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The Athletic’s Scott Dochterman and Antonio Morales recently organized every Big Ten football team into a category of either ‘Rising,’ ‘Neutral,’ or ‘Falling’ after the recent winter transfer portal window.
Wisconsin was among the most active teams during the period. It landed 19 total transfer commitments (18 scholarship, one walk-on) and saw 23 scholarship players depart — 22 of those players left via the portal, while Xavier Lucas left for Miami without entering.
Related: Former Wisconsin cornerback files lawsuit against NCAA
That incoming transfer class is headlined by former Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., Ball State tight end Tanner Koziol, Idaho wide receiver Mark Hamper, Tulane defensive lineman Parker Petersen, LSU defensive lineman Jay’Viar Suggs and Louisville pass-rusher Mason Reiger. 247Sports ranks the group No. 14 in the nation and No. 3 in the Big Ten.
Despite the class bolstering offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes’ new-look unit with several proven veterans (Edwards, Koziol) and Fickell’s defense with a host of experienced linemen, the Wisconsin Badgers were listed as ‘falling’ in The Athletic’s portal window recap.
“The Badgers enter year three under Luke Fickell with more questions than answers,” Dochterman begins. “For the third straight season, Wisconsin is starting over at quarterback with Maryland’s Billy Edwards…The receiving corps is in shambles with Will Pauling and C.J. Williams leaving for Notre Dame and Stanford, respectively. Then there’s the ongoing saga of talented cornerback Xavier Lucas enrolling at Miami.”
That first point resonates — Edwards will be Wisconsin’s fourth season-opening starting quarterback in as many seasons. The biggest variable will be his health, as the team’s 2023 and 2024 starters each battled significant injuries. Second, Hamper, Vinny Anthony…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/athletic-wisconsin-football-falling-winter-212620006.html
Author : Badgers Wire
Publish date : 2025-01-31 21:26:00
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