Wisconsin football off-season is a great time to remake a team and refresh it by transferring new players. Wisconsin has added 12 scholarship transfers, all of whom are already on campus and have started training with the team.
The Badgers have filled a few important positions, including a linebacker, which was very much needed. These transfers have already made a difference with live dealer casinos using Bitcoin for wagers. The odds for upcoming Badger games are already better than just a few months ago.
QB Tyler Van Dyke (previous school: Miami)
The previous season wasn’t amazing for Van Dyke at Miami, and the fans are excited to see if we’ll get the quarterback that we so desperately need. There are a few key players in this transfer group, but none will be as important for building a good offense as Van Dyke if he manages to get back to his true form and avoids injuries.
Van Dyke’s best season came in 2021, with throwing for 2,931 yards and 25 touchdowns. It’s too early to say if Van Dyke will be able to lead the Badgers in this fashion, but there’s a good chance.
ILB Jaheim Thomas (Arkansas)
Thomas is an experienced playmaker, and it’s an important achievement for the Badgers to sign him on. He spent the last three seasons in Cincinnati under Fickell. In the previous season, Thomas had 70 tackles, putting him in the third spot in the league.
Thomas transferred to Arkansas, leading the Razorbacks last season with 90 tackles to go with 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Since Maema Njongmeta and Jordan Turner have departed the team, Thomas will make a great addition to the Badger defense line.
OLB John Pius (William & Mary)
For many players, transitioning from FCS to the FBS can be difficult, and some players end up having a difficult time during their first season. This didn’t happen for Pius, who came out great right out of the gate with 171 total tackles, 40.5 tackles for loss, and 24.5 sacks at William & Mary.
The 6-foot-2, 235-pound outside linebacker has said that he wants to bring his game to a higher level, and the transfer to the Badgers can be a way to do it. Adding a veteran can mean a lot for the linebacker situation that the Wisconsin Badgers are facing.
ILB Tackett Curtis (USC)
Most of the players that have joined the Badgers on a transfer this year have only a one-year contract. Curtis is different since he can have a long-term impact on the team and stay on board for years to come. He has three years left of eligibility and will, therefore, be important for the long-term makeover of the linebacker lineup.
He played in 12 games at USC with eight starts as a true freshman and finished with 40 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.
CB RJ Delancy III (Toledo)
Jason Maitre was a cornerback for the Badgers since last season, and he truly made an impact that the team and the fans were happy with. Delancy is coming to Winscoin to potentially replace Maitre during his one year of eligibility. According to Pro Football Focus, Delancy played 198 snaps at Toledo last season as the wide corner and 182 snaps as the slot corner.
Austin Brown started in that role during the ReliaQuest Bowl. This means he’s still an option for the Badger, and Delancy will provide the team with a two-deep option alongside Hunter Wohler, Preston Zachman, and Kamo’i Latu.
OLB Leon Lowery (Syracuse)
Lowery caused a bit of a controversy when signing up for Wisconsin. He committed to the Badgers, deccomidet a day later, fired his agents after that, and committed again. It was slightly embarrassing for everyone involved, but it’s behind us now.
He appeared in 27 career games with 14 starts at Syracuse. He finished his redshirt sophomore season with 46 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. Lowery’s athletic abilities and sheer size are his best qualities, alongside his ability to rush the passer off the edge.
WR Tyrell Henry (Michigan State)
Wisconsin has already added four transfer wide receivers to increase their depth a year ago. However, with Henry, they’ve decided to add one more, to the surprise of the experts. How the group as a whole would do it depends on how the roaster that’s already there will do it. Will Pauling, Bryson Green, and Trech Kekahuna have especially distinguished themselves so far.
Henry caught 24 passes for 195 yards and three touchdowns last season at Michigan State. He also was MSU’s top kick and punt returner. This is a bit of a taste of what his future could be with the Badgers.
DL Elijah Hills (Albany)
The defensive line was the most important thing the Badgers needed to address, and that was the main goal of most of the transfers. Hills is a 6-2 280-pound defensive who spent the past three seasons at Albany and is eligible for one year.
He recorded 31 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks and blocked three kicks on special teams. Hills ranked No. 1 in the FCS in run defense last season. Hills played 779 defensive snaps last season. The Badgers now have a much better problem on their hands with a deep bench of defensive players to choose from.
RB Tawee Walker (Oklahoma)
There was no obvious need for a transfer portal running back since Chez Mellusi has already been in that position for the past six seasons. However, Walker, who has one-year eligibility, would make good insurance in case something goes wrong.
Walker, 5-9 and 216 pounds finished his junior season with 102 carries for 513 yards and seven touchdowns as Oklahoma’s backup. Walker didn’t have a scholarship in Oklahoma, but he will get one in Wisconsin. This goes to show how serious the Badgers are about these deals.
LS Cayson Pfeiffer (Cincinnati)
A long snapper is a position that not many people are talking about, excluding experts. However, it is a crucial position that can significantly impact the team if they are doing well. Pfeiffer will replace Peter Bowden in this position. Pfeiffer is eligible for one year, and Bowden moved on after years with the Badgers.
He served as Cincinnati’s primary long snapper for the past four seasons, handling 198 punts, 255 field goals, and extra-point attempts. Pfeiffer joins former Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell, alongside
TE Jackson McGohan (LSU)
The tight end was the worst part of the Wisconsin roster, and Jackson came in as a much-needed help. McGohan has three years of eligibility, and although he didn’t catch any passes as a true freshman at LSU last season, he has potential that the Badgers have noticed. He doesn’t have much experience, so it’s not yet clear how McGohan will be used.
Spring practice will be the best time for the team to examine McGohan and his ability carefully and to find him a place on the team. There’s room for that position even though Tucker Ashcraft will remain on the team in the years to come.