Former Wisconsin safety Reggie Pearson Jr. compares the Badgers to Texas Tech

It’s rare that you’ll hear a former player give such a glowing review of his former home. But in the case of former Wisconsin safety Reggie Pearson Jr.who’s now at Texas Tech, that’s exactly what he did over the weekend.

When asked to compare the Badgers to the Red Raiders, Pearson Jr., bluntly said there was a sizable difference in the culture between the two programs — at least when Pearson first arrived in 2020.

“At Wisconsin, it’s tradition,” Pearson told the Rob Breaux Sheaux. “Tradition is a big thing up there. We are tight-knit. We know what we signed up for. It like naturally gelled that relationship up there. To this day, I still talk to my friends up there from Wisconsin — even the ones that did transfer out. We definitely have a natural love for each other.

“Coming down here, when I first got here, it was a different atmosphere. It was super individualized. I don’t think they understood like the hunger and the natural grit to win. Up there at Wisconsin, we were a winning program. You do have a natural grit to yourself like ‘We are winning 10 games or more and if we don’t, it’s a terrible season.’

Reggie Pearson on the Culture Difference between playing at Wisconsin, Year 1 at Texas Tech, and this season. pic.twitter.com/qmXBjRpn5D

— The Rob Breaux Sheaux ?? (@robbreauxshow) August 5, 2022

“I came down here and everyone is used to losing to certain teams. You see it, the fear, and not wanting to play. I couldn’t really understand it. Now, thankfully that changed. We do have the confidence, we do have the mentality to win every game this season. The culture changed throughout the three years that I played.”

Pearson did transfer after just two seasons on campus, but there was no ill-will between the Michigan native and the program. He played in 18 games for the Badgers during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. An instant impact player as a true freshman, Pearson played in four contests during the 2018 campaign, including a start on the road at Michigan. Moving into a starting role in 2019, Pearson appeared in all 14 games for UW, recording 60 tackles, 3.5 for loss, four pass breakups, and two forced fumbles.

Heading into the 2020 season, Pearson was not medically cleared by UW for an undisclosed reason.

“In the offseason, we found something that was a concern,” Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst said in the fall of 2020. “For this year, he wasn’t cleared to play. That’s why he’s not on the roster right now, because he wouldn’t be cleared for the season.”

Pearson has since found a good spot with Texas Tech. Heading into his senior season, Pearson started 10 of 11 games for the Red Raiders in 2021, missing two games due to injury. He was fifth on the team with 54.0 tackles and also had three pass breakups and an interception while helping TTU claim a 7-6 record and a win over Mississippi State in the Liberty Bowl.

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