There were reports Monday that walk-on punter/kicker Blake Wilcox, Kohl’s Kicking Camp’s No. 3 punter and No. 5 kicker, will not return to Madison this season for his redshirt freshman year.
Recently those reports were confirmed by Sports Illustrated’s Jake Kocorowski and The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Jeff Potrykus.
“On Tuesday afternoon, a UW official confirmed to AllBadgers.com that kicker Blake Wilcox is no longer with the Wisconsin football program,” Kocorowski’s article reads.
This came a day after Potrykus tweeted several times to explain the situation.
Our story on former #Badgers P/K Blake Wilcox hasn't been posted yet but just talked to Blake. He did share he was surprised to learn on 5/15 he wasn't being asked back. Said he took leave of absence from football for about three weeks in winter. (More)
— Jeff Potrykus (@jaypo1961) May 26, 2020
Blake Wilcox said he participated in some early winter workouts with #Badgers but then took leave of absence. Blake said he kept staff in the loop as much as he could. Said he finished spring semester w/a 3.8 GPA and hoped to return to football. (more)
— Jeff Potrykus (@jaypo1961) May 26, 2020
It appears to me that the #Badgers believed Blake Wilcox wasn't coming back to the team and started looking at other punters. Wilcox said faulty communication possible but he believes he kept UW in the loop. (more)
— Jeff Potrykus (@jaypo1961) May 26, 2020
Last, former #Badgers P/K Blake Wilcox said he plans to enter the transfer portal to check his options but added he might just stay at UW and get his degree (business).
— Jeff Potrykus (@jaypo1961) May 26, 2020
It surely is a weird situation with not many facts out there about why Wilcox will not return.
What is known, though, is that the Badgers will still need to find an option at punter with Anthony Lotti done with his four years of eligibility.