Tag: Badgers

Wisconsin offers transfer defensive lineman from Grambling State

Wisconsin offers transfer defensive lineman from Grambling State

Wisconsin extended an offer to Grambling State transfer defensive lineman Michael Garner on Friday.

Garner, who played two years for the Tigers from 2023-24, has received transfer offers from Wisconsin, Georgia State, UAB, Colorado, Coastal Carolina, Campbell, Austin Peay, Bethune Cookman and Kent State since officially entering the portal on Dec. 9.

While he may not possess the statistical outputs of some of the top transfer linemen, the 6-foot-5 defender notched 11 tackles and 4 1/2 tackles for loss in six contests with Grambling in 2024. He also tallied a pair of sacks and a forced fumble in his sophomore season.

As a recruit, Garner was considered the No. 219 defensive lineman and No. 54 prospect from Illinois for the class of 2023. He reeled in offers from Navy, Central Michigan, Miami (OH), Ball State and FAU while at Bloom High School in Chicago.

Garner is among several defenders circled on Wisconsin’s transfer portal interest pool.

As of Dec. 20, Louisville edge rusher Mason Reiger, Tulane defensive lineman Parker Peterson, Western Michigan defensive lineman Corey Walker, UT-Martin defensive lineman Charles Perkins, Western Carolina linebacker Antarron Turner, Richmond safety Matthew Traynor and Bethel safety Matt Jung have officially committed to the Badgers.

Given the recent transfer departures of defensive linemen Curt Neal, James Thompson Jr. and Hank Weber, Wisconsin can use some bodies at the position. Garner doesn’t boast the most eye-popping resume, but he’s beginning to receive some national interest.

Wisconsin women’s basketball program makes history in win over UAlbany

Wisconsin women’s basketball program makes history in win over UAlbany

Wisconsin’s women’s basketball program made history in its 69-59 victory over UAlbany on Friday.

For the first time since the 2006-07 season, which marks the last time UW reached the 20-win threshold in a single campaign, the Badgers have started the season with a 7-0 mark at home.

In the win, reigning Big Ten Player of the Week and superstar forward Serah Williams scored a game-high 28 points off 10-of-15 from the field. She also reeled in 12 boards, denied two shot attempts and shot 8-of-9 from the free throw line.

2023-24 Horizon League Freshman of the Year Carter McCray also finished with arguably her best performance of the season. The Western Kentucky transfer tallied 15 points and a game-leading 14 rebounds in the 10-point win.

Wisconsin’s most thrilling victories at the Kohl Center have arrived against Rutgers, Georgetown and Omaha this season. Following the triumph over Albany, Marisa Moseley’s program will embark on its Big Ten slate for the remainder of the season.

On the season, Wisconsin is 10-2 and is on a five-game win streak. Only Ohio State, Maryland, UCLA, Michigan State, Nebraska and USC boast better records than UW as of Dec. 20.

Wisconsin will return to the hardwood for a Dec. 28 clash against the Indiana Hoosiers on Dec. 28 in Bloomington.

Wisconsin offers sought-after FCS transfer defensive lineman

Wisconsin offers sought-after FCS transfer defensive lineman

Wisconsin extended an offer to Idaho State transfer defensive lineman Logan George on Wednesday.

George, who played two years for the Bengals from 2023-24, has received transfer offers from Ohio State, Missouri, Utah, Texas A&M, Boise State, Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and Iowa State.

The 6-foot-5 game-wrecker played and started in all 12 games for Idaho State in 2024. He logged 57 total tackles on the season, including a Big Sky Conference-best 19 1/2 tackles for loss and 6 1/2 sacks.

In his first year with Idaho State, George flashed his future brilliance with 31 total tackles, 4 1/2 tackles for loss and one forced fumble.

George becomes the latest defensive target to join Wisconsin’s transfer portal interest pool.

Thus far, Louisville edge rusher Mason Reiger, Tulane defensive lineman Parker Peterson, Western Michigan defensive lineman Corey Walker, UT-Martin defensive lineman Charles Perkins, Western Carolina linebacker Antarron Turner and Richmond safety Matthew Traynor and Bethel safety Matt Jung have all offered officially transferred into the program.

The Badgers are in need of depth and talent at the position given the challenge of the Big Ten landscape and the recent transfer departures of defensive linemen Curt Neal, James Thompson Jr. and Hank Weber. George fits that bill. 

Wisconsin loses veteran kicker to the transfer portal

Wisconsin loses veteran kicker to the transfer portal

Wisconsin veteran kicker Nate Van Zelst announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on Thursday.

Van Zelst is the second Badgers place-kicker to enter the transfer portal this month. Gavin Lahm entered the portal on Dec. 7 before withdrawing his name and returning to the program.

“Thank you Wisconsin, for an incredible four years,” Van Zelst wrote on X. “I am deeply grateful for the memories, friendships, and experiences that have shaped me both on and off the field. It has been a blessing to be a part of the rich tradition of Badger football. Representing this program and wearing the Badger uniform has been one of the greatest honors of my life.”

Van Zelst walked on with the Badgers in 2021 after a successful high school tenure at Loyola Academy in Illinois. He joined Wisconsin over scholarship offers from Army, Navy, and Air Force, plus walk-on opportunities at Arizona and Northwestern.

After redshirting his 2021 season, Van Zelst played in 11 games as the Badgers’ primary place-kicker in 2022. He won the starting job early in the season after struggles from starter Vito Calvaruso. He converted 11-of-14 field goals during the campaign, plus all 35 extra point attempts. That was capped off by a 47-yard field goal, his career long, in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl against Oklahoma State.

Van Zelst was relegated to a depth position behind starter Nathanial Vakos in 2023 and 2024. With Vakos back for the 2025 season, he was set for another depth role.

Bookmark our transfer departure tracker for up-to-date information on Wisconsin’s transfer movement and where former Badgers are headed.

New England Patriots sign former Wisconsin wide receiver to practice squad

New England Patriots sign former Wisconsin wide receiver to practice squad

The New England Patriots signed former Wisconsin wide receiver Alex Erickson to its practice squad on Wednesday, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

The Patriots make to move to address their depth at the position. Rookie pass-catcher Javon Baker reportedly suffered a concussion and second-year wide receiver JaQuae Jackson suffered a leg injury in August. That leaves just Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne, DeMario Douglas and Ja’Lynn Polk on the Patriots’ wide receiver depth chart. It presents a clear opportunity for Erickson to return to an active roster.

Erickson, who played college football at Wisconsin from 2012-15, last suited up for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023. He registered 16 receptions for 232 yards and one receiving touchdown in eight games that season.

Erickson previously played five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2016-20 and one year with the Carolina Panthers in 2021. He appeared in 97 consecutive games during that stretch, reeled in 96 catches and notched 1,141 total receiving yards.

At Wisconsin, Erickson enjoyed a successful collegiate career under Gary Andersen and Paul Chryst. The Darlington, Wisconsin native appeared in 40 games over three seasons and finished his career ranked 10th in school history in receiving yards (1,877)  and sixth in receptions (141).

He will now look to see the turf alongside budding quarterback Drake Maye for the remainder of the 2024 NFL season.

Wisconsin class of 2026 safety target includes Badgers in top 10

Wisconsin top class of 2026 safety target includes Badgers in top 10

Wisconsin top class of 2026 safety target Nick Reddish included the Badgers in his list of final schools on Thursday.

Reddish becomes the latest 2026 prospect to include the Badgers as a finalist over the past month. Top-ranked offensive talents such as four-star running back Shahn Alston, top 100 offensive lineman Leo Delaney, three-star linebacker Storm Miller, four-star iOL Ben Nichols and top-ranked wide receiver Naeem Burroughs headline that list.

Reddish, who received his offer from Wisconsin on May 14, now includes it in his top 10 along with Duke, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, USC, Vanderbilt, Missouri and Indiana.

247Sports considers the 5-foot-11, 185-pound safety the No. 450 overall recruit in the class of 2026, the No. 38 safety and the No. 22 prospect from his home state of North Carolina. On3, 247Sports and Rivals all consider him a three-star recruit.

While Wisconsin’s presence in Reddish’s final list is encouraging, his commitment is nowhere near imminent. The sheer number of schools in his latest announcement indicates Reddish may narrow the list down even further as the cycle progresses.

As of Dec. 19, On3’s recruiting prediction machine lists Wake Forest as his most likely landing spot at 25%, which is odd considering their omission from his top 10. Virginia Tech and Notre Dame are next, each around the 20% likelihood mark.

Wisconsin’s class of 2026 still holds just two names — offensive lineman Benjamin Novak and quarterback Jarin Mock.

Former Wisconsin safety, Super Bowl champion named head coach at St. John Neumann High School

Former Wisconsin safety, Super Bowl champion named head coach at St. John Neumann

Former Wisconsin star defensive back Chris Maragos was named head coach at St. John Neumann Catholic High School on Wednesday.

Maragos becomes the second former Badger in as many days to assume high school head coaching responsibilities, joining former star running back Brian Calhoun. On Tuesday, Calhoun became head coach at his alma mater, Oak Creek High School, outside of Milwaukee.

Maragos, a Racine, Wisconsin native, will now head to Naples, Florida for his opportunity with St. John Neumann. He takes over from former head coach Rich Crosby. He enters the high school coaching scene after one of the more successful NFL undrafted free agent stories in Wisconsin football history.

After transferring from Western Michigan after the 2006 season, Maragos switched from wide receiver to free safety for his two years with the Badgers (2008-09). He recorded 94 tackles and five interceptions during his 26-game UW tenure.

Despite going unselected in the 2010 NFL draft, Maragos played eight NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles.

Maragos spent the bulk of his pro career as an ace on special teams =. He played all 16 games for the Seahawks during their Super Bowl season in during 2013 before netting a multi-year contract with the Eagles from 2014-17. He was named special teams captain for Philadelphia during its Super Bowl run in 2017.

The Racine product finished his NFL career with 93 total tackles, two tackles for loss, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in 99 career contests.

Now, he’ll man the sidelines for a Celtics program looking to elevate into one of the premier private schools in a crowded Florida football scene.

BREAKING: Wisconsin lands commitment from top D-III transfer safety

Another big transfer commitment for the Badgers

Wisconsin landed a commitment from Bethel (D-III) transfer safety Matt Jung on Thursday.

The fast-rising prospect is the Badgers’ 12th transfer commitment of the cycle. He is the second safety in that group, joining Richmond transfer Matthew Traynor.

Related: Tracking Wisconsin football’s transfer portal offers, interests and commitments

Jung chose the Badgers over other transfer offers from Football Bowl Subdivision schools including Buffalo, Iowa State and Washington State. He was also reportedly set for an official visit to Iowa.

The D-III First Team All-American tallied 109 tackles, 10 1/2 tackles for loss, 2 1/2 sacks, two forced fumbles, nine interceptions and 11 pass deflections in 2024. That production followed a 72-tackle, seven-interception, 4-1/2-tackle-for-loss, eight-pass-deflection 2023 campaign.

He joins the Badgers with two years of eligibility remaining.

Notably, Jung is originally from Neenah, Wisconsin. He was a high school teammate with Wisconsin class of 2025 signee Grant Dean. Those in-state ties likely played a role in his decision to join the Badgers.

Jung joins a Wisconsin safety room in need of a boost after losing star Hunter Wohler (NFL draft) after the 2024 season. Preston Zachman and Traynor project to start. If Jung can translate his D-III production to the FBS level, he shouldn’t have any trouble seeing the field.

For more on Wisconsin’s transfer pursuits and remaining needs, bookmark our transfer offer, visit and commitment tracker.

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Where Wisconsin ranks among the most valuable athletic programs in the Big Ten Conference

Interesting data on the valuations of college athletic programs

Wisconsin’s athletic program is the classic model of consistency — both the football and men’s basketball teams have had just one losing season since the turn of the century.

Parenthetically, the football’s one losing season just occurred. But that should not eliminate its larger body of work dating back to the late 1990s.

Related: Final Big Ten Power Rankings after 2024 season: Oregon is your conference champion

Some of Wisconsin’s top programs are even a model of excellence. Wisconsin women’s hockey is the winner of three of the last five national titles, while Wisconsin volleyball took home a title trophy in 2021.

Success impacts Wisconsin’s brand value, as does its place in the Big Ten Conference among some of the most influential brands in the space. Those converging factors make it one of the most valuable athletic departments in the country.

CNBC recently published a full study on the valuation of every major athletic department in the Football Bowl Subdivision. It partnered with AthleticDirectorU, which consults with those in the sport looking into private equity investment, to compile a comprehensive list of both valuation and annual revenue.

Wisconsin’s valuation of $838 million is No. 15 overall in the published study. More significantly, it is just No. 5 in the expanded Big Ten Conference — ranked behind only Ohio State (No. 1 overall at $1.32 billion), Michigan (No. 4 overall at $1.06 billion), Nebraska (No. 8 overall at $943 million) and Penn State (No. 11 overall at $924 million).

By no surprise, 20 of the top 22 schools are currently affiliated with the Big Ten or SEC. Notre Dame (No. 6 at $969 million) and Clemson (No. 16 at $800 million) are the only outliers.

Television deals and major-conference branding are significant factors in each school’s annual revenue, which then plays into its overall valuation. Consider this study further proof of the Big Ten and SEC’s respective dominance over the larger college athletics landscape.

For more specifics on how the Badgers compare to the rest of the Big Ten, here is the full study.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

BREAKING: Wisconsin star freshman cornerback enters NCAA transfer portal

Stunning news for the Badgers

Wisconsin true freshman cornerback Xavier Lucas announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on Thursday.

His departure is the most stunning of the cycle to date. He is the 21st Wisconsin scholarship player to depart and arguably possibly the most impactful. The breakout freshman enters with three years of eligibility remaining.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 transfer portal departure tracker

Lucas joined the Badgers as a four-star recruit in the class of 2024, ranked as the No. 372 player in the country, No. 35 safety and No. 52 recruit from the state of Florida. He chose the program over offers from top programs including Alabama, Miami, Auburn, Florida State, Michigan, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas A&M.

Lucas then emerged as a rising star immediately upon arriving on campus. He earned a spot on the two-deep to start the season and went on to play a primary role throughout. He closed the year with 12 games played, 18 tackles (12 solo), two tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and two pass deflections.

Notably, Lucas is the sixth player from Wisconsin’s cornerback room to enter the transfer portal. The group’s depth has been decimated in that time, as most departures were top recruits from the program’s 2023 and 2024 classes.

Lucas’ departure matters more than most others given his inside track at a starting job in 2025 and for the years to follow.

Wisconsin now must add starting cornerback to its list of roster needs. The program’s only players at the position entering 2025, as of Dec. 19, are senior Ricardo Hallman, redshirt freshmen Jay Harper and Omilio Agard, and true freshmen Jaimier Scott, Cairo Skanes and Jahmare Washington.

For more on the now-former Badgers in the transfer portal and where they end up, bookmark our 2024 transfer portal departure tracker.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.