Tag: Luke Fickell

Early Signing Day: Wisconsin officially signs class of 2025’s top recruit from Massachusetts

Early Signing Day: Wisconsin officially signs class of 2025’s No. 1 player from Massachusetts

Wisconsin officially signed all 24 committed members of its class of 2025 on Wednesday.

One headliner of the class is four-star iOL Hardy Watts — arguably the premier lineman committed to the class. To secure a commitment from Watts in early July, Wisconsin beat out other top finalists Michigan and Clemson with an effective late recruiting push.

Watts is one of two four-star offensive lineman commits in Wisconsin’s class of 2025 alongside Arizona native Logan Powell. 247Sports considers the top recruit the No. 248 overall prospect, No. 13 interior offensive lineman and No. 1 player from the state of Massachusetts in his class.

247Sports Hudson Standish considers the 6-foot-6, 290-pound player “a multi-year starter at the high-major level with the potential to become an NFL Draft selection.” Watts can play either tackle or guard for the Badgers, and his ceiling mimics Wisconsin’s 2024 true freshman right tackle Kevin Heywood.

Watts was also named Evergreen League Lineman of the Year on Tuesday for his contributions as a senior at Dexter Southland High School. The team went 8-2 in 2024 and fell to Tabor Academy in a bowl game on Nov. 16.

Wisconsin’s storied history of producing top-notch offensive lineman will play in Watts favor. Given Watt’s talent and UW’s commitment to the position group, he could blossom into a star alongside other 2025 commits soon after he arrives in Madison.

BREAKING: Wisconsin top defensive lineman to enter transfer portal

BREAKING: Wisconsin top defensive lineman to enter transfer portal

The hits keep coming to Wisconsin’s two-deep depth chart. Yet another top contributor entered the transfer portal on Wednesday — top defensive lineman James Thompson Jr.

The veteran is the second key member of Wisconsin’s defensive line to enter the portal, joining Curt Neal. Those two and Trech Kekahuna are the three members of the team’s two-deep who have elected to finish their collegiate careers elsewhere.

Related: Key takeaways from Wisconsin’s early wave of transfer portal losses

Thompson Jr. missed most of the 2024 season with a torn pectoral muscle. He returned for the Badgers’ Week 13 game at Nebraska, then did not play during the finale against Minnesota. He played only seven snaps in the Badgers’ 44-25 rivalry loss to the Cornhuskers and did not record any statistics.

The veteran figured to lead the Badgers’ defensive line room before his training camp injury. He was among the team’s best at the position in 2023, recording 29 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks and two pass deflections. His loss was a significant one for a defense that struggled up front for the latter portion of the season.

Thompson Jr. and Neal follow in the footsteps of Rodas Johnson and Gio Paez, two defensive linemen who transferred from the program after the 2023 season. Johnson and Paez landed at Texas A&M and LSU, respectively, though neither had a breakthrough 2024 season with their new school.

Wisconsin has a glaring portal need at defensive line with those two top contributors gone to the portal, and with veteran Elijah Hills out of eligibility. Cade McDonald and Ben Barten each may have one year remaining, but both walked during the program’s senior day. It’s possible that every contributor from the room in 2024 is gone off the 2025 roster.

While the program officially signed an impressive high school recruiting class on Tuesday, the bigger story is the departing talent.

For more on that departing talent, bookmark our 2024 transfer portal tracker.

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BREAKING: Wisconsin loses 10th overall player, another class of 2023 commit to the transfer portal

BREAKING: Wisconsin loses 10th overall player, 10th class of 2023 commit to the transfer portal

Wisconsin redshirt freshman running back Nate White is entering the transfer portal, according to 247Sports’ Evan Flood.

He would be the 10th Badger to enter the portal since the team’s season concluded last Friday. Of note, he is yet another member of the program’s class of 2023 to depart after only two seasons.

Related: Key takeaways from Wisconsin’s early wave of transfer portal losses

White originally joined the program as a three-star recruit in that class. He was ranked by 247Sports as the No. 694 player in the country, No. 51 running back and No. 1 recruit from the state of Wisconsin.

The versatile running back did not see any playing time during his two years with the program. He was stuck in a crowded running back room, led by players including Braelon Allen, Chez Mellusi, Tawee Walker, Cade Yacamelli and Darrion Dupree over that time.

His path to future carries was a tough one. Wisconsin’s class of 2024 included top commits Dilin Jones and Dupree at the position, plus three-star Gideon Ituka. Even with Walker and Mellusi gone after 2024, the position group projects to be one of the deepest on the team moving forward.

White’s departure isn’t a surprise given that standing. But it is noteworthy, since he is now the 10th player from Wisconsin’s class of 2023 to enter the portal. Of the 15-signee class, only LB Christian Alliegro, LB Tyler Jansey, TE Tucker Ashcraft, DL Jamel Howard and iOL James Durand remain with the program.

Both White and promising wide receiver Trech Kekahuna joined the group of departures from that class on Wednesday.

Wisconsin needs a busy transfer cycle with all of its roster needs, and with the quantity of depth that has recently departed. Until the commitments begin, bookmark our 2024 transfer portal tracker to stay up-to-date on the full list of departures.

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Wisconsin football listed as team to watch for top transfer portal quarterback

Wisconsin football listed as team to watch for top transfer portal quarterback

Wisconsin football has emerged as a potential landing spot for Texas A&M transfer portal quarterback Connor Weigman.

Weigman announced his plans to enter the transfer portal on Tuesday, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Since that decision, Wisconsin Syracuse, Louisville, Iowa and Missouri have emerged as potential landing spots for the former five-star recruit.

As a sophomore with the Aggies, Weigman completed 64-of-114 passes for 819 passing yards and three passing touchdowns in six games.

Weigman also endured his fair share of ups and downs throughout his 2024 campaign. Following a bumpy first performance against Notre Dame, he responded with a solid performance in a win over McNeese State. An injury to his AC joint in his throwing shoulder sidelined him until Week 6 against Missouri — a game in which he led the Aggies to a 41-10 blowout win.

From there, he played just three more games of the season. He finished with a 37-yard, one-interception performance vs. New Mexico State before redshirt freshman Marcel Reed took control of the job.

Still, the highly-touted recruit has flashed his brilliance. As a freshman in 2022, Weigman made the first start of his career against Ole Miss and set a school record with 338 passing yards. His 896-yard, eight-touchdown season-long output earned him 2022 ESPN Freshman All-American nods, and it appeared as if he was on a trajectory to be Texas A&M’s pass-thrower for the long haul.

Plus, 247Sports’ composite listed Weigman as No. 22 overall recruit in the 2022 class and the nation’s No. 2 quarterback. The potential is there.

Now, the Texas native is in the portal. Given Wisconsin starting quarterback Braedyn Locke’s late-season struggles and uncertainly revolving around Tyler Van Dyke’s ACL recovery, Weigman’s link to the Badgers makes sense.

The Badges are also set to roster a batch young quarterback talents including Mabrey Mettauer, Carter Smith and Landyn Locke, who may not be ready to take over the quarterback responsibility. The Badgers have acquired their last two starting pass-throwers — Tanner Mordecai and Van Dyke — in the portal. Weigman would fit that same mold.

BREAKING: Wisconsin loses projected top wide receiver to the transfer portal

BREAKING: Wisconsin loses top wide receiver to the transfer portal

Wisconsin redshirt freshman Trech Kekahuna is entering the transfer portal, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Kekahuna is the ninth Badger to enter the portal since the team’s season concluded last Friday. He is the second member of the two-deep to depart, following starting defensive lineman Curt Neal.

Related: Key takeaways from Wisconsin’s early wave of transfer portal losses

The talented slot receiver first joined the Badgers as a three-star recruit in the class of 2023. He first committed to the program in June 2022, back when Paul Chryst was still at the helm. He decommitted when Chryst was fired in-season but re-committed after Luke Fickell was hired in late November.

Kekahuna showed significant promise in Phil Longo’s air raid offense. His breakout performance was a four-catch, 64-yard outing as a true freshman in the 2023 ReliaQuest Bowl. He then backed that outing up with a strong 2024 season as the team’s backup slot receiver, finishing with 25 catches, 339 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Wisconsin’s in-season firing of Phil Longo likely played a role in Kekahuna’s decision. He is a tailor-made fit for Longo’s air raid attack, though may not be a perfect fit with the program’s yet-to-be-determined new offensive system.

Either way, Kekahuna’s departure is a major loss for the Badgers. He was among the most promising offensive playmakers on the team. With Will Pauling out of eligibility, Kekahuna figured to slide into the starting slot receiver role in 2025.

Add wide receiver to Wisconsin’s growing list of major needs this offseason. Until the team lands commitments, bookmark our 2024 transfer portal tracker to stay up-to-date on the full list of departures.

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Early Signing Day: Wisconsin officially signs two former top Michigan commits

Early Signing Day: Wisconsin officially signs two former top Michigan commits

Wisconsin’s busy few weeks in the class of 2025 culminated on Wednesday, when college football’s early signing period began.

Among Wisconsin’s many signings are two of the program’s most recent additions. Those players are four-star DL Jaylen Williams and four-star QB Carter Smith, each who were formerly among Michigan‘s top commits in the class.

Related: Early Signing Day Tracker: Updates on Wisconsin football’s full activity in class of 2025

Williams flipped to the Badgers from the Wolverines on Nov. 20, while Smith de-committed from Michigan and eventually committed to Wisconsin on Nov. 24.

Smith is Wisconsin’s highest-rated commit in the cycle, ranked as 247Sports’ No. 164 player in the class of 2025, No. 15 quarterback and No. 26 recruit from Florida.

Williams, meanwhile, is among the most important members of the class. Wisconsin’s defensive line group looks incredibly thin moving forward. His status as a four-star recruit and 247Sports’ No. 230-ranked player in the class should begin to address that issue.

Each players’ respective path to Wisconsin was different. Wisconsin beat Florida State more than anybody else for Smith after he left Michigan’s class — a move that coincided with the program’s pursuit of top quarterback Bryce Underwood. Both, however, were previously two of the Wolverines’ top commits in the cycle.

Wisconsin has not won much on the field since Luke Fickell arrived before the 2023 season. These two signings represent important recruiting wins as he works to chart the program’s path forward.

For more updates on Wisconsin’s early signing period, bookmark our signing day tracker.

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Early Signing Day: Wisconsin officially signs son of longtime NFL wide receiver

Wisconsin officially signs son of longtime NFL wide receiver

Wisconsin is in the process of officially signing its entire class of 2025. The flurry of signings began on Wednesday with the start of the early signing period in college football.

For up-to-date information on Wisconsin’s class and those who have signed, bookmark our early signing day tracker.

Related: Early Signing Day Tracker: Updates on Wisconsin football’s full activity in class of 2025

Of the group, there are some specific signings to note.

One is four-star wide receiver Eugene Hilton Jr., the son of longtime NFL wide receiver T.Y. Hilton.

Hilton Jr. committed to the Badgers back in June over other top offers from Georgia, Ole Miss, Miami and Missouri. At the time, he was the program’s second wide receiver commit in the class. He’s now the only wideout in the group after Cameron Miller’s recent departure.

The Indiana native is 247Sports’ No. 412 player in the class of 2025, No. 60 wide receiver and No. 9 recruit from his home state. His signing is a big one for the Badgers, especially given the program’s current questions on offense after the firing of coordinator Phil Longo. It’s a positive sign as the program works to chart a path forward after a disastrous 5-7 2024 season.

Hilton Jr. will look to replicate the successful college and professional football career of his father, T.Y., who recently retired after an 11-year NFL career. T.Y. finished that length NFL career with impressive totals of 638 receptions, 9,812 receiving yards and 53 touchdowns. He made four consecutive Pro Bowl appearances from 2014-17, plus led the league in receiving with 1,448 yards in 2016.

At the least, Wisconsin will have another high-profile fan over the next few years. Hopefully that coincides with Eugene Hilton Jr.’s ascension to the top of the wide receiver depth chart.

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BREAKING: Another notable Wisconsin defensive back is entering the transfer portal

BREAKING: Another notable Wisconsin defensive back is entering the transfer portal

Wisconsin’s transfer portal losses continued on Tuesday evening. 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz is reporting that the latest player to enter is redshirt freshman Braedyn Moore.

Moore is now the eighth Badger set to enter the portal since the season concluded last Friday. More notably, he is the fifth defensive back — all five are redshirt freshmen and former members of the program’s class of 2023.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 transfer portal tracker

The former four-star safety recorded just two tackles in limited action over his two seasons with the program. He was a primary backup in a top-heavy safety room in 2024, behind Hunter Wohler, Preston Zachman and Owen Arnett.

Moore recorded just two assisted tackles in that limited action. Wohler and Zachman remained healthy all season, making it challenging for him to see the field regularly.

Moore initially joined the Badgers as the program’s top signee in the class of 2023. He was listed as a four-star recruit, ranked as the No. 321 player in the class, No. 13 athlete and No. 9 player from his home state of Ohio.

That class of 2023 has somewhat of an asterisk as Luke Fickell only had a few weeks with the program before the early signing period began. Still, Moore’s departure means that eight of the Badgers’ 15-signee class has now entered the portal.

Again, including Moore, five of those players are defensive backs, and five have entered in the last few days.

This news continues to make cornerback and safety a big need for Wisconsin. Most of its depth in the secondary has been wiped out since last Friday. For more updates on all of the program’s transfer portal movement, bookmark our 2024 Wisconsin football transfer portal tracker.

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BREAKING: Wisconsin loses seventh player, fourth defensive back to the transfer portal

BREAKING: Wisconsin loses seventh player, fourth defensive back to the transfer portal

Wisconsin class of 2023 cornerback Jace Arnold announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on Tuesday.

Arnold is now the seventh former Badger to enter the portal, joining QB Cole LaCrue, OLB Leon Lowery, CB Jonas Duclona, DB Amare Snowden, DL Curt Neal, and DB Justin Taylor. Notably, Arnold is the fourth defensive back and fourth player from Wisconsin’s class of 2023 to enter.

On Tuesday alone, Neal, Taylor and Arnold all announced their intentions to transfer from UW.

“First and foremost I want to thank God for blessing me with the unique gift and the ability to play the game that I have come to love,” Arnold wrote on X. “I want to express my gratitude to my teammates and coaches for the experiences and lessons I’ve gained throughout the last two years of my life. I will always be appreciative of the Wisconsin community and coaching staff. Having said that, after giving it much thought and consulting with my family I have decided to enter the transfer portal with three years of eligibility.”

The DB signed with the Badgers as a three-star recruit in the class of 2023 after an impressive 40-tackle, two-INT and 300 all-purpose-yard season in 2022 at Marietta High School in Georgia. He committed to UW in June of 2022.

Arnold played in 14 games during his tenure as a Badger. In those games, he recored one tackle on Oct. 26, 2024, against Penn State. Like Taylor, his departure isn’t much of a surprise.

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

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

Wisconsin loses third underclassman defensive back to the transfer portal

Wisconsin loses third underclassman defensive back to the transfer portal

Wisconsin redshirt freshman cornerback Justin Taylor announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on Tuesday morning.

Taylor is among six former Badgers and three UW defensive backs to enter the portal thus far, joining QB Cole LaCrue, OLB Leon Lowery, CB Jonas Duclona, DB Amare Snowden and DL Curt Neal. Like all of his teammates, Taylor made the choice just days after Wisconsin lost 24-7 to Minnesota at Camp Randall.

“After long & insightful conversations with Family and Staff I’d like to thank the University of Wisconsin for its great lessons and tools to grow as a player and a person,” Taylor wrote on X. “With that being said, I’ll be entering my name into the transfer portal with 3 yrs of eligibility.”

The cornerback signed with the Badgers as a three-star recruit in the class of 2023 after a stellar senior season at Nazareth Academy in Illinois. Taylor committed to UW in May of 2022 roughly six months before Luke Fickell became Wisconsin’s head coach.

Taylor’s departure isn’t much of a surprise. The redshirt freshman didn’t see any action from 2023-24 and served as a depth defensive back in a top-heavy defensive back room.

He is, however, part of a growing group of players from the room to enter the portal.

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