Wisconsin Football 2025

[yourout]

9 hours ago, owbc said:

Crazy that we're a laughingstock during a time when the Big Ten is far and away the best football conference.

At the current rate, the only way they might lose a bowl game is when two B10 teams are playing each other in the playoff. 

Edit: never mind, USC lost

And OSU is all but dead with a minute to go

[JosephC]

Preston Zachman in the transfer portal.  

[GAME05]

On 12/30/2025 at 5:45 PM, owbc said:

As was previously mentioned here, my hope is that college football eventually splits from the NCAA and becomes its own league that competes with the NFL. 

Maybe that'd be for the best. Some way to divide the kids who want to get an education and maybe play some football, too, and the ones who just want to play football.

CBS had an article up the other day about how much each position cost to buy a player from the portal. "Oh, if you want a good offensive lineman, that'll cost you $600,000" said so casually by the agents.

[JosephC]

What is likely for Wisconsin in the transfer portal?  If they are serious about having more money, then I think 2 or 3 top 100 prospects should be a reasonable expectation (and I’m not talking about 2 bottom-end top 100 guys, like last year).  I’d put a priority on a fairly high-priced QB, so I’m thinking a good QB plus 1 more top 100 player should be an expectation.  Then I would say another 3 players in the 101-250 range, and probably another 4 players in the 251-500 range.

After combing through the rankings, here is a list of some players that I like.  So it becomes a mix and match game of who is interested, and how much is available to spend to fill out a roster.

The number in () is the overall 247Sports rank among transfers, regardless of position.

QUARTERBACK

(20) Iowa State QB-Rocco Becht (RS-JR)

(27) TCU QB-Josh Hoover (RS-JR)

(716) Arkansas State QB-Jaylen Raynor (JR)

They need to add at least 2 quarterbacks, and if O’Neil leaves, three is not out of the question.  #1 priority is to land either Becht or Hoover.  I prefer Becht but would be satisfied with Hoover.  Raynor is an experienced, athletic player who can compete with Carter Smith for the #2 spot.

RUNNING BACK

(630) Mercer RB-C.J. Miller (RS-JR)

There is an obvious need for bodies here, but I could live with Dupree, Ituka and Wiggins plus scraps for one season.  Miller is a 5-11, 230-pound guy, teaming with Ituka to fulfill the big back role.  He had 957 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns for Mercer last year.

WIDE RECEIVER

(47) Kansas State WR-Jayce Brown (JR)

(57) NC State WR-Noah Rogers (RS-SO)

(248) Penn WR-Jared Richardson (RS-JR)

(444) Monmouth WR-Josh Derry (JR)

(194) Ohio State WR-Bryson Rodgers (JR)

With only four scholarship receivers on the roster, 2 of those will be true freshman, it’s nearly a guarantee that the Badgers will be adding a minimum of 4 WRs and I wouldn’t be surprised to see that number as high as 6.  Jayce Brown would be my #2 priority after the QB, and Jared Richardson would likely be my #3 priority.  Noah Rogers becomes a main target if Jayce Brown goes elsewhere.  Brown has 1972 career receiving yards.  Rogers is a former Ohio State recruit that has 919 yards over 2 season and is a 6-2, 197-pound receiver that looks ready to bust out.  Richardson is a lower-level player, but has 2505 yards and 27 TDs over the last 3 seasons and a 6-2, 220-pound frame.  Josh Derry is 5-9, 180 and had 1123 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns last season.  Bryson Rodgers has not done much in his two seasons at Ohio State, but he has been seeing some playing time and could be a guy that is just blocked as Ohio State has a full stable of good wide receivers.

OFFENSIVE LINE

(121) Oklahoma State C-Austin Kawecki (RS-JR)

(462) Northern Illinois LT-Evan Malcore (RS-JR)

This is tough, because looking at the team last year, this group needs as much help as any.  However, they already have 13 scholarship offensive linemen on the roster, and historically that number tops out at 15.  In addition to that, it just doesn’t seem like there are a bunch of good offensive line fits in the portal.  Word in Madison is that the likely approach will be to look for an experienced left tackle and center.  It’s unlikely that the Badgers have given up on players that project to those spots, but those two positions just need to be much better in 2026.  Austin Kawecki reportedly had some issues with snaps early last year, but got that cleaned up, and it sounds like he played very well down the stretch.  Evan Malcore is a Sun Prairie kid who has started 30+ games for Northern Illinois.

EDGE

(308) UNLV EDGE-Ryan Henderson (RS-JR)

(755) Tulane EDGE-Harvey Dyson (RS-JR)

The Badgers have numbers here, but they lost their two leading pass rushers from last year.  Henderson = 6-3, 250, 7 sacks in 2025.  Dyson = 6-3, 250, 8 sacks in 2025.  I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the Badgers big gets ends up being an EDGE guy, but I’d rather try to find bargains here and spend on offense.

CORNERBACK

(NR) Rutgers CB-Jacobie Henderson (RS-JR)

(320) Toledo CB-Braden Awis (JR)

(862) Connecticut CB-Cam Chadwick (RS-SO)

(1152) Kennesaw State CB-JeRico Washington Jr (JR)

247 has not put a transfer grade on Henderson yet, which is why he get the NR.  I looked for experience here.  Henderson is a 2 ½ year starter.  Awis played as true freshman and then started for an excellent Toledo defense.  Chadwick redshirted and then started as a redshirt freshman.  Washington Jr redshirted and then started in each of the next two seasons.

(118) Florida S-Jordan Castell (JR)

I ran across Castell and was really attracted to this player.  Came to Florida as a so-so cornerback recruit.  Moved to safety and has 34 career starts.  Two-time All-Academic player that knows how to play.  Looks like a solid addition if the Badgers were to strike out at other positions.

So, trying to be hopeful and realistic at the same time, I’d love it if the Badgers could wind up with something comparable to this-

(20) Iowa State QB-Rocco Becht (RS-JR) OR (27) TCU QB-Josh Hoover (RS-JR)

(716) Arkansas State QB-Jaylen Raynor (JR)

(630) Mercer RB-C.J. Miller (RS-JR)

(47) Kansas State WR-Jayce Brown (JR) OR (57) NC State WR-Noah Rogers (RS-SO)

(248) Penn WR-Jared Richardson (RS-JR)

(444) Monmouth WR-Josh Derry (JR)

(121) Oklahoma State C-Austin Kawecki (RS-JR)

(462) Northern Illinois LT-Evan Malcore (RS-JR)

(755) Tulane EDGE-Harvey Dyson (RS-JR)

(NR) Rutgers CB-Jacobie Henderson (RS-JR)

(320) Toledo CB-Braden Awis (JR)

(862) Connecticut CB-Cam Chadwick (RS-SO)

(1152) Kennesaw State CB-JeRico Washington Jr (JR)

And after that, they would still have 8 spots to get to the old 85 scholarship level, so more lower ranked players to fill in spots at WR, DL, S.

[JosephC]

Badgers get a very late high school commit.  WR-Kash Brock from Chandler, AZ.  6-2, 175.  Originally committed to Colorado State, flipped to Iowa State, and the new Iowa State coaching staff released him from his national letter of intent.  Rivals had him rated as the #277 WR, so he's not a big-time prospect, but will hopefully beat expectations.

[LouisEly]

On 12/30/2025 at 9:35 PM, JosephC said:

I think the people who wanted it never would have anticipated that the brightest and best people leading our universities would make such of complete mess of it.

The people who are/were primarily making a mess of it are the people who always try to bend the rules as much as possible.  And they're the same people who were doing this under the table when it wasn't legal.  

UW tried to do it by the book.  The chancellor said nothing paid until the kids were on campus.  Other schools were cutting checks when kids committed.  

Now there is supposed to be a cap on revenue sharing.  But supposedly the same schools (SEC) are ignoring those rules and challenging the NCAA to do something about it.

If you haven't seen it, watch the old 30 for 30 on SMU ("Pony Excess").  They talk about how the oil executives in the office towers in Dallas want nothing more than bragging rights over the other oil execs.  Nothing has changed.

[JosephC]

Today is the day where transfer agreements can become official (until someone gives a player a better offer).

The portal closes two weeks from today.

Two more Badgers leaving. 

DL-Jamal Howard Jr.  At first I thought he was the last piece of the 2023 recruiting class left, which is the coaching change disaster class that was split between Chryst/Leohard/Fickell.  But LB-Tyler Jansey is still here (for now).  I think he's the last man standing.  Howard got into 1 game last year.

OLB-Ernest Willor Jr.  According to 247Sports, Willor was the Badgers second highest rated high school recruit in the 2024 class.  He didn't play at all last year.  In fairness to Willor, I think he was recruited to play DL in Fickell's 3-3-5 defense, and when they figured out that defense was not going to work in the Big 10, it pushed Willor to OLB which may not be the best fit for him.

[JosephC]

Badgers new running back coach is Jayden Everett, who was the Gophers running back coach last year.

If history is any indication, he will be here for one year and then will be gone.

2011-2012 - Hutchinson Community College - Running Backs/Recruiting Coordinator

2013-2016 - Indiana State - Running Backs

2017-2018 - Central Michigan - Running Backs/Recruiting Coordinator

2019-2020 - Akron - Running Backs

2021-2022 - Tulsa - Running Backs

2023 - Vanderbilt - Running Backs

2024 - Michigan - Running Back Assistant

2025 - South Alabama - Running Backs (having 2025 twice is not a typo, got hired by South Alabama and then left shortly after to go to Minnesota) 

2025 - Minnesota - Running Backs

[LouisEly]

I have no issue with 3rd/4th string non-true-freshmen from a 4-8 team hitting the portal.

Texas has 8 starters in the portal.  No issue with a winning program or NIL there.  It's the new normal.  Kids see someone else getting a big payday and they think they can get one too.  If they're not getting playing time they think they can drop down to a G5 school, show out, and get a payday.  For most of them, they weren't getting playing time for a reason.

[JosephC]

Just an update on numbers by position.  I do not know how many scholarship players they want to have by position.  This is also blurred by the fact that the 85 scholarship limit is gone.

Some might argue that, with the portal, teams will just look at bare minimums each year and not worry about having a "pipeline" within the program, but with most people I talk to, it seems that is not the case.  Programs will still set minimums in an effort to help them avoid massive shortages at positions down the road.

So, using the old 85 scholarship limit as a baseline, I'm going to take a guess at the number at each position the Badgers would be looking for.  That number is in (), and the number of scholarship players they currently have will be after the =.

QB (5) = 3 (this includes O'Neill)

RB (7) = 3

WR (11) = 5

TE (7) = 6

OL (15) = 13

DL (8) = 6

OLB (8) = 7

ILB (8) = 7

CB (9) = 7

S (7) = 5 (Charlie Jarvis would bump the number to 6, I don't think he's on scholarship but I may be wrong about that)

Total (85) = 62

[JosephC]

So the first portal player the Badgers were reported (by a credible source) to be after was UAB WR-Iverson Hooks.  247Sports currently has Hooks as the #160 player and the #40 WR in the portal.

Now we have another.  Texas-Permian Basin DL-Will LeBlanc.  6-4, 300.  247Sports has LeBlanc as the #1153 player and #92 DL in the portal.

https://utpbfalcons.com/sports/football/roster/will-leblanc/6399

[JosephC]

More portal players reported to be visiting Wisconsin-

Florida State RB-Kam Davis

Villanova DB-Anthony Hawkins

Tulsa DL-Joe Hjelle

New Mexico TE-Dorian Thomas

Iowa State S-Carson Van Dinter

Read about them here-

https://www.si.com/college/wisconsin/football/wisconsin-badgers-line-up-several-visits-with-important-transfer-portal-targets

[LouisEly]

Couple of OL visiting UW.  Former top-100 recruit Lucas Simmons from Florida State is scheduled to visit,  Beau Johnson from North Dakota State is supposedly on campus today.

Also, LJ Prudhomme from Arkansas is supposedly going to be visiting.  

Edit: fun fact, Lucas Simmons' hometown is Stockholm, Sweden.  He may feel more at home in Madison than Tallahassee.

[homer]

How do the Final Four teams navigate the portal? Interesting conundrum. 

[LouisEly]

5 minutes ago, homer said:

How do the Final Four teams navigate the portal? Interesting conundrum. 

They can contact players.  They'll say that they're interested and ask them to not make any decisions until the season is over.  Once a player is in the portal there is no deadline to commit anywhere; the only deadline is to enter the portal.

Kind of like the NCAA's version of the NFL draft - the teams that make it the furthest in the playoffs pick last.

[LouisEly]

UW has reached out to former Ohio Bobcat WR Chase Hendricks, the #9 ranked WR in the portal.  Hendricks is cousins with UW WR Chris Brooks.

[JosephC]

https://badgerofhonor.com/wisconsin-is-hosting-a-flood-of-transfer-portal-visitors-here-s-who-s-coming

This has been the best list I've found so far with a summary of confirmed visits.  At the end of this article are some more rumored players.  I have done some internet searches on Chase Hendricks and Beau Johnson, and have not been able to find any reports linking them to Wisconsin.

I've looked up all the players on 247Sports and have sorted them by overall rank.  The overall rank will be the first number, and the position rank will be in ().  NR means not rated, there are many players that 247 has just not gotten to yet, but there might be some that just don't get a grade.  There are three lists below: Official Visits, Rumors, and More Rumors (for Hendricks and Johnson).  As some may notice, ranking may be lower than previous rankings, and that is because more players will be added to the portal until the window closes.

VISITS-

70 (10) - EDGE - Adam Trick - Miami, OH

73 (5) - TE - Dorian Thomas - New Mexico

130 (18) - QB - Colton Joseph - Old Dominion

181 (43) - WR - Iverson Hooks - Alabama-Birmingham

191 (14) - DL - Ethan Day - North Texas

219 (20) - RB - Bryan Jackson - USC

240 (24) - RB - Kam Davis - Florida State

296 (35) - EDGE - Lamont Lester - Monmouth

369 (29) - S - Anthony Hawkins -Villanova

650 (54) - DL -Joe Hjelle - Tulsa

820 (58) - OT- Lucas Simmons - Florida State

837 (87) - S - Carson Van Dinter - Iowa State

1193 (95) - DL - Will LeBlanc - Texas-Permian Basin

NR - WR - Jaylon Domingeaux - Southeastern Louisiana

NR - CB - Eric Fletcher - Oklahoma State

NR - TE - Ryan Schwendeman - Southern Illinois

NR - TE - Jacob Harris - Bowling Green

NR - IOL - Tana Alo-Tupuola - Georgia Tech

RUMORS-

107 (10) - RB - Abu Sama - Iowa State

121 (12) - TE - Luke Dehnicke - Minnesota-Duluth

146 (8) - IOL - Austin Kawecki - Oklahoma State

NR - OL - Blake Cherry - Arkansas

NR - OL - L.J. Prudhomme - Arkansas

MORE RUMORS-

38 (9) - WR - Chase Hendricks - Ohio

199 (11) - OT - Beau Johnson - North Dakota State

[JosephC]

My two favorite QBs already off the board.  No surprise that Rocco Becht followed Matt Campbell to Penn State.  Josh Hoover has already reached and agreement with Indiana.

[JosephC]

Three reported agreements with portal players.  Again, first number is overall 247Sport ranking, number in () is the 247Sport ranking at that position.

111 (11) - RB - Abu Sama - Iowa State

852 (87) - S - Carson Van Dinter - Iowa State

NR - TE - Jacob Harris - Bowling Green

Kind of a surprise right off the bat with Samu.  No doubt the Badgers needed offensive skill position players more than anything else, but I wasn't expecting a running back that highly graded.  One would have to assume he must have had a pretty decent price-tag.  I will say, just looking at some highlight vids, I does look like a solid upgrade from what the Badgers have returning.

Harris gives them 7 tight ends, a good overall number.  But with all the TE visits/rumors, it sure seems likely that they will add more and probably go a receiver or two short this next year considering the lack of numbers at that spot.

Van Dinter is from Kaukauna, WI.

[nate82]

2 hours ago, JosephC said:

One would have to assume he must have had a pretty decent price-tag. 

RB’s tend to get far less in NIL money which follows the NFL way of thinking recently.

[JosephC]

The guy who was the #1 QB on their list, Old Dominion's Colton Joseph, has an agreement with Wisconsin.  According to 247Sports portal rankings, Joseph was 155 on the overall list, 19 on the quarterback ranking.

Dual-threat player, from what I've been told is a better runner than passer,  Simply saying that he is a more experienced version of Carter Smith might not be that big of a stretch. although I think Smith has more upside as a passer.

In 2025, Joseph was 173/290 passing (57.9%) for 2624 yards and 21 touchdowns against 10 interceptions.  He has 158 rushing attempts for 1007 yards (6.7 average) and 13 touchdowns.

Interestingly enough, Old Dominion played Indiana this year.  Passing, Joseph was 11/22 for 96 yards with 0 TD and 3 INT.  He broke two huge runs in the game and has 179 rushing yards on 10 carries with 2 touchdowns.

Joseph should be a good fit for what Grimes offense needs.  We'll see if he can make the jump from the Sun Belt to the Big 10.  Some guys do, some guys don't.

Several Badger podcasters have been talking about this guy for weeks, so it was no secret the Badgers were really after him.  One of the things I like is that I asked a football-crazy acquaintance about Joseph, a the first thing out of his mouth was, "he's a lot better than Edwards."  So he has that going for him.

[JosephC]

Another transfer reaches an agreement with Wisconsin-

NR - TE - Ryan Schwendeman - Southern Illinois

247Sports put TE-Jacob Harris in the rankings.  He is #248 overall, #17 tight end.

S-Preston Zachman to Indiana

QB-Billy Edwards to North Carolina

[LouisEly]

Knocked out two of arguably their three biggest needs with Joseph at QB and just got Oklahoma State's starting OC from last year, Austin Kawecki who is a redshirt senior.  

Joseph's 21 TDs to 10 INTs would have been the second best ratio at UW since Russell Wilson.  Only Jack Coan's 18 TDs to 5 INTs in 2019 has been better.  Joseph rushed for over 1,000 yards last year on top of 2,500 passing yards.  Averaged over 15 yards per completion, so he has the ability to throw downfield.

Now that the QB is in place, WRs should start flowing in.  There's some smoke around Cristian Driver (son of Donald Driver).

[LouisEly]

Just got Justus Boone, DL from Arkansas.  Started 3 games last year, 6'4", 278, so probably more of a DE.

[LouisEly]

On 1/3/2026 at 11:44 AM, JosephC said:

I have done some internet searches on Chase Hendricks and Beau Johnson, and have not been able to find any reports linking them to Wisconsin.

Hendricks put out a tweet/X that had UW's logo on it.  UW was one of about a dozen logos.  Only significant programs of note were Alabama, Missouri, and Illinois, all were P-4 schools.  I don't know who Illinois' QB is going to be because my understanding is that Altmyer is out of eligibility.

Someone with connections to UW said Johnson was on campus.  Don't know if that person saw him or received word from someone else, but it sounded like someone saw him and could verify his physical presence.