Wisconsin top transfer target, potential left tackle replacement commits elsewhere
Wisconsin transfer portal target Joe Cotton committed to Cincinnati on Friday.
The former South Dakota left tackle was one of the portal's top available players at his position. Just three days ago, the Badgers, Cincinnati Bearcats and Oklahoma Sooners were listed as the three teams with a visit scheduled. They emerged from a large pack of top programs to express interest in the experienced offensive tackle.
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Cotton commits to Cincinnati as a four-star transfer prospect, ranked specifically as the portal's No. 114 overall player and the No. 16 offensive tackle, those rankings including transfers from the winter window. He so with two years of eligibility remaining.
Wisconsin is in search of both a starting option and depth at left tackle after projected starter Kevin Heywood went down with a season-ending ACL injury. Cotton figured to be a perfect fill-in at the position, as he started 27 consecutive games at left tackle over the last two seasons at South Dakota. His strong play earned a Football Championship Subdivision Freshman All-American selection in 2023, then a second-team All-Missouri Valley Conference honor this past season.
The Badgers will now likely return to the drawing board, in search of much-needed stability at one of the most important positions on the field. The team still has time to do so, with the spring transfer window still in its early stages.
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For more on Wisconsin's spring transfer additions and departures, bookmark out our 2025 spring window tracker.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football transfer portal target Joe Cotton Cincinnati commit
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