio)
  5. Evan Van Dyn Hoven (OLB from Menasha, Wis.)

Will McDonald (defensive end from Hudson, Wis.)

  • Name: Will McDonald
  • Position: Defensive end
  • High School: Hudson High School
  • Hometown: Houlton, Wisconsin
  • Height: 6-foot-4
  • Weight: 230 pounds
  • Original commitment date: August 3
  • Senior stats: 70 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 10 sacks
  • Other information: McDonald is the younger brother of Wisconsin defensive end Cade McDonald and is rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals. He had Power 5 scholarship offers from Iowa State and Kansas. 

Zack Mlsna (offensive lineman from Cashton, Wis.)

  • Name: Zack Mlsna
  • Position: Offensive lineman
  • High School: Cashton High School
  • Hometown: Cashton, Wisconsin
  • Height: 6-foot-6
  • Weight: 285 pounds
  • Original commitment date: October 28
  • Senior stats: 43 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and five sacks on defense
  • Other information: Mlsna was an second-team AP All-State selection this past season and a two-time Scenic Bluffs Conference Lineman of the Year. 

Angel Toombs (defensive end from Milwaukee, Wis.)

  • Name: Angel Toombs
  • Position: Defensive end
  • High School: Rufus King High School
  • Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • Height: 6-foot-6
  • Weight: 230 pounds
  • Original commitment date: March 12
  • Senior stats: 16 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and a forced fumble
  • Other information: Toombs earned first-team All-Conference honors as a senior and was a multi-year letter winner in basketball, football, and track. 

Manny Mullens (DL from Columbus, Ohio)

  • Name: Manny Mullens
  • Position: Defensive end
  • High School: Harvest Prep High School
  • Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
  • Height: 6-foot-3
  • Weight: 285 pounds
  • Original commitment date: November 25
  • Senior stats: 27 tackles, three sacks, and four receiving touchdowns as a senior
  • Other information: Mullens is the younger brother of Wisconsin defensive end Isaiah Mullens and is actually walking-on as a transfer from Lake Erie College at the DII level. He spend one season at Lake Erie College. 

Evan Van Dyn Hoven (OLB from Menasha, Wis.)

  • Name: Evan Van Dyn Hoven
  • Position: Outside linebacker 
  • High School: Menasha High School
  • Hometown: Menasha, Wisconsin
  • Height: 6-foot-2
  • Weight: 205 pounds
  • Original commitment date: November 10
  • Senior stats: 32 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and four sacks in eight games over the past two seasons. Also added 240 receiving yards and four touchdowns on offense. 
  • Other information: A multi-sport athlete, Van Dyn Hoven earned a walk-on offer from the Badgers after strong camp performance and also plays basketball and track at Menasha high school.  

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Matt Belz
MATT BELZ

Title: Publisher, Beat Writer for AllBadgers.com, a Sports Illustrated Channel Hello, my name is Matt Belz, and I am the site manager at All Badgers. I previously wrote for multiple years at Buckeyes 5th Quarter and have been the leading publisher here since March of 2022.  When I am not covering the Wisconsin Badgers football and men's basketball teams, I enjoy being outside and spending time with family and friends.  You can follow everything I write about on several different platforms. First and foremost on our site...AllBadgers.com You can follow me personally on Twitter at @savedbythebelz or check out our Facebook page at Wisconsin FanNation on Sports Illustrated.

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