Wisconsin starting defensive lineman transfers to former Big Ten West rival

Wisconsin will face its former top defensive lineman next year

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Wisconsin multi-year starting defensive tackle Curt Neal signed with Big Ten rival Illinois on Monday.

Neal is the second Wisconsin transfer to choose the Fighting Illini, joining outside linebacker Leon Lowery. He is the ninth former Badger to find a new transfer destination: Lowery committed to Illinois, cornerback Amare Snowden and safety Braedyn Moore to Toledo, cornerback Jonas Duclona to South Florida, safety Justin Taylor to Wyoming, outside linebacker Anelu Lafaele to Michigan State, safety Kamo’i Latu to UConn and TE Riley Nowakowski to Indiana.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 transfer portal departure tracker

Neal’s departure is among Wisconsin’s most impactful transfer moves this offseason. The veteran lineman started for the team in 2023 and 2024, totaling 42 tackles, five for loss and 1/2 sack in that time. He was arguably the team’s most dependable player at the position over the last two seasons.

He now joins an Illinois program that went 9-3 in 2024. It is a Cheez-It Citrus Bowl win away from its first 10-win season since 2001. If one were to draw a parallel, Wisconsin just missed a bowl game for the first time since that same year.

Wisconsin hosts Illinois in 2025. Neal’s performance with his new team will be front and center, creating a direct comparison between him and Wisconsin’s transfer additions at the position.

Those additions: Parker Petersen (Tulane), Corey Walker (Western Michigan), Charles Perkins (UT-Martin) and Michael Garner (Grambling State). Those defensive tackles are also complemented by edge rushers Mason Reiger (Louisville) and Tyreese Fearbry (Kentucky).

The Badgers have done well to reload the defensive front with Neal, James Thompson Jr., Elijah Hills and others gone from the 2024 unit. Instant results will be necessary after the unit struggled during the team’s five-game losing streak to close the year.

For more on former Badgers on the move and where they end up, bookmark our 2024 transfer departure tracker.

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