Tag: Max Lofy

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 starting cornerback practicing with hand in a club before Week 5 game at USC

Something to monitor entering Wisconsin’s game at USC

Wisconsin starting cornerback Max Lofy was seen at practice with his right hand in a club entering the Badgers’ big Week 5 matchup at USC.

Lofy was mic’d up for Wisconsin’s ‘(WI)red’ video series. It sees select players or coaches wear a microphone at practice while the video team follows. Some highlights are cut together into a 3-minute video that is then shared on social media.

Related: Ranking the biggest storylines entering Wisconsin’s Big Ten opener vs. USC

The club on Lofy’s right hand is seen in the video.

Lofy was still listed as Wisconsin’s starting nickel cornerback on the team’s game-week depth chart for Saturday’s game at USC. His specific injury is not known. His status for the game does not appear in doubt given his involvement in practice.

The redshirt senior has five total tackles through three games in 2024. He has maintained his position each week as Wisconsin’s starting nickel cornerback.

While that status is not in doubt, it will be interesting to see his injury designation on Saturday afternoon as the Badgers and Trojans approach game time.

Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET, 2:30 p.m. CT for the pivotal Week 5 game.

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

Luke Fickell names Badgers most improved player entering 2024 season

Luke Fickell names Badgers most improved player entering 2024 season

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell met with the media on Monday in advance of the Badgers’ season-opening contest against Western Michigan.

One focus was the team’s newly-released two-deep depth chart, which included one of the team’s rising stars according to Fickell: redshirt senior nickel cornerback Max Lofy.

Related: Big Ten Power Rankings entering Week 1: A clean slate for Wisconsin

Lofy won the starting nickel cornerback job in a crowded room. He primarily beat out Owen Arnett, who will enter the year as his backup at the position.

The redshirt senior missed all of 2023 due to injury and only has 20 overall appearances in his four-year career. His best season came in 2022 when he recorded 15 tackles and one interception in 12 games of action.

Now, the once-forgotten member of Wisconsin’s secondary is in line to play a significant role for the team in 2024.

That is a result of a significant progression over the last few years. Enough of a progression that Fickell praised Lofy as the most improved player in the program since he arrived at the end of the 2022 season.

“It’s hard to say exactly where he was before [2023], because I didn’t know,” Fickell said. “Last year I think I said Nyzier [Fourqurean] was the guy that had made the biggest leap in my mind throughout winter and spring, and even into fall camp. Now I would say Max Lofy in my mind has made the biggest leap…As he came back in the start of spring to where he is now, I don’t think there’s another guy in our program that I have as much respect for.”

Lofy is one of Wisconsin’s starting cornerbacks entering Friday’s opener along with Fourqurean and star Ricardo Hallman. His emergence this offseason came as a surprise, especially give the program’s recent transfer additions at the position.

But Fickell’s words are high praise for a player who appears to be in line for a breakout season.

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 Down Wisconsin’s 2020 Signing Class

Taking a closer look at how Wisconsin’s 2020 recruiting class breaks down by position and by state.

MADISON, Wis. – After signing 19 scholarship players and two walk-ons during the early signing period in December the Badgers saw their scholarship class officially grow to 20 players while adding four more preferred walk-ons to the program during national signing day on Wednesday. The Badgers class ranks 25th by 247 Sports, 26th by ESPN, and 27th nationally by Rivals.

Here’s an overview of the class. Click the player’s name for a more in-depth breakdowns on that specific player.

Scholarship Commits by State

Arizona (1): Malik Reed

Colorado (1): Max Lofy

Hawaii (1): Nick Herbig

Illinois (1): Dylan Barrett

Massachusetts (1): Cam Large

Michigan (1): Jordan Turner

Minnesota (2): Kaden Johnson, Aaron Witt

New Jersey (1): Jalen Berger

North Carolina (1): Devin Chandler

Ohio (1): James Thompson

Pennsylvania (1): Preston Zachman

Tennessee (1): Isaac Smith

Wisconsin (7): Ben Barten, Tanor Bortolini, Cole Dakovich, Chimere Dike, Cade McDonald, Jack Nelson, Trey Wedig

Commits By Projected Position

QB: None

RB: Jalen Berger

WR: Devin Chandler, Chimere Dike, Isaac Smith

TE: Cole Dakovich, Cam Large

OL: Dylan Barrett, Ben Barten, Tanor Bortolini, Jack Nelson, Trey Wedig

DL: Cade McDonald, James Thompson Jr.

ILB: Malik Reed, Jordan Turner, Preston Zachman

OLB: Nick Herbig, Kaden Johnson, Aaron Witt

DB: Max Lofy

Specialists: None

UW walk-ons: Inside Linebacker Ross Gengler, Offensive Lineman Kerry Kodanko, Long Snapper Duncan McKinley, Outside Linebacker Riley Nowakowski, Offensive Lineman Sean Timmis, Kicker Jack Van Dyke

Breaking Down Wisconsin’s 2020 Signing Class

Taking a closer look at how the 2020 recruiting class came together and where each player projects to play.

MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin football officially announced 19 scholarship players and two preferred walk-ons in its 2020 signing class during the early signing period on Wednesday. The Badgers class ranks 26th nationally by both ESPN and 247 Sports and 32nd by Rivals.

Here’s an overview of the class. Click the player’s name for a more in-depth breakdowns on that specific player.

Scholarship Commits by State

Arizona (1): Malik Reed

Colorado (1): Max Lofy

Hawaii (1): Nick Herbig

Illinois (1): Dylan Barrett

Massachusetts (1): Cam Large

Michigan (1): Jordan Turner

Minnesota (2): Kaden Johnson, Aaron Witt

North Carolina (1): Devin Chandler

Ohio (1): James Thompson Jr.

Pennsylvania (1): Preston Zachman

Tennessee (1): Isaac Smith

Wisconsin (7): Ben Barten, Tanor Bortolini, Cole Dakovich, Chimere Dike, Cade McDonald, Jack Nelson, Trey Wedig

Commits By Projected Position

QB: None

RB: None

WR: Devin Chandler, Chimere Dike, Isaac Smith

TE: Cole Dakovich, Cam Large

OL: Dylan Barrett, Ben Barten, Tanor Bortolini, Jack Nelson, Trey Wedig

DL: Cade McDonald, James Thompson Jr.

ILB: Malik Reed, Jordan Turner, Preston Zachman

OLB: Nick Herbig, Kaden Johnson, Aaron Witt

DB: Max Lofy

Specialists: None

UW walk-ons: Long Snapper Duncan McKinley, Offensive Lineman Sean Timmis

Wisconsin Signing Class Preview – Max Lofy

Wisconsin received Max Lofy’s national letter of intent as part of the early signing period on Wednesday.

With the early signing period for high school football players beginning on December 18, Badgers Insider takes a closer look at the recruits that signed with the Wisconsin football program.

In this edition, we examine Pine Creek (CO) High School cornerback, Max Lofy.

Note: All notes and stats provided by uwbadgers.com

Lofy chose Wisconsin over other offers from: Air Force, Arizona State, Army, Colorado State, Kansas State, Minnesota, Oklahoma State, and Wyoming

Lofy’s High School Accolades: Three–star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals…Led Pine Creek to Colorado Class 4A state championship…Also competed in baseball and track

Lofy’s Impact as a Badger: Wisconsin only elected to sign one cornerback in the 2020 class as the Badgers didn’t have a great need to restock the position considering over the past two recruiting cycles the Badgers have signed seven cornerbacks.

With Wisconsin signing so many cornerbacks over the last two cycles Lofy won’t be needed right away. Although Lofy is a talented prospect and was arguably one of the top-rated cornerbacks on the Badgers recruiting board it will allow him the time he needs to adjust to college football.

Lofy is listed at 5’11” and 165 pounds as he’ll need to continue to gain strength, which will come over his first year on campus. As he does a good job of reading the football and being able to go up and make a play on the football.

With Lofy being able to get out of his brakes in addition to his ball skills will give defensive coordinator and secondary coach Jim Leonhard plenty to work with. Lofy will still need to refine his technique and be able to show he can make plays in the run game too. But with Leonhard’s coaching, he’ll have a chance of becoming a significant contributor for Wisconsin’s defense it just may take some time before he sees the field.

The earliest Lofy could see his name appear on the two-deep at the corner position could be the fall of 2021. The Badgers will still have plenty of talent and depth at the position in 2021. But competition brings out the best in people and due to the talent, Wisconsin has at the position if you don’t bring it each day in practice you risk being passed up on the depth chart. Lofy will get his opportunities of showing why he deserves to see the field early as it will be up to him to make the most of the opportunities he does receive.