Entering the college football offseason, the Badgers top ranked defense was set to lose starting cornerbacks Faion Hicks and Caesar Williams, both of whom had been multi-year starters for UW. Couple that with starting nickel corner Dean Engram switching to the offensive side of the ball, and the nation’s top ranked defense has some serious holes to fill in their secondary.
Thankfully, Paul Chryst and company saw this glaring need on the roster, and took to the transfer portal to fix it. Wisconsin brought in Justin Clark (Toledo), Jay Shaw (UCLA), and Cedrick Dort Jr. (Kentucky), all of whom have considerable experience at the collegiate level to help rebuild an otherwise inexperienced secondary.
Not to mention, there have been several instances of in-house options taking the next step in their development and working their way up the depth chart. Senior CB Alexander Smith has the most experience of any returning player, and appears set to sit to begin fall camp as the team’s CB1 after a strong showing in the spring. Red-shirt freshman Ricardo Hallman also appears ready to push for meaningful snaps on the outside despite the influx of experience added to the roster.
These additions through the transfer portal helped patch up a gaping hole on the roster that allows Wisconsin to maintain their level of excellence on the field now, while allowing younger players like Al Ashford, Auman Williams, Max Lofy, and Avyonne Jones to continue developing until they’re ready for larger roles of their own in the future.
At their core, Wisconsin will continue to be a recruit and develop program. However, the transfer portal also allows for teams like UW to pursue stopgap options that prevent their younger players from being thrust into roles they’re not ready for. It’s a win-win for UW, and an overall masterful use of the transfer portal.
What was once viewed as a position group of weakness, is now viewed as a strength for the Badgers as they move past spring ball and into summer workouts.
Entering fall camp, Wisconsin’s projected starters at CB are expected to be Alexander Smith and Jay Shaw on the outside, with Toledo transfer Justin Clark starting at the nickel corner.
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