Tag: UW football

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 offers promising FBS transfer wide receiver

Wisconsin offers promising FBS transfer wide receiver

Wisconsin extended an offer to Charlotte transfer wide receiver O’Mega Blake on Monday.

Since Dec. 12, Colorado State, Florida State, Arkansas, Michigan State, Oklahoma State, Utah and Wisconsin have all extended offers to the experienced Division I pass-catcher.

Blake registered 32 receptions, 795 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 12 contests with Charlotte in 2024. His most impressive performance arrived on Nov. 23 against Florida Atlantic: 205 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

Prior to his stint with the 49ers, Blake spent three seasons at South Carolina from 2021-23. There, he reeled in 20 catches for 251 yards and two touchdowns in 16 career appearances.

As a recruit, he was considered the No. 9 player in South Carolina, No. 108 at wide receiver, and No. 697 in the country for the class of 2021 by 247Sports.

Blake becomes the latest target to join Wisconsin’s transfer portal interest pool. He, Kansas State redshirt freshman wide receiver Tre Spivey and Cal freshman pass-catcher Nyziah Hunter are players UW has targeted to fill the program’s need at outside receiver.

UW is also reportedly planned a visit for former top-55 overall recruit and Ohio State wide receiver Jayden Ballard.

The Badgers are still looking for pass-catching weapons with several primary needs already addressed.

Wisconsin football offers LA Tech breakout veteran transfer defensive lineman

Wisconsin football offers veteran transfer defensive lineman

Wisconsin extended an offer to Louisiana Tech transfer defensive lineman David Blay on Monday.

Blay becomes the Badgers’ third defensive lineman transfer offer since the portal officially opened on Dec. 9, joining Elon defensive end Cazeem Moore and Louisville edge rusher Mason Reiger. Chattanooga linebacker Alex Mitchell, Miami (OH) wide receiver Javon Tracy, Richmond safety Matthew Traynor and Miami (OH) cornerback Raion Strader have also received offers from Wisconsin in the portal as of Dec. 9.

Like his contemporaries, Blay has drawn immediate interest from a bevy of programs upon entering the portal. Houston, Tulane, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Arkansas and Illinois have all reached out thus far.

The 6-foot-4, 303-pound defender announced his intention to enter the portal on Dec. 6 after two years with the Bulldogs’ program. The redshirt junior started in all 12 games at defensive tackle in 2024 and registered 46 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, and 6.5 sacks.

His most dominant performance came against Arkansas on Nov. 23 when he tallied two tackles for loss and a sack against the SEC squad.

Wisconsin’s need for playmakers on its defensive front is clear. The Badgers are losing their top three defensive tackles entering 2025: Elijah Hills (eligibility), James Thompson Jr. (transfer portal) and Curt Neal (transfer portal). Experience and production at that position, one which struggled at times in 2024, is paramount.

Blay, Moore and Reiger figure to be the first batch of many defensive front players to receive offers from UW in the transfer portal. Both positions along the defensive line are some of the program’s biggest needs during this offseason portal period.

Wisconsin offers accomplished FCS transfer defensive end

Wisconsin offers accomplished FCS transfer defensive end

Wisconsin extended an offer to Elon transfer defensive end Cazeem Moore on Monday.

Moore becomes Wisconsin’s fourth transfer offer since the portal officially opened on Dec. 9, joining Richmond safety Matthew Traynor, Miami (OH) cornerback Raion Strader and Louisville edge rusher Mason Reiger.

The interest surrounding Moore is significant. Wisconsin, USC, California, San Diego State, Oklahoma State, Kentucky, Coastal Carolina, USF, Virginia, Texas Tech, Cincinnati and Memphis all extended offers to the talented defender on Monday.

The 6-foot-5, 255-pound edge rusher announced his intention to enter the portal on Nov. 25 after three years with the Phoenix. The junior followed his 31-tackle, three-sack 2023 season with 51 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, six sacks and three forced fumbles in 2024. The stellar output earned him a spot on the All-Coastal Athletic Association Second Team.

Wisconsin has now pinpointed both Moore and Reiger as playmakers who could help bolster the position. The 2024 starting combination of Darryl Peterson, Leon Lowery, John Pius and Aaron Witt combined for only 4.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss.

Peterson recently announced his plans for another year in Madison, but Pius (eligibility) and Lowery (transfer portal) will not return. Alongside cornerback, defensive pass-rusher is a top priority for the Badgers.

In his career at Elon, Moore has accumulated 106 total tackles, 21 tackles for loss and 13 sacks from 2022-24. He would become an immediate contributor on Wisconsin’s defensive line if the Badgers can land his commitment.

Wisconsin offers talented All-CAA transfer safety

Wisconsin offers talented All-CAA transfer cornerback

Wisconsin extended an offer to Richmond transfer safety Matthew Traynor on Monday.

Traynor becomes Wisconsin’s third public transfer offer, joining Miami (OH) cornerback Raion Strader and Louisville edge rusher Mason Reiger. All three offers follow the portal officially opening on Dec. 9.

The talented safety announced his intention to enter the portal on Dec. 2 after two years with Spiders. The redshirt freshman played 13 games in 2024 and notched 69 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and three pass deflections. The output earned him a spot on the All-Coastal Athletic Association Third Team.

Since the portal officially opened, Traynor has garnered offers from Delaware, Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern and Liberty. Because of his redshirt season, he still has three years of eligibility remaining at the collegiate level.

UW’s staff obviously circled the secondary as one of its needs in the portal this winter. Several of its depth cornerback pieces announced their plans to enter the portal this past week, prompting Wisconsin to go fishing for multiple defensive back pieces during the portal window.

While Traynor doesn’t boast Power Four experience, he did manufacture one of his best moments as a college player against Virginia in Week 1. He snagged his first career interception against the Cavaliers, plus broke up one pass in the effort.

The potential addition of Traynor’s would be a notable victory for a team in need of playmakers in the defensive backfield.

BREAKING: Wisconsin starting tight end enters transfer portal

BREAKING: Wisconsin starting tight end to enter transfer portal

Wisconsin Badgers starting tight end Riley Nowakowski announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on Monday.

Wisconsin’s two-deep depth chart continues to dwindle during the winter transfer portal window. The veteran pass-catcher joins quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, defensive lineman Curt Neal, defensive lineman James Thompson Jr. and wide receiver Trech Kekahuna as prominent members of the team’s two-deep to enter.

“I want to thank coach (Paul) Chryst and coach (Chris) Haering for giving me the opportunity to live out my childhood dream of being a Badger,” Nowakowski wrote on X. “I would also like to thank coach (Luke) Fickell and coach (Nate) Letton for helping me continue to grow on and off the field.

“I could not be more appreciative of this program and wish nothing but the best for Badger nation. I have put a lot of time into this decision and it has not been easy. With that being said, I will be entering the transfer portal with one year of eligibility remaining.”

https://twitter.com/rnowakowski14/status/1866341262913339550/photo/1

Nowakowski arrived in Madison as one of Paul Chryst’s class of 2020 acquisitions after pocketing the John Anderson Award for the top senior linebacker in Wisconsin.

Nowakowski played five seasons in Madison and logged his two most productive seasons in his final two campaigns. From 2023-24, he snared all 18 of his receptions for 131 total yards and one touchdown as one of the program’s primary starters at the position.

The Milwaukee native will search for more touches elsewhere in his sixth year of collegiate eligibility. While he may not have torched opposing defenses with enlarged statistical outputs, he was synonymous with Wisconsin football during his tenure.

Rising junior Tucker Ashcraft, who has reeled in 20 catches for 168 yards and two scores in his two seasons for Wisconsin, will likely assume starting tight end duties for the Badgers.

This could also be a position of need as Wisconsin continues its transfer portal recruiting pursuits.

For more on UW’s departing talent, bookmark our 2024 transfer portal tracker.

Wisconsin offers star All-MAC transfer wide receiver

Wisconsin offers star All-MAC transfer wide receiver

Wisconsin extended an offer to Miami (OH) transfer wide receiver Javon Tracy on Monday.

Tracy is one of seven players to earn a public offer from Wisconsin since the transfer portal window opened on Dec. 9. He becomes the first offensive player to pocket an offer and the second player from Miami (Ohio), alongside cornerback Raion Strader.

Louisiana Tech transfer defensive end David Blay, Elon defensive end Cazeem Moore, Richmond safety Matthew Traynor, Louisville edge rusher Mason Reiger and Chattanooga linebacker Alex Mitchell also received offers from the Badgers on Monday.

In addition to Wisconsin, Tracy received offers from Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Michigan State and Minnesota after officially entering the portal.

The 6-foot, 206-pound wide receiver put together his most impressive season with the RedHawks in 2024. In 13 games, Tracy snagged 57 receptions for 818 yards and seven touchdowns en route to a First Team All-MAC honor as a redshirt sophomore. He notched a season-best 10 receptions, 119 receiving yards and one touchdown against Toledo on Oct. 5.

https://twitter.com/javon_tracy/status/1866281611374764208

Wisconsin’s need for playmakers on the outside became apparent following the departure of talented speedster Trech Kekahuna earlier this month. The Badgers’ current wide receiver room is headlined by Vinny Anthony II and Will Pauling, and is certainly in need of some juice.

Tracy’s offers will likely balloon as long as he remains in the portal. He led Miami in both catches and receptions in 2024 and enters the portal with 30 games, 79 receptions, 1,166 receiving yards and nine touchdowns under his belt.

Javon is also the younger brother of New York Giants’ running back Tyrone Tracy Jr.

Former Wisconsin standout linebacker helps Bengals clinch ‘Monday Night Football’ win

Former Wisconsin standout linebacker helps Bengals clinch ‘Monday Night Football’ win

Former Wisconsin standout linebacker Maema Njongmeta recorded his first signature NFL highlight in the Cincinnati Bengals’ 27-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Monday.

The moment arrived in one of the most miraculous situations of the 2024 NFL season to date. Pinned at its 29-yard line with exactly two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and tied at 20, the Bengals lined up to punt.

As soon as punter Ryan Rehkow fielded the long snap, Cowboys special teamer Nick Vigil squeezed through Cincinnati’s offensive line and blocked the punt. The ball took a few big bounces toward Cowboys territory and glanced off a Dallas player before Njongmeta, who tracked the ball the whole way through, grabbed it at the Bengals’ 43-yard line.

The recovery handed the Bengals the football with a fresh opportunity to win the game. Joe Burrow and the offensive capitalized on a 40-yard touchdown to Ja’Marr Chase, clinching the 27-20 win.

Njongmeta hasn’t seen much action this season, but he certainly made the most of it. He may have missed the block on Vigil on the initial punt, but he didn’t give up.

This same mentality netted the UW alumnus a spot on the Bengals’ 53-man roster in late August. In three preseason games, the two-year starter at Wisconsin notched 29 total tackles, 18 solo tackles, two pass deflections and respectable special teams play to elevate to the 53-man.

Since then, Njongmeta has logged eight total tackles and five solo tackles for Zac Taylor’s team in 12 games. Most of his time comes during special teams action.

At Wisconsin, Njongmeta totaled 158 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 6 1/2 sacks, one interception, two pass deflections and three fumble recoveries during his tenure in Madison. His opportunities could grow following the highlight.

Former Badger running back explodes for two touchdowns in 49ers blowout win

Former Badger running back explodes for two touchdowns in 49ers blowout win

Former Wisconsin running back Isaac Guerendo exploded for 128 total yards and two rushing touchdowns in the San Francisco 49ers’ 38-13 win vs. the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

A week after all-world running back Christian McCaffrey went down with an injury against the Buffalo Bills, Guerendo assumed the starting running back responsibilities.

He paced the 49ers’ backfield with 15 carries for 78 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the triumph. He also reeled in two catches for 50 receiving yards.

The former Badger’s first score came at the 1:39-minute mark in the first quarter on a one-yard rush. That score put San Francisco up 14-0 and punctuated a dominant first frame of action.

Guerendo crossed the goal line again on the first play of the fourth quarter after rushing up the middle for a four-yard score. He registered two more touches from that point forward to put a ribbon on his most impressive NFL performance of his young career.

Guerendo played for five years at Wisconsin from 2018-2022 before transferring to Louisville for his 2023 season. During his tenure in Madison, he notched 99 carries, 582 yards and six touchdowns in 27 games.

Guerendo is now up to 57 carries, 324 yards and four touchdowns on the ground in his rookie NFL season. He has also recorded seven receptions for 69 yards with the 49ers.

San Francisco will square off next against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, Dec. 12.

Former Wisconsin linebacker continues All-Pro campaign in Eagles’ ninth straight win

Former Wisconsin linebacker continues All-Pro campaign in Eagles’ ninth straight win

Former Wisconsin Badgers and current Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun bolstered his All-Pro campaign in the Eagles’ 22-16 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

Baun registered 11 tackles, one sack, three tackles for loss and a pair of quarterback hits in the win, captaining the Eagles’ defense alongside fellow linebacker Nakobe Dean.

He also recorded an overall grade of 89.3, the highest mark of any Eagles defender.

As he has almost every week, Baun made several show-stopping plays for Vic Fangio’s defensive unit. His first big-time sequence came with just over six minutes remaining in the first quarter.

On third-and-seven, Baun burst through the right side of Carolina’s offensive line and tracked down a scrambling Young for a solo sack to force a punt and flip in possession.

In 13 starts, Baun has now logged 129 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and three pass deflections. If he adds 47 more tackles to his 2024 total, he would double his combined tackle output from his previous four seasons with the New Orleans Saints from 2020-23.

While quarterback Jalen Hurts, superstar running back Saquon Barkley and dynamic wide receiver A.J. Brown garner most of the media attention on the Eagles, Baun is orchestrating arguably the best season of any linebacker in the NFL this season.

The Eagles sit at 11-2 and rival the Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills as the best team in the NFL. Without Baun, the Eagles might not be a part of that conversation.

The team’s next match is slated for Dec. 15 vs. Russell Wilson and the Pittsburgh Steelers.