Wisconsin landed a commitment from Western Michigan transfer defensive lineman Corey Walker on Monday.
Walker is the Badgers’ fourth portal addition of the last week, joining Louisville edge rusher Mason Reiger, Ball State tight end Tanner Koziol and Tulane defensive lineman Parker Petersen. With Petersen, he fills an important position of need on the Badgers’ 2025 roster.
Related: Tracking Wisconsin football’s transfer portal offers, interests and commitments
Walker entered the portal after four years at Western Michigan, two as a starter. His impressive 2023 and 2024 campaigns include 23 starts, 70 tackles (39 solo), 15 tackles for loss, eight sacks, nine pass deflections and one forced fumble.
Those are significant numbers from an interior defensive line position. His 2024 production of seven tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks would have led Wisconsin’s defense in each category. It has been well-documented how badly the Badgers’ 2024 unit struggled getting to the quarterback (No. 121 in the nation with 1.3 sacks per game). Walker’s addition is a big step toward fixing that reality in 2025.
He commits to the program with one year of eligibility remaining.
#OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/7FkklElRT4
— Corey Walker (@Corey_Walker_) December 16, 2024
Walker and Petersen project to lead a Wisconsin defense line room that lost most of its production from the 2024 season. Veterans Ben Barten and Brandon Lane, plus underclassmen Jamel Howard and Dillan Johnson figure to play into that 2025 rotation.
Defensive line was arguably the program’s biggest portal need entering the offseason — next to a starting quarterback. Luke Fickell and his staff have done well in addressing it, highlighted by the addition of Walker.
For more on Wisconsin’s transfer commitments and interests, bookmark our transfer offer, visit and commitment tracker.
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