Tag: leon lowery

Wisconsin transfer outside linebacker commits to Big Ten rival

Wisconsin transfer outside linebacker commits to Big Ten rival

Former Wisconsin outside linebacker Leon Lowery signed with Illinois on Tuesday.

Lowery entered the transfer portal on Dec. 1 after one year at Wisconsin. He commits to a Fighting Illini program that is fresh off a 9-3 2024 season. It is preparing to face No. 20 South Carolina in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31 in Orlando, Florida.

Prior to his stint with UW, Lowery played four seasons at Syracuse from 2020-23. He appeared in 29 games in that time and logged 77 total tackles, 20 1/2 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, a fumble recovery and two pass breakups.

The veteran pass-rusher did not translate that level of production to Wisconsin. During his lone season with the Badgers, he recorded 29 total tackles (18 solo), one tackle for loss and one sack.

Wisconsin’s outside linebacker room mostly struggled to pressure the quarterback in 2024. Lowery, alongside top outside linebackers Darryl Peterson, John Pius, Aaron Witt and Sebastian Cheeks, combined for 6 1/2 sacks and 13 tackles for loss. That lack of production was one reason the Wisconsin defense was unable to return to its pre-2023 form.

Lowery was one of Wisconsin’s first players to enter the portal when it opened in early December. He is set to play his final season of eligibility for a team that Wisconsin will face in 2025. The Fighting Illini visit the Badgers on Nov. 22, 2025, at Camp Randall. 

Wisconsin outside linebacker announces intention to enter transfer portal

Wisconsin outside linebacker announces intention to enter transfer portal

Wisconsin outside linebacker Leon Lowery announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on Sunday.

The news follows the Badgers’ season-closing loss to rival Minnesota. That result pushed the team to 5-7 on the season, eliminating it from postseason contention.

Related: Everything Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said about Badgers’ program, its future after loss to Minnesota

Lowery transferred to Wisconsin last offseason after four years at Syracuse. His transfer recruiting process was a rollercoaster — the veteran linebacker committed to the Badgers, quickly decommitted, and then committed again three days later.

Though he had emerged as a solid pass-rushing option at Syracuse, Lowery didn’t make much of an impact during his one year at Wisconsin. He finished the 2024 season with just 29 tackles (18 solo), one tackle for loss and one sack.

Wisconsin’s season was partially defined by its inability to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks. DL Elijah Hills led the team in sacks with three. Aside from him, top outside linebackers Lowery, Darryl Peterson, John Pius, Aaron Witt and Sebastian Cheeks combined for just 6.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss.

Lowery’s intention to enter the transfer portal, which officially opens on Dec. 9, is the first domino in what is sure to be a busy offseason of player movement at Wisconsin. Luke Fickell and his staff, including an offensive coordinator that has yet to be hired, are tasked with reversing the program’s current downward trajectory.

Experience and production at outside linebacker will be one obvious area of need when the offseason movement picks up.

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Report: Wisconsin football to again host fall camp at UW-Platteville

Report: Wisconsin football to again host fall camp at UW-Platteville

The Wisconsin Badgers football program will again host its fall training camp at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville this year. It is part of a three-year deal between the two schools, according to a report from NBC 15’s Mike Jacques.

Luke Fickell and his Wisconsin squad will travel west to launch their fall camp in Platteville in early August, with an open practice scheduled for Saturday, August 10. The Badgers held their fall camp at the Pioneers’ facilities in 2023 and will now do so for at least a few more years.

Wisconsin is entering the second season with Luke Fickell and his staff in charge in Madison and they will look to build off of a 7-6 campaign from 2023.

Many expected the Badgers to simply just hit the ground running and elevate to the upper echelon of collegiate programs once Fickell arrived, but things take time and Wisconsin added a ton of reinforcements in the transfer portal this offseason, including linebackers Leon Lowery (Syracuse), Jaheim Thomas (Arkansas) and John Pius (William & Mary).

BREAKING: Syracuse transfer OLB Leon Lowery commits to Wisconsin….again

BREAKING: Syracuse transfer OLB Leon Lowery commits to Wisconsin….again

Well, this one has taken several twists and turns. After a commitment and subsequent decommitment, former Syracuse outside linebacker Leon Lowery again committed to Wisconsin tonight.

The news comes after the New Jersey native quickly decommitted from Wisconsin without telling any of the staff. The optics were odd, given he tweeted “Stand on what you believe in and know your worth” and directed all inquiries to an unknown figure named Chris Wash. For the excellently-reported exact timeline, I’d advise reading Jesse Temple’s recent story in The Athletic.

Lowery, on the field, is fresh off a 46-tackle, 7.5-tackle-for-loss, 3.5-sack 2023 campaign. He figures to play a big role in Mike Tressel’s defense immediately.

The former Syracuse OLB was a three-star recruit coming out of high school in North Brunswick, New Jersey. He remains a three-star recruit in the transfer portal.

BREAKING: Former Syracuse transfer OLB Leon Lowery decommits from Wisconsin

BREAKING: Former Syracuse transfer OLB Leon Lowery decommits from Wisconsin

Well, this story just took a big turn.

After Wisconsin received a commitment from Syracuse transfer outside linebacker Leon Lowery Jr. last night, it appears he has backed away from his commitment.

Lowery retweeted a report from On3’s Pete Nakos earlier today that said he has decommitted from the Badgers. The former Syracuse OLB then followed that up with a tweet this afternoon saying “Stand on what you believe in and know your worth.”

Connecting dots, a very realistic scenario is that Wisconsin had an NIL figure in place to land the linebacker and that number either fell apart, or another school came through with a better offer last minute.

Either way, it appears Wisconsin will not be landing the talented linebacker.

Wisconsin lands former Syracuse transfer OLB Leon Lowery

Wisconsin lands former Syracuse transfer OLB Leon Lowery

Fire the transfer portal cannons! Wisconsin received a commitment yesterday from former Syracuse Orange outside linebacker Leon Lowery Jr.

The New Jersey native has two years of eligibility remaining and joins a Wisconsin OLB room that lacked big-time production in 2023. Its leading producer was C.J. Goetz with 55 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, four sacks and one interception — though Goetz may have played his last year of college football.

Lowery, meanwhile, is fresh off a 46-tackle, 7.5-tackle-for-loss, 3.5-sack 2023 campaign. He figures to play a big role in Mike Tressel’s defense immediately.

The former Syracuse OLB was a three-star recruit coming out of high school in North Brunswick, New Jersey. He does not currently have a transfer rating.

Wisconsin offers a former Syracuse transfer linebacker

Wisconsin offers a former Syracuse transfer linebacker

Wisconsin extended an offer to transfer linebacker Leon Lowery Jr. yesterday.

The former three-star recruit played at Syracuse from 2020-2023 before recently entering the transfer portal. Lowery’s Syracuse career ended with 27 games played, 78 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, five sacks and one forced fumble.

He was the starting weak-side linebacker for the Orange in 2023, finishing the year with 46 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks during the season.

The linebacker has two years of eligibility remaining. Based on his ‘X’ account, he currently has portal offers from Wisconsin, Oregon State, Baylor, Houston, Georgia Tech and Cal. Wisconsin’s linebacker room, meanwhile, could see some turnover entering next season with Maema Njongmeta set to graduate.