Who's leaving, who's coming to Wisconsin football via the transfer portal?
College football doesn't sleep, and neither will Badgers staff in working to retain and recruit transfers to Madison. Here's what to know.
The business of college football never sleeps, and it’s about to be an even busier offseason for the University of Wisconsin football program.
Wisconsin just finished its 2025 season with a 4-8 record, a 2-7 mark in Big Ten play after its 17-7 road loss at Minnesota on Nov. 29. But along with the 2026 early signing period that ran from Dec. 3-5, where the Badgers only signed 13 scholarship players, the next couple of months will be crucial for coach Luke Fickell and his staff in the transfer portal.
The FBS and FCS transfer portal dates technically run Jan. 2-16, which is new for this offseason. Though those players won’t be in the portal until that timeframe, that doesn’t mean they can’t announce their intentions to do so. And there are also players from lower divisions and the junior college ranks who have already found new schools to call home.
Badger Observer has compiled this tracker to keep tabs on which players are incoming to Wisconsin, and who have announced their plans to depart from the program.
This will be continuously updated through the offseason, so stay tuned for all the latest updates.
Last updated: Jan. 3, 9:41 a.m. CT
Incoming transfers for Wisconsin football
Linebacker Taylor Schaefer
Schaefer’s originally a 2023 recruit who initially went to Division-II Minnesota-Duluth before heading to the JUCO ranks at Iowa Central Community College. He recorded 146 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and seven sacks during his two seasons there, according to the program’s site, which included 97 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and five sacks this year.
The former in-state product from Sturgeon Bay played at Southern Door, and he visited Wisconsin during the week of Nov. 23. The Badgers have some of the pillars of the program’s future at the inside linebacker group with freshmen Cooper Catalano and Mason Posa, along with Christian Alliegro and Thomas Heiberger. But Schaefer has the measurables the program likes for that position.
“Physicality wise, he’s all 6-foot-3 ½,” director of recruiting Pat Lambert said last week. “He’s bulked up into 235 (pounds). He’s physically ready, with athleticism, and he just seems to have a grit to him that when we had him here, coach Fick was in love with.
“So that was another thing that, just like getting him here and getting a feel for, he fit this place and type of culture that we’re looking for.”
Anticipated departing transfers from Wisconsin football
Badger Observer has reached out to Wisconsin for confirmation that all of these players have entered the transfer portal, and are still awaiting word as of Jan. 3.
Outside linebacker Ernest Willor Jr.
Willor, a former four-star recruit, tweeted on Jan. 2 that he had entered the transfer portal. He was one of Wisconsin’s last signees during the 2024 early signing period in December 2023.
He started off on the defensive line but moved to outside linebacker. He didn’t play in any of the last two seasons.
Defensive lineman Jamel Howard Jr. (per report)
247Sports had listed Howard as being in the portal on Jan. 2, though he has not posted any confirmation of the news on social media. His Instagram profile does state “Run Stoppa @?”
Badger Observer has reached out to Wisconsin for confirmation that Howard is in the portal. This news would make fullback Tyler Jansey the lone 2023 scholarship signee remaining with the program.
Howard played in only one game during his three seasons at Wisconsin, which was this season’s win against Middle Tennessee.
Safety Preston Zachman (per report)
Zachman will look to play for another team for what would be his seventh season in college football, according to what his agent told On3. Zachman posted on Instagram a series of photos with the caption “Thank you, Madison.”
He played in 37 career games at Wisconsin between 2022-25, finishing with 130 tackles, four tackles for loss, seven interceptions and 15 passes defended.
Quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. (per reports)
Edwards intends to enter the transfer portal as of Dec. 29, according to ESPN and On3 , and would be on his fourth collegiate team if he signs elsewhere.
Edwards only played in two games at Wisconsin, and he suffered a lower-body injury during the 2025 season opener against Miami (Ohio). He returned to field for a brief time three games later against one of his former programs, Maryland, before exiting that home loss to the Terrapins.
He finished 7-of-16 passing for 113 yards.
Tight end Tucker Ashcraft (per report)
Ashcraft’s departure, which was reported by his agency to On3 on Dec. 26, now leaves only fullback Tyler Jansey as the lone scholarship signee for Wisconsin’s 2023 class.
Ashcraft contributed during all three seasons in Madison, playing in 29 games from 2023-25. He caught 22 passes for 178 yards receiving and two touchdowns. He suffered a lower-leg injury during preseason camp and only played in four games this past season.
Running back Dilin Jones (per report)
Jones’ agents announced the decision via On3 on Dec. 23.
Jones is a former consensus four-star back in the 2024 class who was a major recruiting win for the program during Fickell’s first full recruiting cycle. He was part of a three-back class that included Darrion Dupree and Gideon Ituka.
He redshirted in 2024 but emerged as a lead back this past season. He only played in seven games due to injury and finished the 2025 campaign with 300 yards rushing on 76 carries and two rushing touchdowns.
Wide receiver Eugene Hilton Jr. (per report)
The son of former NFL receiver T.Y. Hilton was a significant recruiting win for Wisconsin for its 2025 class.
He emerged early during spring practices this year and contributed in all 12 games this season. He caught eight passes for 91 yards as a freshman, highlighted by his 42-yard reception at Oregon in late October.
Hilton’s intentions to enter the transfer portal were first reported by On3 on Dec. 22.
Defensive back Geimere Latimer II (per report)
Latimer announced Dec. 16 his intentions to hit the transfer portal via On3. He transferred from Jacksonville State last winter and emerged as a nickel back within Wisconsin’s defense this season. He played in all 12 games in 2025, contributing 28 tackles and one forced fumble.
He is the older brother of former Wisconsin running back commit Amari Latimer, who flipped to and signed with West Virginia on Dec. 3 during the 2026 early signing period.
Linebacker Christian Alliegro (per report)
Alliegro was a key cog in Wisconsin’s defense, and even with the emergence of freshmen Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano at the same position group, will be missed. Alliegro missed two games this season due to suffering a broken ulna against Ohio State, but he was third on the team in tackles (53) behind freshmen Posa and Catalano. Alliegro also was second in tackles for loss (eight) and tied for third in sacks (four).
He told ESPN of his decision to enter the portal Dec. 15.
Linebacker Antarron Turner
Turner transferred from FCS program Western Carolina last winter and received second-team reps at linebacker during spring practices, but he did not play in any games last season.
He announced Dec. 15 his intentions to enter the portal
Offensive lineman Jake Renfro
Renfro announced Dec. 12 that he would head to the transfer portal after using a medical redshirt. He was a leader of the offensive line, but his time at Wisconsin was marred by injuries that cost him 12 of 13 games during the 2023 season. He played in only 4 of 12 games this year.
Renfro was one of Wisconsin’s first transfers of the Fickell era during the 2023 winter offseason.
Outside linebacker Angel Toombs
Toombs, who played at Milwaukee King, walked on to Wisconsin. He initially started as a tight end but moved to outside linebacker. He didn’t play in any games during his three seasons in Madison.
Wide receiver Trech Kekahuna (per report)
Kekahuna’s had a complicated history with Wisconsin. He committed to former coach Paul Chryst in the summer of 2022, but he decommitted after Chryst’s dismissal that fall. Fickell’s staff then flipped Kekahuna from Arizona during the first day of the 2023 early signing period.
Kekahuna then entered the portal last offseason and nearly wound up at another Power Four destination before being convinced to stay by Wisconsin offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes. But injuries and inefficiency on offense hampered Kekahuna’s production this season, as he finished with 26 receptions for 211 yards receiving. He also ran for 131 yards on 14 carries that was heavily added by a 61-yard touchdown against Middle Tennessee.
Now he’s headed back out on the college football market, which his agency declared via On3.
Linebacker Tackett Curtis (per report)
Curtis was one of Wisconsin’s key 2023 recruiting targets under former coach Paul Chryst, and after heading to the Midwest from Southern Cal, he became one of the Badgers’ prized transfers of the 2024 winter offseason.
Now he’s looking for a new collegiate home after announcing his intentions Dec. 9 via On3.
Curtis played in all 24 games at Wisconsin during the last two years, compiling 56 tackles, 2½ tackles for loss, one sack and three passes defended. He started the first seven games of this season before the freshman duo of Catalano and Posa emerged the final five contests.
Wide receiver Joe Griffin Jr.
Griffin never got going in Madison after catching 43 passes for 579 yards receiving and six touchdowns at Boston College from 2022-23. He did not play in 2024, as according to a Wisconsin spokesperson, “he was deemed ineligible by the NCAA after not meeting transfer eligibility requirements.”
Griffin showed flashes during practices, catching red-zone throws in the end zone. But he played in only four games this season, finishing with one reception for 5 yards.
Running back Cade Yacamelli
Yacamelli announced Dec. 9 that he will head to the portal after four years in Madison, which was initially reported by ESPN.
The redshirt junior gained 571 yards rushing on 5.3 yards per carry and two touchdowns during his time in Madison. His best season came in 2024 when he accumulated 274 yards rushing on 8.3 yards per attempt, though he didn’t receive a carry during the Oct. 19 road win at Northwestern.
Wide receiver Kyan Berry-Johnson
Berry-Johnson was a four-star recruit by Rivals in the 2024 class that appeared to be a prototypical slot receiver within Wisconsin’s Air Raid passing scheme under former coordinator Phil Longo. He never recorded a reception played in three games last season, and according to Wisconsin’s participation logs, this year’s loss at Oregon was the only game he saw action in.
Punter Atticus Bertrams
Bertrams will head to the portal after three years in Madison. He’ll finish his time as a Badgers specialist with a 42.8 yards per punt average, which currently places him third all-time in school history. His best season came in 2024 where he averaged 45.3 yards per attempt (which ranks No. 2 all-time in program history for a single season).
Wisconsin began utilizing Sean West more throughout the 2025 season. The redshirt freshman became the first-team punter on the depth chart.
Defensive back Remington Moss
Moss, who’s related to former Wisconsin running back legend Brent Moss, was one of the Badgers’ early 2025 commits. He announced that decision in summer 2023.
Moss didn’t play this season, and he announced Dec. 4 his intentions of entering the transfer portal when it opens.
Outside linebacker Cody Raymond
Raymond was one of the walk-ons from Wisconsin’s 2024 class. He didn’t play a game during the two seasons he was in Madison.
An early case of the transfer portal giveth, the transfer portal taketh away
Defensive lineman Jibriel Conde
Conde was set to follow the route of two other D-II products — cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean and defensive lineman Jay’viar Suggs — to Madison from Grand Valley State. But he flipped and signed with Kansas during the early signing period.
Conde, listed at 6 foot 5 and 270 pounds on GVSU’s roster, finished with 30 tackles, 2½ sacks and 6½ tackles for loss this season. Wisconsin has to replace Suggs, along with other notable upperclassmen such as Ben Barten, Parker Petersen and Brandon Lane Jr. on the defensive line in 2026.