Former Wisconsin Badgers and current Florida Gators wide receiver Chimere Dike declared for the 2025 NFL draft on Monday.
Dike, who played Wisconsin for four years from 2020-23, plans to make the jump to the pros after one year with the Florida Gators. The former Badger pass-catcher transferred to the SEC program in Dec. 2023. He joined former Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz, who had moved over the previous offseason.
“I also want to take a moment to thank the University of Wisconsin, especially Coach [Paul] Chryst, Coach [Luke] Fickell, Coach [Alvis] Whitted, and Coach [Mike] Brown,” Dike wrote on X. “You gave a kid from Waukesha, Wisconsin the chance to live out his dream, and for that, I will be forever grateful… Having said that I will be declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft.
after climbing a great hill, one only learns there are many more hills to climb..
Go Gators!đ pic.twitter.com/Y5e0qbwKT0— Chimere Dike (@chimdk11) December 23, 2024
The 6-foot-1 wide receiver finished his Wisconsin career with 44 games played over four seasons, 97 receptions, 1,478 yards and nine touchdowns, in addition 14 carries, 99 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.
Dike’s impact on Wisconsin’s program was immediate — as a true freshman, he started six of seven games and logged 12 catches for 189 yards and a touchdown. He appeared in at least 11 games over the next three seasons as one of Wisconsin’s go-to options on the outside.
The veteran then logged a career-best 783 receiving yards for the Gators in 2024 in addition to serving as the team’s primary punt returner. He was second on the team in catches (36) and touchdown receptions (2).
He joins Kansas offensive lineman Logan Brown and Michigan State linebacker Jordan Turner as former Badgers to announce their 2025 NFL draft decisions in December.