depth chart – Page 2 – Syndication Server

Wisconsin football in pursuit of an accomplished transfer portal running back

Wisconsin could be looking to continue to upgrade at running back

Wisconsin is in pursuit of former Louisville running back Peny Boone, according to Rivals’ Marshall Levenson.

Boone entered the transfer portal after only spending the spring with the Cardinals. He transferred there in January after two decorated years at Toledo, that after spending the first two years of his career at Maryland.

The 6’1″ running back was the 2023 MAC Offensive Player of the Year at Toledo after rushing for 1400 yards and 15 touchdowns on 7.2 yards per carry.

Wisconsin is on a list of schools to have reportedly reached out to Boone that also includes Ole Miss, Washington, Tennessee, Miami, Nebraska, Utah and Michigan State.

Louisville RB Peny Boone has heard from the following schools since entering the portal, @RivalsPortal has learned.

Ole Miss
Washington
Tennessee
Miami
Oklahoma State
UCLA
Nebraska
UNC
Colorado
Ga. Tech
Wisconsin
W. Kentucky
Viriginia Tech
Utah
Michigan State… pic.twitter.com/m7Cc6Ak0sd

— Marshall Levenson (@MarshallRivals) April 18, 2024

This interest is a bit of a surprise. Wisconsin is loaded at running back after adding Oklahoma transfer Tawee Walker during the winter window. He and veteran Chez Mellusi are set to lead the backfield, with not many additional carries available.

Preliminary interest doesn’t mean Wisconsin will go on to land the transfer — and become his fourth school in four years. It’s worth monitoring, however, if any visits get reported.

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

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Wisconsin football locks in official visit with 2025 running back Javin Gordon

Wisconsin football locks in visit with 2025 running back Javin Gordon

Wisconsin football scheduled an official visit with class of 2025 running back Javin Gordon on Wednesday. The visit will be June 7-9, during one of the bigger official visit weekends of the year.

Gordon is currently unranked by 247Sports at this stage in the 2025 cycle. Wisconsin is likely the Georgia native’s best offer at the moment. Other notable ones include Indiana, Northwestern, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Toledo, Liberty, USF and Wake Forest.

The Badgers offered Gordon on April 11 and took no time to schedule the visit.

The program’s class of 2025 currently ranks No. 22 in the nation with seven players committed. It is yet to land a running back, that after finishing the 2024 cycle with three at the position.

Official visit locked in🔒! @BadgerFootball @_maximus347 @CoachSpalding_ @SCFBrecruits @coachwtank pic.twitter.com/L0fpUxTTRD

— Javin Gordon (@Javingordon5) April 17, 2024

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Wisconsin football offers former All-MAC transfer defensive tackle

Wisconsin football extended an offer to transfer portal defensive tackle and former All-MAC selection C.J. West on Tuesday.

The now-former Kent State defensive tackle recorded 40 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks and one forced fumble in a terrific senior season in 2023. He enters the portal with 36 games of experience, 19.5 total tackles for loss and seven sacks.

West has already received offers from LSU, Indiana, Rutgers, Miami, Kansas State, Colorado, Arkansas, Texas A&M and Wisconsin after entering the transfer portal on Tuesday,

The La Grange Park, Illinois native initially committed to the University of Minnesota in 2019 before signing with the Golden Flashes in February of 2020.

With one year of eligibility remaining, West is clearly a coveted target for a collection of the most prestigious programs across the new ‘Power Four’ landscape.

WISCONSIN OFFERED @BadgerFootball pic.twitter.com/3hotoMeXD7

— CJ West (@CJWEST50) April 16, 2024

Wisconsin has a significant need along the defensive line. Only James Thompson Jr. and Curt Neal return with any experience, plus backup T.J. Bollers recently entered the transfer portal.

West would be a day-one starter for Mike Tressel’s defense as the program continues to transition to his new defensive system.

Former four-star QB with ties to Wisconsin OC Phil Longo enters transfer portal

Does Wisconsin need any more help at quarterback?

The spring transfer portal window opened on Tuesday. It’s the start of two weeks of chaotic transfer activity across college football and the last chance for movement before the 2024 season.

One player with strong Wisconsin connections entered the portal when it opened: former North Carolina and Arkansas quarterback Jacolby Criswell.

Criswell played for Wisconsin offensive coordinator Phil Longo at North Carolina for three seasons from 2020-2022 before transferring to Arkansas for the 2023 season.

The dual-threat quarterback was a four-star recruit back in the class of 2020, ranked as the No. 267 player in the class, No. 11 quarterback and No. 2 recruit from the state of Arkansas.

Criswell has not seen the field much during his four-year college career. He backed up Sam Howell at Drake Maye at North Carolina, only attempting 31 total passes in his three years there. Arkansas was no different, as the former four-star recruit played in just four games in 2023, completing 17 of 27 passes for 143 yards and three touchdowns.

Arkansas QB Jacolby Criswell to enter NCAA Transfer Portal, according to report from @bmarcello #wps #arkansas #razorbacks (FREE): https://t.co/wKKeENMvTc pic.twitter.com/tzPFD2o6Ue

— Trey Biddy (@TreyBiddy) April 15, 2024

Wisconsin is not in the veteran quarterback market thanks to the presence of established starter Tyler Van Dyke. Criswell almost definitely wouldn’t transfer to a place he’d continue to be the backup, plus I doubt the Badgers would mess with Braedyn Locke’s standing in the room.

But Criswell does have a strong connection to Wisconsin’s current offensive coordinator, so he’d be the first to know whether the former four-star recruit has some untapped potential.

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Wisconsin football projected starting defensive lineman to enter transfer portal

Wisconsin may be losing a starter to the transfer portal

Wisconsin football projected starting defensive lineman T.J. Bollers is entering the transfer portal when the spring window opens on April 16, according his post on X.

Bollers was slated to play a major role for the Badgers along the defensive line after moving from outside linebacker following the 2023 season. The team is shallow at the position at this stage in the spring, and this news only makes that situation worse.

Bollers joined the program as a four-star recruit in the class of 2021. He was the No. 159 recruit in the class, No. 11 edge rusher and No. 2 recruit from his home state of Iowa. He barely saw the field throughout his career in a crowded Wisconsin outside linebacker room, finding most of his playing time on special teams.

The converted outside linebacker is a bit of an odd fit in Mike Tressel’s 3-3-5 defense. That could be a part of the reason behind the move, as he’d be better served as a 4-3 defensive end.

Bollers still has his high billing from his high school recruiting days. That had people looking at 2024 as a potential breakout season for the Tiffin, Iowa, native, though that will have to come with another program.

Dear Wisconsin, pic.twitter.com/sWvIDacuDs

— TJ Bollers (@tj35ballin) April 15, 2024

Wisconsin is sure to be active in the transfer portal window with defensive line a likely priority.

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Wisconsin basketball makes Andy Katz’s way-too-early Power 36

Where should the Badgers be ranked entering 2024-25?

Wisconsin basketball is included in Andy Katz’s way-too-early Power 36 for the 2024-25 season.

The Badgers are in at No. 21 overall, ranked as the No. 3 team in the Big Ten behind Purdue (No. 13 overall) and Illinois (No. 15 overall).

Greg Gard’s team is off a disappointing 22-14 2023-24 campaign that included a rise to No. 6 in the AP Poll, a steep six-week drought entering postseason play, a run to the final of the Big Ten Tournament and another first-round NCAA Tournament exit.

The Badgers return starters Chucky Hepburn, Max Klesmit and Steven Crowl, plus promising youngster John Blackwell. The program is also set to welcome in top 2024 point guard Daniel Freitag in addition to whatever it does in the transfer portal. The roster should be well-equipped entering the season after losing A.J. Storr and Tyler Wahl from the 2023-24 team.

🚨 Way-too-early #Power36 from @TheAndyKatz! pic.twitter.com/tKN4FrUqWm

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 10, 2024

Expectations will be high for the Badgers entering 2024-25. I’d expect a ranking between 20 and 25 entering the season in most polls.

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Wisconsin football offers a class of 2025 wide receiver

Wisconsin football extended an offer to three-star class of 2025 wide receiver Davion Chandler on Saturday.

Chandler is 247Sports’ No. 978 player in the class of 2025, No. 151 wide receiver and No. 18 recruit from his home state of Indiana.

The 6’0″ wide receiver also holds offers from notable programs including Indiana, Boston College, Louisville and West Virginia.

The Badgers are currently without a wide receiver committed to their class of 2025. The group as a whole ranks No. 17 in the nation with seven total commitments at this early stage in the cycle.

Wisconsin has been aggressive at the position since Luke Fickell took the job in November 2022. The 2024 depth chart is entirely made up of transfer additions or recent recruits — headlined by transfers Will Pauling, C.J. Williams and Bryson Green.

Expect the program to exit the 2025 cycle with several prospects at the position.

After an great visit and conversation with @CoachFick & @CoachGuiton I’m blessed to say I have received an offer from @BadgerFootball @coach_mal @PatLambert13 @CoachKelich @CoachJay2REAL @AllenTrieu @SWiltfong_ @lnwildcats pic.twitter.com/HYvHBWPT2g

— Davion Chandler 3⭐️ (@Davionchandler8) April 6, 2024

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Wisconsin football offers an in-state class of 2026 offensive lineman

Wisconsin football extended an offer to class of 2026 offensive lineman James Thomas on Saturday.

Thomas is unranked on 247Sports at this early stage in the recruiting process. He also holds an offer from Arkansas.

The Oak Creek, Wisconsin native could become one of the state’s highest-touted recruits in the 2026 cycle. It will be another full calendar year before that cycle heats up, but Thomas could become an important piece of Wisconsin’s class if all continues to progress.

The Badgers class of 2025 currently ranks No. 17 in the nation with seven players committed. The 2025 and 2026 cycles will be important ones for Luke Fickell as he continues to build his program at Wisconsin.

I am very honored to receive an offer from @BadgerFootball!! Thank you to coach @CoachBlaz, @CaseyRabach_61 and the entire coaching staff for the offer #GoBadgers @MJ_NFLDraft @PrepRedzoneWI @travisWSN @PaarJoel #wisfb pic.twitter.com/DswQ1Prhq5

— James Thomas (@liljamearl) April 6, 2024

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Wisconsin OC Phil Longo discusses Badgers ongoing quarterback competition

Who should start at QB for Wisconsin this fall?

Wisconsin offensive coordinator Phil Longo met with the media Friday as the Badgers’ spring season continued. One topic of conversation was his quarterback room and the state of the competition between veteran transfer Tyler Van Dyke and returning youngster Braedyn Locke.

Van Dyke joined the Badgers this offseason after three years of starting at Miami. He brings a wealth of experience, plus 912 career pass attempts, 581 completions, 7,469 yards, 54 touchdowns and 23 interceptions.

Locke, on the other hand, returns after a redshirt freshman season at Wisconsin that saw him thrust into action after an injury to starter Tanner Mordecai. He played in five games, completing 50% of his passes for 777 yards, five touchdowns and one interception.

The veteran figures to be the starter — as was the case with Mordecai last season. But Wisconsin is reportedly approaching it as a pure competition and giving Locke a real chance to win the job.

“I think any time you have more talent in the room, and not just bodies, it breeds competition,” Longo said. “So if you want reps and you want to get on the field on game day, you have to beat out a number of other good players.”

That last part rings true, as the Badgers quarterback room currently consists of Van Dyke, Locke, highly touted youngster Nick Evers and true freshman Mabrey Mettauer. The room is as talented as it’s ever been, which should breed the productive competition that Longo refers to.

Here is his full answer and emphasis on the job being up for grabs:

“I think any time you have more talent in the room, not just bodies, it breeds competition.” ⚒️

🔗 | https://t.co/q9KFtFUPw4 pic.twitter.com/tpSQE6KTwu

— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) April 5, 2024

As I wrote on X yesterday, Wisconsin fans should be thrilled if Locke somehow wins the job. It would mean he beat out an impressive room of QBs, including one of the more established starters in the nation.

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Wisconsin basketball guard has offseason foot surgery

Wisconsin basketball guard has foot surgery

Wisconsin basketball guard Kamari McGee underwent foot surgery this week, according to his latest post on Instagram.

The veteran guard suffered a foot injury midway through the Badgers’ season. He was out from January 19 (the date of the injury) to March 7, and then went on to play important bench minutes for the team during its Big Ten Tournament run and early March Madness exit.

McGee’s importance was highlighted during his absence. Wisconsin went from one of the best teams in the nation to a group struggling to find wins, due in part to his steady contributions off the bench. Not to say McGee was the entire reason for the slump, but his absence was felt during that tough five-week stretch.

His late-season contributions are made even more impressive by the clear injury he was battling through.

The rising senior should play a similar role for Wisconsin in 2024-25. Chucky Hepburn will lead the starting unit, with McGee pickup up important bench minutes in his absence.

Minor setback for a major comeback

Get better, @KamariMcGee! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/3WCEmzGLT1

— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) April 4, 2024

McGee averaged 8.2 minutes, 2.1 points, 0.8 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 0.5 steals per game on 54% shooting and 27% from three. He’s turned into a valuable contributor to Greg Gard’s team after being a largely-forgotten addition when he transferred to Wisconsin from UW-Green Bay after his freshman year.

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