Wisconsin veteran kicker Nate Van Zelst announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on Thursday.
Van Zelst is the second Badgers place-kicker to enter the transfer portal this month. Gavin Lahm entered the portal on Dec. 7 before withdrawing his name and returning to the program.
“Thank you Wisconsin, for an incredible four years,” Van Zelst wrote on X. “I am deeply grateful for the memories, friendships, and experiences that have shaped me both on and off the field. It has been a blessing to be a part of the rich tradition of Badger football. Representing this program and wearing the Badger uniform has been one of the greatest honors of my life.”
Van Zelst walked on with the Badgers in 2021 after a successful high school tenure at Loyola Academy in Illinois. He joined Wisconsin over scholarship offers from Army, Navy, and Air Force, plus walk-on opportunities at Arizona and Northwestern.
Thank you, Wisconsin pic.twitter.com/KeOclngoeE
— Nate Van Zelst (@natevanzelst) December 19, 2024
After redshirting his 2021 season, Van Zelst played in 11 games as the Badgers’ primary place-kicker in 2022. He won the starting job early in the season after struggles from starter Vito Calvaruso. He converted 11-of-14 field goals during the campaign, plus all 35 extra point attempts. That was capped off by a 47-yard field goal, his career long, in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl against Oklahoma State.
Van Zelst was relegated to a depth position behind starter Nathanial Vakos in 2023 and 2024. With Vakos back for the 2025 season, he was set for another depth role.
Bookmark our transfer departure tracker for up-to-date information on Wisconsin’s transfer movement and where former Badgers are headed.