Tag: Spring Practice

Wisconsin Badgers freshman cornerback enters transfer portal

Another Wisconsin defender enters the transfer portal:

Wisconsin freshman cornerback A.J. Tisdell entered the transfer portal on Friday.

The young corner was a three-star recruit in the program’s class of 2023 and redshirted during his first collegiate season.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 spring transfer portal window tracker

Tisdell was 247Sports’ No. 796 player in the class of 2023, No. 81 cornerback and No. 124 recruit from his home state of Texas. He initially committed to Paul Chryst’s Wisconsin program in June of 2022 and stayed on once Luke Fickell got the job later that year.

RivalsPortal on X noted that Tisdell recorded 61 tackles and one interception on defense, plus nearly 300 receiving yards on offense in 2022. It should be noted those numbers were from his senior season at College Station High School.

Wisconsin’s coaching staff has prioritized the cornerback position since taking over at the end of the 2022 season. That emphasis has seen several transfers enter, plus a few highly-touted high school recruits. The cornerback room got busy in a hurry, which could’ve led to Tisdell’s departure.

For more on Wisconsin’s transfer portal activity this spring, check out our 2024 spring transfer portal window 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. Follow Ben Kenney on X.

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BREAKING: Wisconsin football lands transfer commitment from a former Illinois lineman

Luke Fickell adds the second transfer of the spring window

Wisconsin football landed a commitment from former Illinois Fighting Illini transfer offensive lineman Joey Okla on Wednesday.

Okla is the program’s second transfer commit in the spring window, joining former Vanderbilt OL Leyton Nelson. 247Sports’ Evan Flood noted he will walk on with the Badgers in 2024.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 spring transfer portal window tracker

The veteran lineman was spotted at Wisconsin spring practice earlier this week. He had entered the portal on April 16.

The Harland, Wisconsin, native appeared in one game for the Fighting Illini in 2023, that after redshirting as a true freshman in 2022. Coming out of high school, he was a three-star recruit ranked 14th overall in the state of Wisconsin.

Wisconsin’s former coaching staff did not offer Okla during his high school career at Arrowhead, but Luke Fickell and the current staff clearly made him a priority.

Okla should play a depth role along Wisconsin’s 2024 offensive line with starting lineup mostly set. He primarily plays on the interior and could serve as a backup at multiple positions.

The Wisconsin commit has three years of eligibility remaining and will have plenty of time to play himself into the program’s starting lineup. For now, it’s another valuable depth add for Fickell and his staff.

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

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Wisconsin football in pursuit of an accomplished transfer portal running back

Wisconsin could be looking to continue to upgrade at running back

Wisconsin is in pursuit of former Louisville running back Peny Boone, according to Rivals’ Marshall Levenson.

Boone entered the transfer portal after only spending the spring with the Cardinals. He transferred there in January after two decorated years at Toledo, that after spending the first two years of his career at Maryland.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 spring transfer portal window tracker

The 6’1″ running back was the 2023 MAC Offensive Player of the Year at Toledo after rushing for 1400 yards and 15 touchdowns on 7.2 yards per carry.

Wisconsin is on a list of schools to have reportedly reached out to Boone that also includes Ole Miss, Washington, Tennessee, Miami, Nebraska, Utah and Michigan State.

This interest is a bit of a surprise. Wisconsin is loaded at running back after adding Oklahoma transfer Tawee Walker during the winter window. He and veteran Chez Mellusi are set to lead the backfield, with not many additional carries available.

Preliminary interest doesn’t mean Wisconsin will go on to land the transfer — and become his fourth school in four years. It’s worth monitoring, however, if any visits get reported.

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

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Wisconsin football projected starting defensive lineman to enter transfer portal

Wisconsin may be losing a starter to the transfer portal

Wisconsin football projected starting defensive lineman T.J. Bollers is entering the transfer portal when the spring window opens on April 16, according his post on X.

Bollers was slated to play a major role for the Badgers along the defensive line after moving from outside linebacker following the 2023 season. The team is shallow at the position at this stage in the spring, and this news only makes that situation worse.

Related: Ranking Wisconsin football’s incoming transfers by expected impact in 2024 season

Bollers joined the program as a four-star recruit in the class of 2021. He was the No. 159 recruit in the class, No. 11 edge rusher and No. 2 recruit from his home state of Iowa. He barely saw the field throughout his career in a crowded Wisconsin outside linebacker room, finding most of his playing time on special teams.

The converted outside linebacker is a bit of an odd fit in Mike Tressel’s 3-3-5 defense. That could be a part of the reason behind the move, as he’d be better served as a 4-3 defensive end.

Related: Projecting Wisconsin football 2024 defense spring ball depth chart

Bollers still has his high billing from his high school recruiting days. That had people looking at 2024 as a potential breakout season for the Tiffin, Iowa, native, though that will have to come with another program.

Wisconsin is sure to be active in the transfer portal window with defensive line a likely priority.

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

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Wisconsin OC Phil Longo discusses Badgers ongoing quarterback competition

Who should start at QB for Wisconsin this fall?

Wisconsin offensive coordinator Phil Longo met with the media Friday as the Badgers’ spring season continued. One topic of conversation was his quarterback room and the state of the competition between veteran transfer Tyler Van Dyke and returning youngster Braedyn Locke.

Van Dyke joined the Badgers this offseason after three years of starting at Miami. He brings a wealth of experience, plus 912 career pass attempts, 581 completions, 7,469 yards, 54 touchdowns and 23 interceptions.

Related: Evaluating the Big Ten’s next targets for conference expansion

Locke, on the other hand, returns after a redshirt freshman season at Wisconsin that saw him thrust into action after an injury to starter Tanner Mordecai. He played in five games, completing 50% of his passes for 777 yards, five touchdowns and one interception.

The veteran figures to be the starter — as was the case with Mordecai last season. But Wisconsin is reportedly approaching it as a pure competition and giving Locke a real chance to win the job.

“I think any time you have more talent in the room, and not just bodies, it breeds competition,” Longo said. “So if you want reps and you want to get on the field on game day, you have to beat out a number of other good players.”

Related: Ranking Wisconsin football’s incoming transfers by expected impact in 2024 season

That last part rings true, as the Badgers quarterback room currently consists of Van Dyke, Locke, highly touted youngster Nick Evers and true freshman Mabrey Mettauer. The room is as talented as it’s ever been, which should breed the productive competition that Longo refers to.

Here is his full answer and emphasis on the job being up for grabs:

As I wrote on X yesterday, Wisconsin fans should be thrilled if Locke somehow wins the job. It would mean he beat out an impressive room of QBs, including one of the more established starters in the nation.

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

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Wisconsin HC Luke Fickell highlights substantial improvement at a specific position group

Which of Wisconsin’s position groups saw the biggest upgrade over the offseason?

Wisconsin football returned to the practice field Tuesday for the second spring session open to the media.

The practice gave beat writers an initial look at Wisconsin’s depth charts and initial rotations on both offense and defense, and saw veteran outside linebacker Aaron Witt finally return to full-time practice.

Related: Wisconsin football’s starting offense and defense begin to take shape at spring practice

The spring period should be eye-opening as Luke Fickell enters his second year at the helm. 2023 was a disappointment, and more resources to improve year-to-year exist now than ever before.

Fickell and his staff did put in effort in that regard — welcoming in a 12-person transfer class that included QB Tyler Van Dyke, RB Tawee Walker and numerous outside and inside linebackers.

The Wisconsin head coach was asked after Tuesday’s practice about those inside linebacker additions. Fickell responded by saying if “there’s probably the biggest difference in one group, it might be there.”

The newcomers are former Arkansas and Cincinnati linebacker Jaheim Thomas, USC’s Tackett Curtis and UNC’s Sebastian Cheeks. The trio joins senior Jake Chaney and sophomore Christian Alliegro in a room that lost starters Maema Njongmeta and Jordan Turner after last season.

Thomas and Chaney are the most established of the bunch and project to be starters in Week 1. Curtis and Cheeks are a bit more unproven, though each have the talent to emerge.

According to Fickell, it appears the depth and talent in the room was already noticeable during the first few days of spring practice.

For more spring practice preview, we’ve analyzed the spring position battles, the biggest questions entering the period and Wisconsin’s possible breakout candidates — plus predicted Wisconsin’s depth chart on offense and on defense.

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

Wisconsin veteran outside linebacker Aaron Witt returns to practice

Remember Aaron Witt?

Wisconsin veteran outside linebacker Aaron Witt is back on the practice field as the Badgers’ spring session continues.

WOZN’s Zach Heilprin was in attendance at the team’s practice on Tuesday. He wrote on X that “today was the first time I’ve seen [Witt] actually practice. Ton of energy from him, especially after he crushed the move TE on a run play. Got some work with 2nd-team defense.”

Related: Wisconsin football’s starting offense and defense begin to take shape at spring practice

Witt appeared in two games in 2023 after being out since Wisconsin’s 2020 Duke’s Mayo Bowl victory over Wake Forest. He returned to practice in a limited capacity in the Badgers’ preparation for the ReliaQuest Bowl in December 2023, but he appears to be full-go for the first time in nearly four years.

Witt registered two tackles for loss and one sack in two games of action as a freshman in 2020. His sack on Sam Hartman in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl had Badgers fans excited for what was to come, though injuries unfortunately derailed the next three years of his career.

Predicting Witt to be a starter or play consistent snaps may be a stretch. But he still has a ton of potential if he can just stay on the field once the season begins.

For more spring practice preview, we’ve analyzed the spring position battles, the biggest questions entering the period and Wisconsin’s possible breakout candidates — plus predicted Wisconsin’s depth chart on offense and on defense.

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

Billy Napier talks DJ Lagway after first spring scrimmage

Billy Napier offered his first impressions of freshman quarterback DJ Lagway after the team’s first spring scrimmage.

A week into Florida’s spring practices, one of the biggest questions Gators fans have is how the five-star quarterback Billy Napier signed is doing.

[autotag]DJ Lagway[/autotag] will be the first homegrown starter Florida head coach Billy Napier produces in Gainesville. Max Brown signed in the 2022 cycle and transferred to Charlotte and Jaden Rashada ended up with Arizona State after backing out of his letter of intent the following year.

Lagway committed to Florida in Dec. 2022 and held that commitment for two years. He’s the future of the program, but it’s still Graham Mertz’s team for now. Napier said as much in his Saturday presser following the team’s first spring scrimmage. He also offered some praise for the first-year quarterback.

“He’s impressed me with his ability to learn, retain information and then he’s quick,” Napier said of Lagway. “He picks it up really quickly, and then his ability to take it from the meeting room to walkthrough and then do it in a practice setting.

“Today was good for him, right? He had to play the situations as they arose throughout the scrimmage. I think the big next step for him is the game-management piece, right?”

You’ve got to know when to fold ’em

Lagway will play this season, but he’ll need to figure a few things out before earning all of Napier’s trust. With all of the hype surrounding him, it can be tough to remember that Lagway is still in the earliest stages of his collegiate career.

The college game is much faster and more brutal than the high school game, and even the best take time to adjust. Physically, Lagway has all the tools an elite quarterback needs to succeed. Making sure that he’s mentally prepared to lead the Gators next year is Napier’s goal this year.

“I actually asked him on the field today and said, hey, did you play poker growing up?” he said. “Did you actually play cards growing up? You play Texas Hold’em and you get a three and a four, you know? You fold your cards and you go to the next hand.

“So, he obviously didn’t play poker growing up, but sometimes you get dealt a bad hand and you got to learn how to play the next hand. So, play the next play, managing the situation, thinking of your decision-making relative to the game and the team within that setting, I think he’s done a really good job in the practice setting.”

The fans will get a first look at Lagway in two weeks during the Orange and Blue Game to close out spring. He should start for one of the teams since he’s been running with the second team.

“Today was new for him, right? So every day is a new learning experience for him, but he is a quick learner. He did a lot of good today, I think. He made some plays with his feet, played with a group, you know, the twos most of the day.

“So, yeah, I think that’s where he’s at. I think he’s got physical talent. He’s picked it up quickly and now it’s just the game management piece is next.”

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

PHOTOS: Highlights from Florida football’s pre-scrimmage practice

Take a look at highlights from the Gators’ spring practice ahead of the program’s first intrasquad scrimmage.

Florida football continued its spring practice schedule on Thursday, March 28, with another session at the Sanders Practice Field on campus in Gainesville.

Head coach Billy Napier along with his staff took their time directing the players through their various drills and exercises as the program prepares for its first intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday. Among them were quarterbacks Graham Mertz and DJ Lagway, as well as running backs Montrell Johnson Jr. and Treyaun Webb, who appear to be rounding into form ahead of the game.

Take a look below at a gallery of photographs from that session as the Orange and Blue continues to move forward through the spring months.

WATCH: Duke receiver Eli Pancol’s one-handed catch in practice

Blue Devils wide receiver Eli Pancol hauled in a crazy one-handed catch from new quarterback Maalik Murphy in spring practice. Watch the video here.

Duke’s football season might be months away, but the Blue Devils are still throwing up some crazy social media clips.

New quarterback Maalik Murphy, who transferred from Texas this winter, has drawn the headlines during his first appearances in a Duke uniform, but the player on the other end of his pass got the star moment on Friday.

Senior receiver Eli Pancol hauled in one of Murphy’s passes with one hand in a social media clip shared by the team.

Pancol, a fifth-year wideout, has 70 receptions for 912 yards and five touchdowns across his first four years in Durham. He compiled 347 yards last season, the highest single-season total of his career, and his first 100-yard game came against Northwestern in 2022.

Duke’s 2024 season gets underway on August 30 against Elon.