Wisconsin’s month-long quest to land a transfer defensive lineman appears to have reached its end.
That indication came on Tuesday, when former walk-on wide receiver Haakon Anderson was extended a scholarship. His scholarship brings the program to the limit of 85, and takes any space reserved for a final transfer portal addition.
Related: Updated 2024 Wisconsin football game-by-game predictions after spring practice
Luke Fickell and his staff were after several top defensive linemen during the spring transfer portal window. Those included C.J. West (committed to Indiana), Khurtiss Perry (committed to Virginia Tech), Jay’Viar Suggs (committed to LSU) and Brandon Lane (committed to Louisville).
The Badgers are still listed as a finalist for former Wyoming DL Gavin Meyer. But the program’s scholarship count rising to 85 may make a commitment unrealistic.
Wisconsin’s spring portal loss of T.J. Bollers and lack of commitment from any transfer leaves the position with the following depth chart:
Starters: Redshirt senior James Thompson Jr., redshirt sophomore Curt Neal and redshirt senior Ben Barten
Backups: Redshirt senior Elijah Hills (transfer), redshirt senior Cade McDonald, redshirt freshman Jamel Howard
Depth: True freshman Dillan Johnson, true freshman Hank Weber, true freshman Ernest Willor
The position is light, to say the least. The starting trio should be formidable, but the depth drops off significantly after Hills and McDonald. That means an injury or two at the position could prove costly to the team’s success — as seen with the Badgers in 2018.
A necessary disclaimer: things can still change between now and training camp. The current 85-man roster is a projection based on available information.
With the addition of Griffin Badgers sit at 84 Scholarships with 1 to give (to a DL presumably).
Green: Transfer…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/wisconsin-quest-transfer-help-defensive-121208179.html
Author : Badgers Wire
Publish date : 2024-05-22 12:12:08
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