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USA Today
15-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Where Xavier Lucas, other Wisconsin transfers land on ESPN's final portal cycle rankings
Where Xavier Lucas, other Wisconsin transfers land on ESPN's final portal cycle rankings ESPN released its final 2025 transfer portal cycle top 100 player ranking on Wednesday. The list, which includes both the winter and spring windows, is not full of Wisconsin Badgers. One transfer departure made the cut: cornerback Xavier Lucas, who now plays for Miami, at No. 60. His departure was noteworthy, to say the least, as Wisconsin attempted to block his exit. Former Ball State tight end Tanner Koziol is the other now-former Badger included (No. 91). He was both a transfer addition and departure this offseason, joining the program during the winter window before exiting during the spring. With the dust now settled, he's set to play for Houston in 2025. On one hand, Wisconsin's absence from ESPN's list means the program didn't lose much high-profile talent to top-ranked programs. On the other hand, it means the outlet doesn't see many of its additions as top-end impactful. In total, the Badgers brought in 21 transfers -- 19 during the winter window (although three then transferred out) and five during the spring. The list's headliners are quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., wide receiver Jayden Ballard and four experienced defensive tackles. It's reasonable to look at the team's revamped defensive front seven, deep secondary and strong quarterback room and praise the staff for a strong transfer cycle. But that is a local perspective. Nationally, none of Wisconsin's key additions made major headlines. Wisconsin is projected to have four transfers start on offense, plus another 4-5 on defense. That doesn't include the additional eight in the team's projected two-deep, or the one starter on special teams. That reality means that the program's transfer class will go a long way toward defining its 2025 season, for better or for worse. Maybe, with the benefit of hindsight, we can look at ESPN's forecast and wonder why several Badgers were left off. 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
18-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Wisconsin football tight end announces transfer destination
Former Wisconsin football tight end announces transfer destination Wisconsin transfer tight end Tanner Koziol committed to Houston on Thursday. Koziol entered the portal on Wednesday after just four months with the Badgers. The four-star transfer recruit joined the program during the winter window, ranked as a top-70 transfer prospect and the No. 3 player at his position. The rising senior then departed just weeks into spring practice. He is now headed to Houston for his final season of eligibility. The former Ball State standout caught 94 passes last season for a team-high 839 yards and eight touchdowns. His 36 career games over three seasons include 163 total receptions, 1,507 yards and 18 touchdowns. The 6-foot-6 tight end joins a Houston program that has gone 4-8 in each of its first two seasons in the Big 12. The Cougars were formerly a contender atop the American, reaching nine bowl games in 10 seasons from 2013-22, including a program-best 13-1 2015 campaign. Koziol will headline Houston's entirely new-look offense entering year two under head coach Willie Fritz. The team landed former Texas A&M quarterback Connor Weigman, Rice running back Dean Connors, several transfer receivers, four now offensive line starters and now Koziol. They'll all look to improve a unit that averaged just 14 points per game in 2024, ranked 133rd of 134 Football Bowl Subdivision teams. Wisconsin, meanwhile, is looking to bolster its tight end position after Koziol's departure. It is one of several programs with a transfer visit scheduled with Missouri State's Lance Mason. As of April 18, Tucker Ashcraft and J.T. Seagreaves are the team's two primary options at the position. For more on Wisconsin's spring transfer movement, including where the outgoing transfers end up, bookmark our 2025 spring window tracker. 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
18-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN ranks now-former Wisconsin tight end among best players in spring transfer window
ESPN ranks now-former Wisconsin tight end among best players in spring transfer window Wisconsin transfer tight end Tanner Koziol landed at No. 13 in ESPN's latest ranking of the best players in the spring transfer portal window on Thursday. Koziol officially entered the spring transfer portal window on Wednesday after just four months with the Badgers program. He then committed to the Houston Cougars less than 48 hours after entering. Here's what scout ESPN Billy Tucker had to say about Koziol's place in ESPN's ranking: "Koziol has a huge frame with a well-rounded skill set that could make him extremely coveted yet again. He's a productive pass catcher who takes advantage of his size to shield smaller defenders on jump balls. He's a really good high pointer and that combination of height, hands and leaping ability make him a matchup nightmare. Koziol is also a really effective blocker with strong inside hand placement and finishing power to drive back defenders." The analysis certainly checks out. The La Grange Park, Illinois, was 247Sports' No. 4-ranked uncommitted transfer prospect before his pledge to Houston, plus the top at his position. Overall, he's slotted as the No. 71-ranked transfer of the combined 2024-25 cycle. As a junior at Ball State, Koziol snagged 94 passes, the fourth-most by any Football Bowl Subdivision player, for 839 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024. As a sophomore, he notched 34 receptions for 295 receiving yards and three scores, indicative of a stark improvement in his capacity as a receiving weapon. In three total seasons with Ball State, Koziol recorded 163 total receptions, 1,507 yards and 18 scores in 36 games. To put his talent into perspective, ProFootballFocus ranked the now-former Badger as the top returning tight end in the nation. There's no denying Koziol's talent at tight end, and his departure was certainly significant for Wisconsin's 2025 offensive unit. Barring any transfer acquisitions, junior Tucker Ashcraft is positioned to suit up as the team's projected starter at tight end. He has limited production in two seasons in the primary starting role. Wide receivers Jayden Ballard, Trech Kekahuna and Vinny Anthony are also projected to receive a larger share of offensive targets without Koziol in the lineup. 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
17-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Wisconsin football starting tight end officially enters NCAA transfer portal
Wisconsin football starting tight end officially enters NCAA transfer portal Wisconsin football projected starting tight end Tanner Koziol officially entered the transfer portal on Wednesday, according to multiple reports. BadgerExtra's Colten Bartholomew first reported Koziol's impending move on Tuesday. With the portal not officially opening until Wednesday, April 16, it took an extra day for that news to become official. The 6-foot-6 pass-catcher had been absent from UW's spring practice dating back to April 3, an indication of what eventually transpired on Wednesday. The former Ball State tight end transferred to Luke Fickell's program as a four-star transfer recruit, the portal's No. 69 player and No. 3 tight end back in December. With the departure of tight end Riley Nowakowski to Indiana, Koziol was poised to serve as Wisconsin's starting tight end and possible No. 1 receiving option on the outside. Koziol reeled in 94 passes for 839 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior in 2024. In three years at Ball State, the La Grange Park, Illinois, native logged 163 career receptions, 1,507 yards and 18 scores in 36 games. The tight end's improvement was evident. For context, he registered 34 receptions for 295 receiving yards and three scores as a sophomore. He added 60 catches and nearly 550 yards to that total just one season later, before the major breakout as a junior. Wisconsin's offensive depth chart for the 2025 season has become a major question mark, especially in new offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes' pro-style system. Fellow winter transfer addition wide receiver Mark Hamper announced his plans to enter the transfer portal on Tuesday, as did veteran receiver Quincy Burroughs. Their departures leave the Badgers' depth options on the outside quite limited. Junior Tucker Ashcraft and redshirt junior J.T. Seagraves are set to assume Wisconsin's starting tight end workload, if Fickell's staff elects to forego the pursuit of a veteran tight end in the spring transfer window. Transfer wide receiver Jayden Ballard, plus returning starters Vinny Anthony and Trech Kekahuna, will also see more touches with Koziol's departure. On top of those changes at tight end and wide receiver, the Badgers need to address their left tackle position, with starter Kevin Heywood out for the season with a torn ACL. After excelling in the winter transfer window, Wisconsin is now back to the drawing board, needing to fill major roster needs before the 2025 season arrives. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
