Latest news with #Badgers'
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Badgers Land Key TE Commit for Offensive Rebuild
Badgers Land Key TE Commit for Offensive Rebuild originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The train keeps rolling for the Wisconsin football team. The first official visit weekend has already produced multiple commitments, and now they have another one. Advertisement 3-star tight end Jack Janda gave the Wisconsin coaching staff a verbal commitment during his trip to Madison, joining Jack Sievers as the second player at the position to join the class. Janda's commitment is the start of a positional rebuild for the Badgers' tight end room. New offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes will surely feature the tight end position more than Phil Longo did with the Air Raid in his two years in Madison. Adding to that, Robert Booker medically retired, Riley Nowakowski transferred, Tanner Koziol also transferred out of Madison shortly after he arrived. To add some more bodies, Wisconsin hit the portal again, adding Lance Mason from Missouri State and converted RB/FB Jackson Acker to tight end. They also added Emmett Bork and Nizyi Davis a a part of the 2025 recruiting class. Advertisement Janda's big 6-6 frame makes him an ideal redzone target for the Badgers. He has some nice natural pass-catching ability. But in this new offense, he'll be expected to do his fair share of blocking as well. Right now, that looks to be a bit of a work in progress, but he will have some time to develop that early on in his time in Madison. You will be able to see a little bit of both in his junior season highlights below. Jack Janda in the Recruiting Rankings You won't find Janda listed among the top tight ends in the country, but the newest Wisconsin football commit is a classic example of Wisconsin finding another potentially underrated player. Advertisement 247Sports has Janda listed as the 41st-ranked tight end in the country and the 15th-best player in the state of Michigan. On3 also has him as a 3-star prospect. According to the online recruiting service, Janda is the 824th-overall prospect, the 45th-ranked tight end, and the 13th-best player in the state. The 247Sports Composite, which compiles the grades from around the internet, has Janda as the 819th-ranked prospect nationally in the 2026 class. He is the 42nd-ranked tight end and 11th in Michigan. The Michigan native had a very impressive offer list from plenty of big-time programs such as Michigan, Oregon, and Miami. Other notable programs include Michigan State, Illinois, Kansas, Washington and more. Advertisement Related: Wisconsin Recruiting Heats Up with Commitment from Bah Stay in the loop with all things Wisconsin Badgers football and men's basketball by visiting for more updates. Ready to join the community? Follow Athlon Sports on YouTube, Facebook, and X to join in on the conversation. You can also follow Staff Writer Christian Borman at @ChristianBorman on X. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Wisconsin football lands commitment from class of 2026 in-state linebacker
Wisconsin football lands commitment from class of 2026 in-state linebacker BREAKING: Class of 2026 LB Ben Wenzel has Committed to Wisconsin, he tells me for @on3recruits The 6'3 220 LB from Appleton, WI chose the Badgers over Michigan State & Oklahoma 'I am staying home. Roll Badgers!' — Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 1, 2025 Wisconsin football landed a commitment from class of 2026 linebacker Ben Wenzel on Sunday. Wenzel announced his commitment during his official visit to the program. He chose the Badgers over one other top contender: the Oklahoma Sooners. 247Sports lists the Appleton, Wisconsin, native as a three-star recruit, ranked specifically as the No. 1,251 player in the class of 2026, the No. 109 linebacker and the No. 5 recruit from his home state. He is the Badgers' highest-ranked in-state recruit in the class, with 247Sports' No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 players in the state committed to Minnesota, Indiana, Iowa and North Dakota State, respectively. Wisconsin was late to offer Wenzel, waiting until May 20 to do so. The program's pursuit then picked up quickly. It has now added the linebacker's commitment before his scheduled visit to Oklahoma (June 20). Wenzel is Wisconsin's ninth commitment in the class. He was the program's second addition to the group on Sunday, following three-star defensive lineman Arthur Scott. Both players committed before the conclusion of their official visits. The Badgers' class now ranks No. 39 nationally and No. 13 in the Big Ten after those two additions. Luke Fickell and his staff are still looking for their first blue-chip commit. Wisconsin is building momentum off its first official visit weekend of the month, arguably the most important three-day period of the recruiting cycle. Fickell and company hope that momentum aids the program's chances with its top targets in the class, including four-star recruits LB McHale Blade, WR Jayden Petit, RB Amari Latimer, OT Kamari Blair and athlete Jackson Ford. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
USA Today
09-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
What Greg Gard said about Wisconsin basketball signing international F Aleksas Bieliauskas
What Greg Gard said about Wisconsin basketball signing international F Aleksas Bieliauskas Wisconsin basketball officially announced the signing of Lithuanian forward Aleksas Bieliauskas on Thursday. Bieliauskas committed to the Badgers in late April, reportedly choosing them over Kansas. He is set to arrive with the program's class of 2025 later this summer. The 6-foot-9 forward recently averaged 12.1 points and 6.8 rebounds while shooting 58.8% from the floor and 39.3% from 3 for Zalgiris II in Lithuania NKL, the country's second-tier basketball minor league. He also appeared in a handful of games in its top league, the LKL. The combination of Bieliauskas' size and shooting ability makes him an intriguing addition to the Badgers' lineup, one that had a glaring need for depth in the frontcourt. Wisconsin coach Greg Gard cited the forward's size and playing experience when discussing his addition on Thursday. "We are excited to have Aleksas join us," Gard said in a release. "His size and experience will be an immediate asset to our program. As we've watched the collegiate recruiting landscape expand internationally, our staff has done a phenomenal job of identifying and connecting with some very good prospects. Aleksas is excited to get to Madison this summer and we can't wait to help him continue to grow as a student-athlete as he transitions toour program and university." Bieliauskas is the Badgers' second international signee with the class of 2025, joining New Zealand shooting guard Hayden Jones. The program's heightened overseas recruiting efforts continue to pay dividends. In the case of Bieliauskas, those efforts appear to have secured a potential multi-year starter. The 19-year-old forward will have an immediate path to playing time in 2025. The team appears set with frontcourt starters Nolan Winter and transfer Austin Rapp. Significant bench minutes are available behind that top duo. As of May 9, Bieliauskas projects as a top contender for those reserve minutes, along with sophomore Riccardo Greppi, another international signee, and incoming freshman Will Garlock. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wisconsin football 2025 spring transfer portal window departure, commitment tracker
The spring transfer portal window officially opened on April 16. Wisconsin is sure to be active as it makes a final push to bolster its roster entering the 2025 season. Most notably, the Badgers enter the period with significant needs on the offensive side of the football. While the team seemingly aced the winter portal window, just in the last few days it lost starting left tackle Kevin Heywood to a torn ACL, and starting tight end Tanner Koziol and top depth wide receiver Mark Hamper to the portal. Advertisement Both Koziol and Hamper were headliners of Wisconsin's winter transfer class. As is the case in the current era of college football, winter commitments are nowhere close to guaranteed to be on the roster in Week 1. With those departures and Heywood's long-term injury, the Badgers would do well to find a fill-in at left tackle and a dynamic starting tight end. Replacing those projected starters may be easier said than done, however, as the two projected to be among the offensive unit's top three or four players. The spring portal window will remain open until April 25. Players have until that date to enter, while those in the portal have unlimited time to commit to a new program. As the window continues, here is an up-to-date tracker on all of Wisconsin's incoming and outgoing movement: (Last update: May 7, 8:08 a.m. ET) IN: Offensive lineman Davis Heinzen Heinzen joins the Badgers with a ton of college experience -- 36 starts over the last three years, most of which came at left tackle. He projects to battle for the Badgers' starting left tackle job in fall camp, along with Joe Brunner, Leyton Nelson and Emerson Mandell. If he's the Badgers' Week 1 starter at the position, this quickly becomes the team's most important addition of the spring window. Advertisement Here's more on Heinzen's commitment. IN: Tight end Lance Mason Missouri State Bears tight end Lance Mason (85) scores the game winning touchdown on the Youngstown State Penguins at Plaster Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. Mason fills the vacancy left by Tanner Koziol, who transferred to Houston during the spring window. The Missouri State transfer tallied 34 catches, 590 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 2024, finishing as one of the top tight ends at the FCS level. Wisconsin reportedly beat out Cal and Oklahoma for his commitment. Here's more on Mason's commitment. OUT: Cornerback Jay Harper Harper joined the Badgers as a three-star recruit in the class of 2024. He redshirted as a true freshman, then again projected as a depth option entering 2025. He enters the portal with four years of eligibility remaining. Wisconsin's cornerback room, a focus of each of Luke Fickell's first few recruiting cycles, will look almost entirely different in 2025, aside from starters Ricardo Hallman and Nyzier Fourqurean. Advertisement Here's more on Harper's departure. OUT: Long-snapper Eli Stein Sep 3, 2022; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) is tackled by Arkansas Razorback long snapper Eli Stein (48) at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Arkansas won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports Stein joined the Badgers during the winter transfer window and was projected to claim the starting long-snapper job. Wisconsin recently added Purdue transfer LS Nick Levy, however, which pointed to a change of plan at the position. Stein's departure is a corresponding move. UPDATE: Stein signed with Cincinnati IN: Purdue long snapper Nick Levy Purdue Boilermakers long snapper Nick Levy (44) points down field Tuesday, March 4, 2025, during Purdue football practice at Kozuch Football Performance Complex in West Lafayette, Ind. Levy is Wisconsin's second long-snapper commitment of the offseason, following Arkansas transfer Eli Stein. The two will likely battle for the starting job through the rest of spring practice and fall camp. Levy is also Wisconsin's second spring transfer commitment, following Southern Illinois quarterback Hunter Simmons. Advertisement Here's more on Levy's addition. OUT: Offensive lineman Derek Jensen Arrowhead tackle Derek Jensen pass protects against Muskego's Liam Shaw on Friday Sept. 29, 2023 at Arrowhead High School in Town of Merton, Wisconsin. Jensen joined the program as a three-star recruit in the class of 2024. He redshirted as a true freshman and now enters the portal with four years of eligibility remaining. Most notably, his departure means that the Badgers now do not have an in-state player from the class of 2024. UPDATE: Jensen signed with Iowa State IN: Southern Illinois quarterback Hunter Simmons Simmons joins the Badgers as a graduate transfer with limited starting experience. The quarterback saw action in five games in 2024, three of which were starts, before he suffered a season-ending injury. The veteran figures to add depth to the team's quarterback room, one that has dealt with significant injury in each of the last two seasons. He's the team's third transfer quarterback addition of the offseason, following Billy Edwards and Danny O'Neil. Advertisement Here's more on Simmons' commitment. OUT: Wide receiver Quincy Burroughs Wisconsin receiver Quincy Burroughs makes a sideline catch during the team's 14th spring practice, which was held Tuesday morning April 30, 2024 at the McClain Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK Burroughs was one of Wisconsin's first transfer additions of the Luke Fickell era back in 2023, as he followed the head coach from Cincinnati. The veteran played sparingly during his two years with the program, totaling just five catches, 43 receiving yards and five special teams tackles. He was again projected as a depth option at wide receiver entering 2025, with significant talent and competition ahead of him in the room. Here is more on Burroughs' departure. OUT: Wide receiver Mark Hamper Oregon Ducks linebacker Bryce Boettcher brings down Idaho Vandals wide receiver Mark Hamper as the Oregon Ducks host the Idaho Vandals Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard-USA TODAY NETWORK Hamper joined Wisconsin this winter with significant fanfare. The rising sophomore was a Freshman All-American at the Football Championship Subdivision level in 2024, totaling 48 catches, 966 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Fellow winter transfer wide receiver Jayden Ballard has reportedly been a spring session standout, meaning Hamper was likely to enter the season as a primary depth option. That may have instigated his transfer decision. Advertisement UPDATE: Hamper signed with Cal OUT: Tight end Tanner Koziol Oct 19, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Ball State Cardinals tight end Tanner Koziol (88) makes a catch against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images Koziol transferred in this winter after several standout seasons at Ball State, including a 94-catch, 839-yard, 8-touchdown 2024 campaign. He projected to be one of Wisconsin's top receiving threats as new coordinator Jeff Grimes transitioned the program back to a pro-style offense. After just four months with the program, Koziol is off to a new destination. Tucker Ashcraft is the next up at tight end. The position should rise near the top of Wisconsin's transfer pursuits, as Ashcraft has just 20 total catches, 168 yards and two touchdowns over the last two seasons. Due to the lack of a top-end backup option, Koziol was one player Wisconsin couldn't afford to lose. Advertisement UPDATE (April 18): Koziol committed to Houston. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football spring transfer portal window tracker
USA Today
30-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Wisconsin women's basketball transfer guard withdraws from portal, returns to Badgers
Wisconsin women's basketball transfer guard withdraws from portal, returns to Badgers Wisconsin women's basketball guard Ronnie Porter withdrew her name from the transfer portal and will return to the Badgers for the 2025-26 season, as first reported by On3's Talia Goodman. Porter previously entered the portal after three seasons with the program. She played a minor role as a freshman in 2022-23, averaging 6.8 minutes, 1.5 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game over 27 appearances. The guard then broke out as a major contributor as a sophomore in 2023-24, starting all 32 games and averaging 35 minutes, 10.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists. Those tallies earned her a Big Ten Honorable Mention distinction at the season's end. Porter continued that strong play this past season, starting all 29 games and averaging 8.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists. The rising senior now returns to the lineup for a final year of eligibility. The veteran's return to the program is major news for coach Robin Pingeton as she works to rebuild the Badgers' roster. The new coach has landed four transfers to date: Missouri State guard Kyrah Daniels, Howard guard Destiny Howell, NC State guard Laci Steele and Southern Illinois forward Gift Uchenna. Porter's return now brings the total of impact additions, portal or otherwise, to five. Pingeton is looking to lead Wisconsin to its first winning season since 2010-11 and its first NCAA Tournament since 2010. The veteran coach previously spent 15 years at Missouri, where she made four consecutive tournaments from 2016-19. Her program had struggled over the past few seasons, however, with a 25-37 record since its last winning season in 2022-23. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
