Wisconsin transfer outside linebacker commits to Big Ten rival

Wisconsin transfer outside linebacker commits to Big Ten rival

Former Wisconsin outside linebacker Leon Lowery signed with Illinois on Tuesday.

Lowery entered the transfer portal on Dec. 1 after one year at Wisconsin. He commits to a Fighting Illini program that is fresh off a 9-3 2024 season. It is currently preparing to square off against No. 20 South Carolina in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31 in Orlando, Florida.

Prior to his stint with UW, Lowery played four seasons at Syracuse from 2020-23. He appeared in 29 games in that time and logged 77 total tackles, 20 1/2 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, a fumble recovery and two pass breakups.

The veteran pass-rusher did not translate that level of production to Wisconsin. During his lone season with the Badgers, he recorded just 29 total tackles (18 solo), one tackle for loss and one sack.

Wisconsin’s outside linebacker room mostly struggled to pressure the quarterback in 2024. Lowery, alongside top outside linebackers Darryl Peterson, John Pius, Aaron Witt and Sebastian Cheeks, combined for just 6 1/2 sacks and 13 tackles for loss. That lack of production was one reason the Wisconsin defense was unable to return to its pre-2023 form.

Lowery was one of Wisconsin’s first players to enter the portal when it opened in early December. He is now set to play his final season of eligibility for a team that Wisconsin will face in 2025 — the Fighting Illini visit the Badgers on Nov. 22, 2025 at Camp Randall.