Cooper Catalano
LB · Sophomore
6'1" · 232 lbs · Defense
Background
- Hometown
- Richfield, Wis.
- High school
- Germantown
Recruiting
- Rating
- 3-star (0.8722 247 composite)
- National rank
- #873
- Class
- 2025
- Source
- 247 composite
2026 season
No 2026 stats recorded yet.
Season by season
2025tap to read
Played in all 12 games, making five starts at linebacker as a true freshman … finished the season with 56 tackles, 2.0 sacks and 4.5 TFLs… earned the Big Ten Defensive player of the Week award for his breakout performance vs. Washington (Nov. 8) … finished the game with 19 tackles, 2.0 TFLs and his first career sack … posted the most tackles for a Power 4 freshman since 2017 and the most for any Badger since Mike Taylor registered 22 in 2011 … became the first Big Ten player to have 19 tackles and a sack in a game since 2018.posted seven tackles, including five solo stops, against Ohio State (Oct. 18) … posted eight tackles in his first-career start at Oregon (Oct. 25) … had five tackles including a sack at Indiana (Nov. 15) … finished the season with 10 tackles at Minnesota (Nov. 29) 2025 Highlights High School/Personal: Rated as a three-star composite recruit Named Wisconsin large school defensive player of the year in 2024, totaling 178 tackles, nine TFLs, three forced fumbles and three interceptions Set the Wisconsin state high school career tackling record during his senior season in 2024, eclipsing 462 tackles - finished his career with 583 tackles Three-time conference defensive player of the year Earned all-conference honors during all four seasons of high school football Made 120 tackles as a freshman High school coach was Jake Davis Son of Jim and Jenny Catalano Sister, Tatum, plays volleyball at UW-Milwaukee Intends to study Business at Wisconsin Favorite Badger is Leo Chenal
Official bio
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Honors and Awards:
2025: Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 9)
2025 Season: Played in all 12 games, making five starts at linebacker as a true freshman … finished the season with 56 tackles, 2.0 sacks and 4.5 TFLs… earned the Big Ten Defensive player of the Week award for his breakout performance vs. Washington (Nov. 8) … finished the game with 19 tackles, 2.0 TFLs and his first career sack … posted the most tackles for a Power 4 freshman since 2017 and the most for any Badger since Mike Taylor registered 22 in 2011 … became the first Big Ten player to have 19 tackles and a sack in a game since 2018.posted seven tackles, including five solo stops, against Ohio State (Oct. 18) … posted eight tackles in his first-career start at Oregon (Oct. 25) … had five tackles including a sack at Indiana (Nov. 15) … finished the season with 10 tackles at Minnesota (Nov. 29)
2025 Highlights
High School/Personal:
Rated as a three-star composite recruit
Named Wisconsin large school defensive player of the year in 2024, totaling 178 tackles, nine TFLs, three forced fumbles and three interceptions
Set the Wisconsin state high school career tackling record during his senior season in 2024, eclipsing 462 tackles - finished his career with 583 tackles
Three-time conference defensive player of the year
Earned all-conference honors during all four seasons of high school football
Made 120 tackles as a freshman
High school coach was Jake Davis
Son of Jim and Jenny Catalano
Sister, Tatum, plays volleyball at UW-Milwaukee
Intends to study Business at Wisconsin
Favorite Badger is Leo Chenal