Wisconsin football has seen 21 scholarship players depart since the transfer portal opened on Dec. 9. The program is with most others in college football in having transfer movement define much of its offseason.
Those losses, which include top freshman cornerback Xavier Lucas, veteran defensive linemen Curt Neal and James Thompson Jr., quarterbacks Braedyn Locke and Tyler Van Dyke, and wide receivers Will Pauling and C.J. Williams, opened significant areas of need on both sides of the football.
Related: Wisconsin football 2024 transfer portal departure tracker
The Badgers have already addressed several of those positions. They have added 13 transfers over the last few weeks, headlined by quarterbacks Billy Edwards Jr. and Danny O’Neil, tight end Tanner Koziol, and defensive linemen Parker Petersen and Corey Walker. While it’s challenging to directly translate production from one school to another, Luke Fickell and his staff have appeared to do well in their transfer portal haul to date.
Some significant needs remain, specifically at cornerback and linebacker. Wisconsin is likely far from finished in its portal pursuits.
A constant storyline in 2025 will be how Wisconsin’s incoming transfers perform compared to the former starters at their respective positions. That will be primarily seen in at cornerback (Xavier Lucas), quarterback (Tyler Van Dyke) and defensive line (Curt Neal).
For a look at the most impactful of those transfer departures, here is our updated ranking of Wisconsin’s portal losses to date. This is not an exhaustive list of every departure, just those who may prove to be the most impactful.
9
Quarterbacks Tyler Van Dyke, Braedyn Locke
Wisconsin quarterbacks Tyler Van Dyke (10) and Braedyn Locke (18) warm up on the field north of Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin on Saturday April 27, 2024 before the team’s intrasquad scrimmage. Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
Wisconsin’s quarterback departures must be included on this list. Any movement at the position should be noted as ‘impactful.’
The program’s additions of Edwards Jr. and O’Neil to fill the starter and backup roles, respectively, lessens the significance of the losses. Overall, Wisconsin’s quarterback transfer movement was both impactful and noteworthy, but it may prove to be beneficial.
8
Redshirt freshman safety Braedyn Moore
Nov 23, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell coaches against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the third quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
Moore was a four-star recruit in Wisconsin’s class of 2023. He was one of several top recruits to flip from Cincinnati, following Luke Fickell after he got the job. The redshirt freshman played sparingly during his brief Wisconsin career. He’s included on this list mostly due to the program’s lack of depth at the position.
Preston Zachman returns to start in 2025, plus it just added transfers Matthew Traynor and Matt Jung. The position is razor-thin after that top group. Moore had a chance to earn playing time as early as this upcoming season.
7
True freshman outside linebacker Anelu Lafaele
Nov 16, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell looks on during the first quarter against the Oregon Ducks at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Lafaele is one of three members of Wisconsin’s class of 2024 to depart after only one season with the program. His departure was somewhat of a surprise after he joined the program as a four-star recruit and the No. 27 edge rusher in the class.
Wisconsin enters 2025 with Darryl Peterson, Aaron Witt, Mason Reiger (transfer), Sebastian Cheeks and Thomas Heiberger as its primary players at the position. Lafaele was unlikely to fall far from that top group. It will be interesting to watch his play elsewhere, as Wisconsin will always be in need of top talent at the position.
6
Redshirt freshman cornerback Jonas Duclona
Jan 1, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; LSU Tigers wide receiver Chris Hilton Jr. (17) receives a pass guarded by Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Jonas Duclona (21) in the fourth quarter during the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Duclona begins the section of departures on this list that can be defined as significant. He saw significant playing time as a true freshman in 2023 before playing sparingly in 2024. With most of Wisconsin’s cornerback room gone to the portal, Duclona would have been a prime contender for a starting job in 2025.
His departure highlights the larger trend of Wisconsin losing 11 of its 15 class of 2023 signees after just two seasons.
5
Redshirt freshman cornerback Amare Snowden
Nov 29, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell looks on during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Snowden’s departure fits into the same category as Duclona’s. He is more of a prospect than a proven contributor, boasting terrific size and athleticism at 6’4″. The class of 2023 signee would have been right in the mix for a starting position in 2025.
He and Braedyn Moore both committed to Toledo — Snowden for football and baseball. It’s worth wondering if anything would have been different had each known that projected starter Xavier Lucas would also depart.
4
Senior defensive lineman James Thompson Jr.
Wisconsin’s James Thompson Jr. (90) is shown during spring football practice Thursday, April 25, 2024 in Madison, Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Badgers football team plays their season opener against Western Michigan on August 31. Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
There is a constant theme of this list — Wisconsin lost much of its production at both defensive line and cornerback. The Badgers have since impressive bolstered the line, with Tulane transfer Parker Petersen, Western Michigan’s Corey Walker and UT-Martin’s Charles Perkins.
Thompson Jr. departs after five years with the Badgers. He was projected to be the team’s best defensive lineman in 2024 before a torn pectoral muscle sidelined him for much of the season. He recently committed to Illinois, and will play the Badgers in 2025. We’ll get a direct look at what exact impact his transfer has.
3
Senior wide receiver Will Pauling
Sep 14, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Will Pauling (6) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Wisconsin’s leading receiver over the last two seasons is one of several transfer departures from the position. While the Badgers have a succession plan in Trech Kekahuna, Pauling was arguably their best offensive weapon over the past two seasons.
Incoming transfer WRs Jayden Ballard (Ohio State) and Mark Hamper (Idaho) will have a lot to say about how the Pauling exit is viewed.
2
Junior defensive lineman Curt Neal
Wisconsin defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow talks with Curt Neal during spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wisconsin on Tuesday April 2, 2024. Credit: Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
Curt Neal was arguably Wisconsin’s best defensive lineman in 2024. He totaled 29 tackles (team-high at the position) in addition to three tackles for loss and 1/2 sack. With Thompson Jr., he was set to again lead the group in 2025.
Wisconsin has done well to address its defensive line starting group and depth. Still, losing top veterans at the position is never good news for future chances.
1
True freshman cornerback Xavier Lucas
Wisconsin cornerback Xavier Lucas (6) is shown during the first quarter of their game against South Dakota Saturday, September 7 , 2024 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Xavier Lucas is the easy No. 1 on this list. He played a prominent role as only a true freshman in 2024, appearing in 12 games and tallying 18 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and an interception. Lucas was set to lead the Badgers’ cornerback group in 2025 and beyond — that due to his rising stardom and to the room having lost most of its depth after the season.
His transfer is a big loss. Wisconsin has yet to address the position in the portal. When it does, it’s unlike to find a player of Lucas’ caliber.
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