Ricardo Hallman
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Career Summary
Ricardo Hallman developed from a Miami-area recruit into a productive Wisconsin cornerback before entering the Broncos organization in 2026.
Hallman played five college seasons at Wisconsin from 2021 through 2025, appearing in 49 games and becoming a regular starter in the secondary. His college career was defined by interception production, including seven interceptions in 2023 and at least 10 overall.
He entered professional football as an undrafted rookie free agent, signing with Denver in August 2026 before being waived during the team's roster-cut process.
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Early Life
Hallman grew up in Miami, Florida, where family and local football mentors influenced his approach to the game.
Wisconsin listed Miami as Hallman's hometown. His stepfather, former NFL running back Frank Gore, was an important influence, and Hallman credited Gore's work ethic and toughness.
Former NFL receiver and University School coach Chris Chambers also helped guide his development. At Wisconsin, Hallman identified former Badgers cornerback Faion Hicks as a mentor who helped him with defensive plays and technique.
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High School
Hallman was recruited as a three-star cornerback after producing interceptions at University School and continuing at TRU Prep Academy.
He attended University School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and played his senior season at TRU Prep Academy after University School's season was canceled. As a junior at University School, Hallman earned first-team all-county recognition from the South Florida Sun Sentinel after recording eight interceptions and 17 tackles.
Recruiting services listed him as a three-star prospect, with cornerback or defensive back as his recruiting position. He also competed in track and field and was part of University School's school-record 4x100-meter relay team.
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College Career
At Wisconsin, Hallman progressed from a redshirt-year contributor into a four-year starting cornerback with major interception production.
Hallman appeared in three games as a 2021 redshirt and recorded one tackle. In 2022, he played nine games, started eight, made his first start against Illinois State and recorded his first career interception against New Mexico State.
He started all 13 games in 2023, finishing with 34 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and seven interceptions, including a 95-yard return against Rutgers. In 2024, he started all 12 games and recorded 16 tackles, 15 solo stops and four pass breakups while blocking a field-goal attempt at Rutgers. His 2025 season included 12 starts, 32 tackles and two interceptions, including one in a comeback victory over Washington. Across his Wisconsin career, he appeared in 49 games and recorded at least 10 interceptions.
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Path to the NFL
After completing his Wisconsin career as a graduate student, Hallman entered the 2026 NFL player pool as an undrafted rookie free agent.
The 2026 draft records cited in the research do not list Hallman among the selected players. Denver signed him on August 8, 2026, after the draft.
Denver's signing announcement highlighted his Wisconsin starting experience, 2025 honorable-mention All-Big Ten selection and career interception total.
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NFL Career
Hallman's professional career began with Denver's 2026 preseason before the Broncos waived him during their move to the 53-player roster limit.
Hallman participated in Denver's 2026 preseason, with NFL.com game-log information covering defensive statistics against Atlanta and Minnesota. He had no verified regular-season NFL appearance through September 11, 2026.
Denver waived him on August 30, 2026, during its roster reductions. The latest dated professional history in the research does not verify a subsequent signing or practice-squad addition.
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Career Accomplishments
Hallman's Wisconsin honors combined major 2023 interception production with academic recognition and a 2025 community-impact award.
In 2023, Hallman received AP third-team All-American and media third-team All-Big Ten recognition after leading Wisconsin with seven interceptions. He was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and received honorable-mention All-Big Ten recognition in 2025.
Hallman was a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy and won Wisconsin's 2025-26 Big Ten Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award. He finished with at least 10 career interceptions, becoming the first Wisconsin player since T.J. Edwards to reach that total.
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Playing Style
Hallman's college profile centered on anticipation, technique and ball production, highlighted by seven interceptions during his 2023 season.
He emphasized film study, maintaining technique, playing with patience, and using his eyes and positioning to arrive in the right places. Wisconsin coaches described progress in his confidence, consistency, technique and effort as his role expanded.
His 2023 season supplied the clearest example of his playmaking profile: seven interceptions, including a 95-yard return against Rutgers. Wisconsin's biography, citing PFF data, credited him with allowing 20 receptions on 33 targets across 319 regular-season coverage snaps in 2024.
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Legacy
Hallman's Wisconsin legacy rests on sustained starting experience, academic recognition and one of the program's most productive recent interception seasons.
His seven-interception 2023 season was Wisconsin's most since Shane Carter's seven in 2007 and the most by a Badgers cornerback since Jamar Fletcher's seven in 2000. The 95-yard Rutgers interception return became one of the notable defensive plays of his college career.
Hallman's combination of career interception production, four seasons of substantial starting responsibility and repeated academic honors shaped his significance at Wisconsin.
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Sources for this section
32557, 00-0041589, 2003-07-30, Ricardo Hallman, Ricardo, Hallman
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