Wisconsin football starting tight end, top transfer addition reportedly reentering portal
Wisconsin football projected starting tight end and top transfer addition Tanner Koziol is reportedly set to reenter the portal when the spring window opens on April 16, according to a report from BadgerExtra's Colten Bartholomew.
Bartholomew notes that Koziol has been absent from Badgers' spring practice since April 3. The former Ball State tight end recently joined the program this winter as a four-star transfer recruit, ranked specifically as the portal's No. 69 overall player and No. 3 tight end. He was the headliner of an impressive winter transfer cycle from the Badgers, plus projected as the team's starting tight end and potential No. 1 receiving option.
The veteran tight end broke out as a junior at Ball State in 2024, catching 94 passes for 839 yards and eight touchdowns. He has 36 total games of starting experience over three seasons, plus 163 career receptions, 1,507 yards and 18 scores. For reference, ProFootballFocus lists him as college football's top returning player at his position.
This story is worth watching as the week continues, as his move will not become official until the spring transfer window officially opens on Wednesday.
Koziol's potential departure would be a major blow to Wisconsin's 2025 outlook. He projected as a perfect fit in Jeff Grimes' pro-style offense, providing a receiving threat at the position the program missed during Phil Longo's two years at the helm. The Badgers are also thin at the position, with junior Tucker Ashcraft and redshirt junior J.T. Seagreaves the two likely replacements. Those two veterans have just 25 combined catches, 215 yards and two touchdowns over their college careers.
Wisconsin will likely need to readdress the position during the spring transfer window. The program also has a significant need at offensive line, depending on the injury status of left tackle Kevin Heywood.
The Badgers previously aced the winter transfer window, reshaping their defensive front seven, quarterback room and offensive skill corps. Koziol's potential departure could begin to change that reality, depending on the program's backup plan for the position.
This headline is not what Wisconsin wants to see as it prepares to face one of the nation's toughest schedules in 2025, fresh off missing a bowl game in 2024.
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