Wisconsin transfer offensive lineman James Durand announced his commitment to Western Illinois on Wednesday.
The former Badger is one of 24 scholarship players to enter the transfer portal, pending Xavier Lucas’ departure. Durand is the 20th to announce his new destination.
Related: Recapping Wisconsin football’s winter transfer portal movement
Durand joined the Badgers as a four-star recruit in the class of 2023. He was No. 356 in the class, No. 20 among interior offensive lineman and No. 7 from his home state of Arizona. He committed to the program in May 2022 when Paul Chryst was still at the helm.
The Chandler, Arizona, native elected to stay in the class after Luke Fickell’s hire in November 2022. Now two years later, Durand is part of a majority of Fickell’s class of 2023 that has transferred. The only players who remain from the class are wide receiver Trech Kekahuna, linebackers Christian Alliegro and Tyler Jansey, and tight end Tucker Ashcraft.
https://twitter.com/JamesDurand17/status/1879741595857440913
Durand commits to a Western Illinois program that went 4-8 in 2024, finishing sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference (Football Championship Subdivision).
He is one of three Wisconsin transfers this cycle that moved to the FCS level, joining defensive lineman Hank Weber (Samford) and running back Nate White (South Dakota State)
Wisconsin, meanwhile, has commitments from 19 transfers, 18 of them scholarship players. It has not added any players along the offensive line.
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