Tag: depth chart

Wisconsin loses another projected starting wide receiver to the transfer portal

Another Wisconsin starting wide receiver is in the portal

Wisconsin wide receiver C.J. Williams entered the transfer portal on Tuesday.

His move followed the departure of top WR Will Pauling. Those two moves increased Wisconsin’s transfer count to 19 scholarship players.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 transfer portal departure tracker

Williams was one of Wisconsin’s signature transfer additions entering the 2023 season. He joined the Badgers after playing sparingly as a true freshman at USC, which he joined as a four-star recruit and the No. 62 overall player in the class of 2022.

His addition was a major statement of arrival for Luke Fickell’s new regime, specifically for air raid offensive coordinator Phil Longo. The move furthered what was an unabated confidence in the team’s new-look offensive approach — confidence that quickly waned amid the unit’s on-field struggles.

The California native never fulfilled that top recruiting billing during his time at Wisconsin. He caught 31 combined passes over the two seasons for 396 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Many factors played into those limited numbers, including a crowded receiver room and mostly inconsistent quarterback play.

Williams enters the portal with one year of eligibility remaining.

Pauling and Williams exiting heightens wide receiver as an important position of need for the program. Vinny Anthony and Trech Kekahuna are both back to start, with a clear vacancy at the other outside receiver position. Williams figured to be a top contender for that outside position before his departure.

Wisconsin has been busy in the portal over the last few days, adding several impactful players at key positions. Expect to see wide receiver in the bio of one of the program’s upcoming commitments.

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Wisconsin top wide receiver enters NCAA transfer portal

Big news for the Badgers as a top receiver departs

Wisconsin wide receiver Will Pauling entered the transfer portal on Tuesday.

He is the program’s 18th scholarship player to enter since the portal opened on Dec. 9. He is easily one of the highest-impact departures, having led Wisconsin in receiving the last two seasons with a combined 116 catches, 1,244 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 transfer portal departure tracker

Pauling transferred into the program before the 2023 campaign after two seasons at Cincinnati. He was one of several Bearcats to follow coach Luke Fickell after he took over in Wisconsin.

Pauling caught 13 passes for 128 yards in his two seasons at Cincinnati. His breakout came as the Badgers’ top wideout in 2023, tallying 74 catches for 837 yards and six touchdowns. He was a tailored fit in Phil Longo’s air raid offense and quickly became quarterback Tanner Mordecai’s go-to target.

The veteran’s 2024 campaign was not as smooth. He missed several games with an injury and played through various ailments in the season’s final weeks. His year-to-year production was cut in half as a result. The team’s inconsistent quarterback play also contributed to the decline.

Pauling enters the portal with one year of eligibility remaining.

His move follows the Badgers’ string of portal additions. The two most noteworthy are quarterbacks Billy Edwards Jr. and Danny O’Neil, who project to enter 2025 as the team’s starter and backup, respectively.

Wisconsin has yet to make any transfer additions at wide receiver this offseason. The position is now a pressing need with both Pauling and C.J. Williams entering the portal.

For more on Wisconsin’s targets at the position, bookmark our transfer offer, visit and commitment tracker.

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Former Wisconsin wide receiver reenters transfer portal

Former Wisconsin wide receiver reenters transfer portal

Former Wisconsin Badgers and current UConn Huskies wide receiver Skyler Bell announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on Monday.

He does so after one year at UConn. He previously played for the Badgers from 2021-23 after joining the program as a three-star recruit in the class of 2021.

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

Bell broke out for a career year at UConn in 2024. He totaled 47 catches, a team-high 783 receiving yards and four touchdowns. His emergence was a key part of the Huskies going 8-4 in Year 3 under coach Jim Mora.

Of note, much of that production came when paired with quarterback Nick Evers, another former Badger who transferred to UConn last offseason.

“Thank You UConn Nation for this past year,” Bell wrote on X. “I plan on entering the transfer portal.”

Bell recorded 69 catches, 755 yards and six touchdowns in three seasons with the Badgers. He was one of the team’s top options in 2022 before the arrival of Phil Longo’s air raid offense and a host of transfer receivers in 2023 dropped him down the depth chart.

The veteran receiver is one of several former Badgers receivers finding success at other destinations: Chimere Dike had a strong season at Florida and Keontez Lewis had a big year at Southern Illinois.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, is rebuilding its offense with new coordinator Jeff Grimes in place. The team recently landed multiple top transfer quarterbacks and one of the best tight ends in the country. Wide receiver is high on the updated list of roster needs.

For more on the Badgers’ pursuits, bookmark our transfer offer, visit and commitment tracker.

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BREAKING: Wisconsin lands commitment from All-CAA transfer safety

BREAKING: Wisconsin lands commitment from All-CAA transfer safety

This story was updated to add new information and correct a misspelling.

Wisconsin football’s transfer portal haul is growing by the minute.

The Badgers secured another commitment from the portal on Monday evening: former Richmond transfer safety Matthew Traynor.

Traynor is one of six transfer portal commitments Wisconsin gained on Monday, joining Arkansas long snapper Eli Stein, Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., UT-Martin defensive lineman Charles Perkins, Western Michigan defensive lineman Corey Walker and San Diego State quarterback Danny O’Neil. They join the program’s previous additions: Louisville edge rusher Mason Reiger, Ball State tight end Tanner Koziol and Tulane defensive lineman Parker Petersen.

The talented safety announced his intention to enter the portal on Dec. 2 after two years with Spiders. The redshirt freshman played 13 games in 2024, totaling 69 total tackles, 4 1/2 tackles for loss, two interceptions and three pass deflections. That production was enough to earn him a spot on the All-Coastal Athletic Association third team.

Traynor’s acquisition is notable given UW’s recent defensive back movement. Since the portal opened on Dec. 9, cornerback Max Lofy, safety Kamo’i Latu, CB Braedyn Moore, defensive back Jace Arnold, CB Justin Taylor, CB Jonas Duclona and DB Amare Snowden have entered.

Wisconsin also loses 2024 starting safety Hunter Wohler (NFL draft). Traynor is a significant addition at a key position of need, and projects to start for the team for several years to come.

For more as this transfer cycle continues, bookmark our transfer offer, visit and commitment tracker.

Wisconsin lands commitment from SEC transfer long snapper

Wisconsin lands commitment from SEC transfer long snapper

Luke Fickell’s aggressiveness in the transfer portal continues to benefit the Wisconsin Badgers football program.

The Badgers landed yet another commitment from the portal on Monday evening when they secured a pledge from former Arkansas long snapper Eli Stein.

Stein is Wisconsin’s sixth transfer commitment on Monday, joining Richmond safety Matthew Traynor, Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., UT-Martin defensive lineman Charles Perkins, Western Michigan defensive lineman Corey Walker and San Diego State quarterback Danny O’Neil.

The veteran specialist and Cambridge, Wisconsin native transfers to Madison with a pair of seasons at the NCAA Division I level under his belt. From 2022-23, Stein started in 23 games for the Razorbacks as the team’s primary long snapper. In those games, he logged 234 snaps on special teams.

He’s been named to the Patrick Mannelly Award watch list twice and also notched a spot on the Freshman All-SEC Team in 2022.

At Cambridge High School, Stein was a consensus five-star prospect by Kohl’s Kicking and Rubio Long Snapping for the class of 2022. He also elected to commit to the program over offers from Wisconsin, Illinois, Baylor and Stanford.

While Stein may not receive headlines for pass-catching capabilities or defensive statistics, the Badgers are in need of some support at the position. Redshirt senior Cayson Pfeiffer just wrapped up his sixth year of college football and redshirt senior Duncan McKinley has played in one game during his five years at UW.

For more as this transfer cycle continues, bookmark our transfer offer, visit and commitment tracker.

BREAKING: Wisconsin class of 2025 quarterback signee decommits from program

Wisconsin class of 2025 quarterback commit decommits from program

Wisconsin class of 2025 signee Landyn Locke announced his decision to decommit from the Badgers’ class of 2025 on Monday.

Landyn Locke — the younger brother of former Badgers’ starter Braedyn Locke — made his choice just 12 days after signing with Wisconsin during its early signing day window on Dec. 4.

His choice follows a string of movements within the room. His older brother Braedyn entered the portal on Dec. 11 following an up-and-down season as the Badgers’ starter. That followed the departure of  Tyler Van Dyke, who also entered the portal after the 2024 season concluded.

After those departures, Wisconsin landed commitments from San Diego State transfer quarterback Danny O’Neil and Maryland starting quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. Those two additions, paired with the arrival of highly-touted class of 2025 quarterback Carter Smith, would have seen Locke enter far down the depth chart in Wisconsin’s crowded quarterback room.

With the reality of the updated depth chart, the Badgers’ move to fire offensive coordinator Phil Longo in November was also likely a factor in Locke’s decision.

The Texas native committed to Wisconsin in June 2023, just months after Braedyn transferred to the program from Mississippi State. He was set to join the Badgers as 247Sports’ No. 1,108 player in the class of 2025 and the No. 64 quarterback.

Rising sophomore Mabrey Mettauer is the only remaining quarterback from Wisconsin’s 2024 squad. Redshirt freshman Cole LaCrue also departed alongside Van Dyke and both Locke brothers this offseason.

For more on UW’s departing talent, bookmark our 2024 transfer portal departures tracker.

Wisconsin loses veteran defensive back to the transfer portal

Wisconsin loses veteran defensive back to the transfer portal

Wisconsin Badgers veteran cornerback Max Lofy announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on Monday.

Lofy is the seventh former Badger defensive back to enter the portal since it opened on Dec. 9, joining safety Kamo’i Latu, CB Braedyn Moore, DB Jace Arnold, CB Justin Taylor, CB Jonas Duclona and DB Amare Snowden.

“I am forever grateful for the opportunity to play football here at the University of Wisconsin and am honored to have had the privilege of wearing the motion W on Saturdays in the fall,” Lofy wrote on X. “To coach (Jim) Leonhard and coach (Paul) Chryst, thank you for believing in me all those years ago and giving me a chance to live out my dreams. To coach (Luke Fickell) and coach (Alex) Grinch, thank you for what you have taught me over the last two years and for making me the player I am today.”

The defensive back signed with the Badgers as a three-star recruit in the class of 2020 after an impressive high school tenure at Pine Creek High School in Colorado. Lofy joined Wisconsin’s program over opportunities at Kansas State, Arizona State, Oklahoma State and Minnesota.

After redshirting his 2020 season, Lofy played in 29 games from 2021-2024 and registered 28 total tackles, one interceptions and two pass deflections during his tenure in Madison.

Though he began the 2024 season as a starter, Lofy was largely relegated to a depth role as the season continued. He looks to play his final collegiate season elsewhere.

Defensive back has become a big need area for Wisconsin this offseason. Most of the room’s depth is now portal-bound.

To counteract that, Wisconsin has offered Miami (Ohio) cornerback Raion Strader, Northern Illinois safety Santana Banner, Richmond safety Matthew Traynor, and South Florida safety Tawfiq Byard, among others.

For updates on Wisconsin’s full list of incoming and outgoing transfers, bookmark our 2024 transfer portal tracker.

Wisconsin offers promising FBS transfer wide receiver

Wisconsin offers promising FBS transfer wide receiver

Wisconsin extended an offer to Charlotte transfer wide receiver O’Mega Blake on Monday.

Since Dec. 12, Colorado State, Florida State, Arkansas, Michigan State, Oklahoma State, Utah and Wisconsin have all extended offers to the experienced Division I pass-catcher.

Blake registered 32 receptions, 795 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 12 contests with Charlotte in 2024. His most impressive performance arrived on Nov. 23 against Florida Atlantic: 205 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

Prior to his stint with the 49ers, Blake spent three seasons at South Carolina from 2021-23. There, he reeled in 20 catches for 251 yards and two touchdowns in 16 career appearances.

As a recruit, he was considered the No. 9 player in South Carolina, No. 108 at wide receiver, and No. 697 in the country for the class of 2021 by 247Sports.

Blake becomes the latest target to join Wisconsin’s transfer portal interest pool. He, Kansas State redshirt freshman wide receiver Tre Spivey and Cal freshman pass-catcher Nyziah Hunter are players UW has targeted to fill the program’s need at outside receiver.

UW is also reportedly planned a visit for former top-55 overall recruit and Ohio State wide receiver Jayden Ballard.

The Badgers are still looking for pass-catching weapons with several primary needs already addressed.

BREAKING: Wisconsin lands commitment from top transfer quarterback

Massive news for Luke Fickell and the Badgers

Wisconsin has its 2025 starting quarterback.

The Badgers made significant headlines on Monday evening when they landed a transfer commitment from former Maryland starting quarterback Billy Edwards Jr.

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

Edwards Jr. is Wisconsin’s fourth transfer commitment of the day, joining UT-Martin defensive lineman Charles Perkins, Western Michigan defensive lineman Corey Walker and San Diego State quarterback Danny O’Neil. They join Louisville edge rusher Mason Reiger, Ball State tight end Tanner Koziol and Tulane defensive lineman Parker Petersen.

The veteran quarterback and former Big Ten starter transfers to the program with one year of eligibility remaining. He started 11 games for Maryland in 2024, completing 65% of his passes for 2,881 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions. His 420 pass attempts were the most in the Big Ten, largely due to Maryland often facing significant deficits and being unable to run the ball effectively.

Edwards Jr.’s numbers come with that asterisk. He was the lone bright spot on a 4-8 Maryland team. The numbers came despite the weak supporting cast, especially up front.

He becomes Wisconsin’s clear 2025 starting quarterback upon committing. He was one of the Badgers’ best transfer options available and chose them over top contenders Michigan and Virginia.

Wisconsin also landed San Diego State transfer Danny O’Neil on Monday. O’Neil joins with three years of eligibility remaining and profiles as a strong backup option entering the 2025 season.

Edwards Jr.’s commitment caps an impressive recruiting burst for Luke Fickell and his coaching staff, especially new offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes. The Badgers have addressed several key areas of need and came away with one of the better transfer quarterbacks available.

For more as this transfer cycle continues, bookmark our transfer offer, visit and commitment 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.

BREAKING: Wisconsin lands commitment from promising transfer quarterback

Wisconsin lands its first quarterback of the transfer cycle

Wisconsin landed a commitment from San Diego State transfer quarterback Danny O’Neil on Monday.

O’Neil is Wisconsin’s first quarterback addition of the transfer cycle and fifth overall, joining Western Michigan defensive lineman Corey Walker, Louisville edge rusher Mason Reiger, Ball State tight end Tanner Koziol and Tulane defensive lineman Parker Petersen.

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

O’Neil joins the Badgers after one year at San Diego State. He was the Aztecs’ starter as only a true freshman, completing 63.3% of his passes for 2,181 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions.

The former three-star recruit in the class of 2024 has three years of eligibility remaining. His addition is similar to the Badgers’ signings of redshirt freshmen Braedyn Locke and Nick Evers entering the 2023 season. He has more starting experience than both of those players did at the time of their commitments, but he projects to begin his Wisconsin career as the backup before possibly starting down the road.

O’Neil’s commitment was quickly followed by Wisconsin picking up a prediction to land former Maryland starter Billy Edwards Jr. That starter-backup duo would represent a best-case scenario for Luke Fickell as he works to build the personnel around coordinator Jeff Grimes’ new offense.

For more on Wisconsin’s other targets at quarterback, bookmark our transfer offer, visit and commitment 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.