Wisconsin transfer defensive lineman T.J. Bollers receives several D-I offers

Wisconsin transfer defensive lineman T.J. Bollers receives several D-I offers

Wisconsin transfer defensive lineman T.J. Bollers is receiving plenty of interest from D-I programs.

He has already received offers from New Mexico, Kent State, Ohio, Northern Iowa, Miami (Ohio) and Cal after entering the transfer portal just four days ago.

Conference realignment makes this exercise a challenge. But that’s an offer from the Mountain West, four from the MAC and one from the ACC.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 spring transfer portal window tracker

Bollers entered the portal after three unproductive years as a Badger. He was a four-star recruit in Wisconsin’s decorated class of 2021 — ranked as the No. 159 overall recruit in the class, No. 11 edge rusher and No. 2 recruit from his home state of Iowa.

Wisconsin attempted to move him from a 3-4 outside linebacker in Jim Leonhard’s old system to a defensive lineman in Mike Tressel’s hybrid 3-3-5. Neither role perfectly fit his game, as he’s better served as a 4-3 defensive end. That was seen in Bollers’ lack of playing time in his three years with the program.

His transfer is likely due to the fit on the field and finding a location with consistent playing time available.

Wisconsin is becoming increasingly thin along the defensive line. Only James Thompson Jr. and Curt Neal are back as experienced contributors, plus Albany transfer Elijah Hills. Luke Fickell and his staff need to find upgrades and depth at the position before the spring transfer portal window grinds to a halt.

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Wisconsin locks in official visit with 2025 tight end Nizyi Davis

Wisconsin locks in official visit with 2025 tight end Nizyi Davis

Wisconsin football locked in an official visit with class of 2025 tight end Nizyi Davis on Wednesday.

Davis will be on campus May 31-June 2 during a busy official visit weekend.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 spring transfer portal window tracker

The three-star tight end is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 776 player in the class of 2025, No. 39 tight end and No. 10 recruit from his home state of Indiana.

Wisconsin and in-state Purdue are the two schools to have scheduled visits with the Indianapolis, Indiana native. Other notable schools on his offer sheet include Cincinnati, Duke, Indiana, Kansas, Louisville, Michigan State and West Virginia.

Luke Fickell’s class of 2025 currently has eight players committed — two of which cross the blue-chip threshold. The group currently ranks No. 19 in the nation at this early stage in the cycle.

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Wisconsin football schedules official visit with rising 2025 edge rusher

Wisconsin football schedules official visit with rising 2025 edge rusher

Wisconsin football locked in an official visit with class of 2025 edge rusher Jayden Loftin on Thursday.

Loftin will be on campus May 31-June 2, kicking off the busiest recruiting month of the year.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 spring transfer portal window tracker

The three-star edge rusher is 247Sports’ No. 754 player in the class of 2025, No. 56 edge rusher and No. 24 recruit from his home state of New Jersey.

Wisconsin is one of four programs to have scheduled a visit with Loftin, along with Minnesota, Penn State and Tennessee. Other schools on his offer sheet include Rutgers, South Carolina, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and West Virginia.

Luke Fickell is looking to build momentum in the class of 2025. The Badgers currently have eight players committed — two of which cross the blue-chip threshold. The group currently ranks No. 19 in the nation at this early stage in the cycle.

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Wisconsin boasts two of 247Sports’ ‘top Big Ten newcomers’ entering 2024

Wisconsin boasts two of 247Sports’ ‘top Big Ten newcomers’ entering 2024

Two of Wisconsin football’s offseason additions made 247Sports’ list of the top 25 Big Ten newcomers entering 2024.

Those two: quarterback Tyler Van Dyke at No. 23 and inside linebacker Tackett Curtis at No. 14.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 spring transfer portal window tracker

Van Dyke is set to likely start for the Badgers this season after four years at Miami. He transfers with 32 games of experience and stats including a 63.7 completion percentage, 7,469 yards, 54 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. His inclusion on the list is no surprise, as he’s instantly one of the more accomplished quarterbacks in the conference.

Curtis, meanwhile, transferred to Wisconsin after one season at USC. The former top recruit started most of the season at inside linebacker for a poor Trojans defense, recording 40 tackles, 4 tackles for loss and two sacks. He brings an impressive recruiting pedigree and a ton of potential, but he isn’t in line to start for the Badgers in 2024.

Luke Fickell and his staff worked hard to re-shape the program’s linebacker room. Veteran Jaheim Thomas is projected to start alongside Jake Chaney this season, with Curtis and former UNC linebacker Sebastian Cheeks forming the future.

Curtis has a high transfer portal ranking because of his high school billing. But he likely won’t have a huge impact in 2024.

247Sports’ piece looks at the highest transfer rating, which Curtis does bring. It may just take a few years for that potential to pay off on the field.

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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.

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Wisconsin football lands a commitment from an in-state 2025 athlete

Luke Fickell just added to Wisconsin’s class of 2025

Wisconsin football landed a commitment from in-state class of 2025 athlete Grant Dean on Wednesday.

Dean is a three-star recruit according to 247Sports, and ranked as the No. 97 athlete in the class and No. 11 recruit from the state of Wisconsin.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 spring transfer portal window tracker

The Neenah, Wisconsin native chooses the Badgers over offers from Wyoming, Army, North Dakota State and Northern Illinois.

He is Luke Fickell’s eighth commitment in a class of 2025 that ranked No. 22 in the nation before this news. That ranking should rise despite the program still not having a blue-chip player committed in the class.

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Varsity Collective announces launch date of new Wisconsin Badgers NIL beer

The Varsity Collective’s new NIL beer will debut this week

The Varsity Collective announced that its new Varsity Golden Ale will launch on Friday, April 19 at 3:30 p.m. at Memorial Union in Madison, Wisconsin.

Proceeds of the beer will go directly toward the collective’s name, image and likeness fund for Wisconsin Badgers athletics. In short, it is an NIL beer for Badgers fans to enjoy while also supporting their favorite team.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 spring transfer portal window tracker

The beer is in partnership with Potosi Brewing Company. The collective’s announcement on X tells Badgers fans to “come grab a taste of this new, 4.0% ABV, custom beer and support Badger student-athletes while you sip!”

Wisconsin fans were predictably fired up when the partnership was first announced back in March. That excitement can finally be fulfilled when the collective’s new initiative debuts on Friday afternoon.

 

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Wisconsin football locks in official visit with 2025 running back Javin Gordon

Wisconsin football locks in visit with 2025 running back Javin Gordon

Wisconsin football scheduled an official visit with class of 2025 running back Javin Gordon on Wednesday. The visit will be June 7-9, during one of the bigger official visit weekends of the year.

Gordon is currently unranked by 247Sports at this stage in the 2025 cycle. Wisconsin is likely the Georgia native’s best offer at the moment. Other notable ones include Indiana, Northwestern, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Toledo, Liberty, USF and Wake Forest.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 spring transfer portal window tracker

The Badgers offered Gordon on April 11 and took no time to schedule the visit.

The program’s class of 2025 currently ranks No. 22 in the nation with seven players committed. It is yet to land a running back, that after finishing the 2024 cycle with three at the position.

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Wisconsin football receives an early crystal ball to land 2025 LB Elliott Schaper

Wisconsin football receives an early crystal ball to land 2025 LB Elliott Schaper

Wisconsin football received a crystal ball to land class of 2025 linebacker Elliott Schaper on Friday.

The prediction dropped quickly after Schaper picked up an offer from the Badgers on day one of his unofficial visit this past weekend.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 spring transfer portal window tracker

The Austin, Texas native is currently unranked by 247Sports. Wisconsin, Duke, California and Arizona State are Schaper’s only major conference offers at this stage in the recruiting process.

The 6’2″ linebacker already has official visits scheduled to both California and Duke. I’d expect Wisconsin to soon join that list, as the program may already have the upper hand to land a commitment.

247Sports’ crystal ball prediction only has a middle-grade confidence level. But as things stand now, the Badgers appear to be the favorite.

Wisconsin’s class of 2025 currently ranks No. 22 in the nation with seven players committed. The group does not yet have a blue-chip player committed, though that is sure to change as the cycle heats up in the summer months.

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Wisconsin football offers a promising 2026 wide receiver

Wisconsin football offers a promising 2026 wide receiver

Wisconsin football extended an offer to class of 2026 wide receiver Nyqir Helton on Monday.

Helton is currently unranked by 247Sports at this early stage in the 2026 cycle. He does already hold 11 offers, including from power programs Penn State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, West Virginia and Boston College.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 spring transfer portal window tracker

The 6’0″ 170-pound wide receiver should rise in the 2026 rankings as the cycle continues. When programs like Penn State and Wisconsin are early on the offer sheet, it usually means more recognition is soon to come.

Luke Fickell and his Wisconsin staff are continuing to work to remake the Badgers wide receiver room. The 2024 season will see former transfers start at all three positions — Will Pauling in the slot, plus Bryson Green and C.J. Williams on the outside. Wisconsin will need high school recruiting results to avoid having to rely on the portal to bolster the position. We will see what those results look like as the 2025 and 2026 cycles continue.

 

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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