Tag: commit

Wisconsin wide receiver Will Pauling announces transfer commitment

Wisconsin wide receiver Will Pauling announces transfer commitment

Former Wisconsin wide receiver Will Pauling announced his transfer commitment to Notre Dame on Tuesday.

Pauling entered the portal this month after two years with the Badgers. He is one of 24 Wisconsin scholarship players in the portal and the 11th to announce his commitment. The most notable destinations to date are Curt Neal and Leon Lowery to Illinois, Anelu Lafaele to Michigan State and Riley Nowakowski to Indiana.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 transfer portal departure tracker

Pauling joins the Fighting Irish with 36 career games under his belt (13 at Cincinnati, 23 at Wisconsin). He has 129 receptions, 1,372 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in his career. His best season was in 2023 when he led the Badgers in every receiving category, totaling 74 catches, 837 yards and six touchdowns.

He joins a Notre Dame program that went 11-1 during the 2024 regular season and defeated Indiana in the first round of the College Football Playoff. It faces No. 2 seed Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.

Pauling reunites with former Wisconsin wide receivers coach Mike Brown at Notre Dame. Brown left the Badgers for the same position with the Fighting Irish after the 2023 season.

Wisconsin has lost two wide receivers to the transfer portal: Pauling and C.J. Williams. It has since bolstered the position, adding top transfer recruit Mark Hamper (Idaho) and former top high school prospect Jayden Ballard (Ohio State).

The Badgers will enter 2025 with a new-look wide receiving corps. The position is expected to be utilized differently in new offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes’ scheme — a departure from Phil Longo’s air raid approach. With Pauling gone, rising redshirt sophomore Trech Kekahuna is poised to start in the slot.

For more on where former Wisconsin transfers end up, bookmark our transfer departure tracker.

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BREAKING: Wisconsin lands commitment from standout transfer cornerback

Wisconsin adds much-needed help at cornerback

Wisconsin landed a transfer commitment from former Jacksonville State cornerback Geimere Latimer on Tuesday.

Latimer is the program’s first cornerback addition of the transfer cycle and 17th overall commitment (16 scholarship transfers, one walk-on). He transfers in with two years of eligibility remaining.

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

The talented cornerback originally joined Jacksonville State as an unranked recruit in the class of 2023. He made an immediate impact, playing in all 13 games as a true freshman (two starts) and recording 10 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception.

Latimer broke out in 2024, totaling 42 tackles, three interceptions and five pass deflections for a Jacksonville State team that won a Conference USA title.

He projects to be a multiyear starter for the Badgers. Wisconsin lost nearly its entire cornerback room after the 2024 season, headlined by the departure of rising star freshman Xavier Lucas. It returns only redshirt freshmen Jay Harper and Omillio Agard, plus veteran Ricardo Hallman (pending his NFL decision). The position is arguably the team’s biggest need after a busy stretch of transfer movement.

Latimer should have no trouble competing for and winning a starting job in 2025. He is likely to be one of several transfer additions at the position.

For more on the Badgers other cornerback targets, check out our transfer offer, visit and commitment tracker.

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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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Wisconsin top freshman edge rusher transfers to a Big Ten rival

Wisconsin top freshman edge rusher transfers to a Big Ten rival

Wisconsin transfer outside linebacker Anelu Lafaele committed to Michigan State on Sunday.

The former four-star recruit joins a growing list of former Badgers to find new transfer destinations, joining outside linebacker Leon Lowery (Illinois), cornerback Amare Snowden and safety Braedyn Moore (Toledo), CB Jonas Duclona (South Florida), S Justin Taylor (Wyoming) and tight end Riley Nowakowski (Indiana).

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 transfer portal departure tracker

Lafaele entered the portal last week after one year with the Badgers. He was one of the highest-rated commits in the program’s class of 2024. He was the No. 601 overall player in the class and the No. 27 edge rusher.

The Hawaii native did not see the field as a true freshman and transferred out with four years of eligibility remaining. He is one of four members of Wisconsin’s class of 2024 to depart, joining CB Xavier Lucas, defensive lineman Hank Weber and quarterback Mabrey Mettauer.

Lafaele joins a Michigan State program that went 5-7 under first-year coach Jonathan Smith in 2024. Smith is working to return the Spartans to the level of success they sustained during the 2010s — just as Luke Fickell is trying to do at Wisconsin.

The Badgers will face Lafaele when they host the Spartans in 2026. Wisconsin is likely to have new faces at edge rusher by that date because seniors Darryl Peterson, Aaron Witt and Mason Reiger (transfer) are poised to lead the room in 2025. Rising junior Sebastian Cheeks and class of 2024 signees Thomas Heiberger and Ernest Willor Jr. appear next in line at the position. Lafaele would have competed for snaps with that second group. Now, he’ll be on the opposing sideline looking to rush the Badgers’ quarterback.

For more on where former Badgers are headed, including several to Big Ten destinations, bookmark our 2024 transfer portal departure tracker.

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Wisconsin transfer safety commits to MAC school, joins former Badger Amare Snowden

Wisconsin transfer safety commits to MAC school, joins Amare Snowden

Wisconsin transfer safety Braedyn Moore committed to Toledo on Friday.

The rising redshirt sophomore joins former Badgers cornerback Amare Snowden with the Rockets. Of the 21 Wisconsin scholarship players to enter the portal since the conclusion of the 2024 season, Moore is the sixth to announce his next destination.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 transfer portal departure tracker

Moore initially joined the Badgers as a four-star recruit in the class of 2023, ranked as the No. 321 player in the class, No. 13 athlete and No. 9 recruit from his home state of Ohio. He was first committed to Cincinnati before flipping to the Badgers, following head coach Luke Fickell.

Moore is notably among 11 members of Fickell’s class of 2023 to transfer out. Most of those departures have come from the cornerback and safety positions, eliminating much of the program’s secondary depth.

The underclassman safety played sparingly in his two years with the program. He recorded just two tackles and a fumble recovery in 2024, playing in a top-heavy safety room led by star Hunter Wohler and veteran Preston Zachman. He commits to Toledo with three years of eligibility remaining.

Moore’s move to Toledo follows five former Badgers to announce their transfer destinations. Outside linebacker Leon Lowery committed to Illinois, Snowden to Toledo, cornerback Jonas Duclona to South Florida, safety Justin Taylor to Wyoming and tight end Riley Nowakowski to Indiana.

Wisconsin has addressed the safety position since Moore’s departure, adding commitments from Football Championship Subdivision transfer Matthew Traynor (Richmond) and D-III transfer Matt Jung (Bethel)

For more on the Badgers’ movement in the portal and where former players are headed, bookmark our 2024 transfer departure tracker.

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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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Former Wisconsin starting tight end transfers to Indiana

Wisconsin transfer tight end commits to Indiana

Former Wisconsin tight end Riley Nowakowski committed to Indiana on Wednesday.

The former Badger starter transfers to the Hoosiers, a team that plays Wisconsin in 2025, for his final season of eligibility.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 transfer portal departure tracker

Nowakowski played five seasons at Wisconsin. He shared starting duties in both 2023 and 2024, totaling a combined 18 catches for 131 yards and a touchdown.

The Milwaukee, Wisconsin native originally joined the Badgers as a walk-on linebacker in the class of 2020. He soon switched to fullback in the program’s old offensive system under former head coach Paul Chryst. Phil Longo then flipped the veteran to tight end upon arrival in 2023, as his air raid offense did not employ a traditional fullback.

Nowakowski commits to an Indiana program that is amid a breakout 2024 season under first-year head coach Curt Cignetti. The No. 10-ranked Hoosiers went 11-1 in the regular season and are set for a first-round College Football Playoff game against No. 7 Notre Dame.

Wisconsin recently landed former Ball State star tight end Tanner Koziol, making the position a real strength entering 2025. He projects to play a sizable role as the program shifts back to a pro-style offensive under new coordinator Jeff Grimes.

The progression of the position will be one to watch as the season kicks off, as will the possible reemergence of the fullback position.

Nowakowski will be on an opposing sideline for that campaign. For more on where former Badger transfers are headed, bookmark our transfer departure tracker.

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Former Wisconsin wide receiver transfers to a top SEC program

Big-time commitment for a former Wisconsin wide receiver

Former Wisconsin wide receiver Keontez Lewis committed to Oklahoma on Wednesday.

The former Badger spent the 2024 season at Southern Illinois. He joins the Sooners with one year of eligibility remaining.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 transfer portal departure tracker

Lewis transferred to the Badgers in 2022 after his freshman season at UCLA. He flashed significant playmaking ability as one of the team’s primary outside wide receivers that season, catching 20 passes for 313 yards and three touchdowns. His best game was a three-catch, 71-yard, one-touchdown outing against rival Iowa.

Lewis then fell down the depth chart entering the 2023 season after the arrival of Phil Longo and a host of transfer receivers. He played in just one game that season, catching one pass for 12 yards. The 6’2″ wideout reentered the portal after the team’s Week 2 loss to Washington State.

The tide turned for Lewis in his one year at Southern Illinois. He led the Salukis with 49 catches, 790 receiving yards and five touchdowns, plus aded 10 carries, 121 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.

His best outing was a nine-touch (eight receptions, one carry), 205-yard (148 receiving, 57 rushing), two-touchdown breakout in a narrow win over Incarnate Word. He nearly broke single-game records with the performance.

Lewis entered the portal for a third time after the season concluded. He is now en route to Norman, Oklahoma to help a program that went just 6-6 in its first year in the SEC. Despite the down year, the Sooners remain one of the sport’s blue blood programs. This commitment is a significant step forward for Lewis after one year at the Football Championship Subdivision level.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, recently landed Ohio State transfer Jayden Ballard to bolster its wide receiving corps. The team lost Bryson Green (eligibility), C.J. Williams (portal) and Will Pauling (portal) after the 2024 season. The position remains one to watch as the Badgers continue their transfer recruiting.

Lewis is one of several former Badger receivers to watch at new destinations in 2025, especially as the program rebuilds at the position. For more on others, bookmark our transfer departure tracker.

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BREAKING: Wisconsin lands commitment from Western Carolina transfer linebacker

Wisconsin adds transfer commitment No. 11

Wisconsin landed a commitment from Western Carolina transfer linebacker Antarron Turner on Wednesday evening.

Turner is the program’s 11th transfer commitment of the cycle and second of the day, following Ohio State wide receiver Jayden Ballard. He joins the program with two years of eligibility remaining.

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

The junior linebacker is fresh off a breakout 2024 season for a Western Carolina team that finished second in the Southern Conference (Football Championship Subdivision). His campaign included 61 total tackles (26 solo), two pass deflections, 6 1/2 tackles for loss and three sacks.

Turner is the program’s sixth defensive addition of 11 overall transfer commitments. He is its first addition at stand-up linebacker, one of the program’s bigger needs after the impending departures of Jaheim Thomas and Jake Chaney. Junior Christian Alliegro figures to lead the position in 2025 with the other starting spot up for grabs.

The linebacker is also Wisconsin’s third addition from the FCS level, joining defensive lineman Charles Perkins and safety Matthew Traynor. The Badgers have made a concerted effort to land proven Football Bowl Subdivision production, while still targeting FCS standouts looking to make the jump up in level. Turner’s commitment fits into the latter.

While the Western Carolina transfer should be added to the mix for a starting linebacker slot in 2025, the Badgers are unlikely to be finished recruiting the position.

For more on that pursuit, bookmark our transfer visit and commitment tracker.

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BREAKING: Wisconsin lands commitment from Ohio State transfer wide receiver

Wisconsin lands an experienced transfer wide receiver

Wisconsin landed a commitment from former Ohio State wide receiver Jayden Ballard on Wednesday.

Ballard is Wisconsin’s first transfer wide receiver addition of the cycle and its 10th transfer commitment. He joins the program with one year of eligibility remaining.

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

Ballard entered the portal after four years with the Buckeyes. He joined the program in 2021 as one of the top recruits in the country (No. 55 overall in the class of 2021).

The Ohio native never fully delivered on his top recruiting profile amid a loaded wide receiver room in Columbus. He played in 35 combined games over four seasons, totaling 11 catches, 177 receiving yards and one touchdown. His 2022 campaign accounted for much of that production: eight catches, 155 yards and a touchdown.

Ballard joins a Wisconsin wide receiver room that recently lost both Will Pauling and C.J. Williams to the transfer portal. Redshirt sophomore Trech Kekahuna (slot) and senior Vinny Anthony each figure to start, leaving a major opportunity at the second boundary position. Ballard joins a mix of contenders for that starting spot that also includes redshirt juniors Joseph Griffin Jr. and Quincy Burroughs.

Overall, the wide receiver group figures to play a prominent role as new offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes installs his scheme, shifting the program away from its air raid approach.

Wisconsin had a top-10 transfer class before Ballard’s commitment. His addition should propel the group further up the rankings.

Bookmark our transfer visit and commitment tracker as Luke Fickell and his staff continue to make significant moves to bolster the roster.

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