The Badgers will miss Chris Ghidorzi this season. Athletically, Greisen and Thompson appear to be equal, if not superior, to their predecessors.
Experience is another issue.
Neither has started a game at Wisconsin. In two seasons, they have a combined 36 tackles, Greisen with 24 and Bryson Thompson with 12. Greisen's highlight to date came during his freshman season in 1998, when he came off the bench to record 12 tackles in a loss at Michigan. Wisconsin defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove, who works specifically with the inside linebackers, likes the idea of adding more speed on the inside. But guys that size can deliver a blow if they are really good fundamentally.