Wisconsin football completed its 2024 transfer recruiting class with a surprising commitment from former Stephen F. Austin defensive tackle Brandon Lane.
His addition moved the class to 16 total commitments, and up to No. 23 in 247Sports’ team transfer class rankings for 2024.
Why the NCAA settlement, revenue-sharing model matters for the Wisconsin football program
The Badgers entered the offseason with holes to fill across the roster. That is understandable as Luke Fickell, Phil Longo and Mike Tressel work to churn the roster from the Paul Chryst regime. Now with more and more new faces entering, the closer the team gets to Fickell’s future vision and plan.
The team’s 2024 transfer haul showed its long list of needs. It landed a starting quarterback, starting running back, multiple inside linebackers, multiple outside linebackers, depth at wide receiver, depth along the offensive line depth and critical help at defensive line.
Ranking Wisconsin football’s incoming transfers by expected impact in 2024 season
Wisconsin faces a gauntlet schedule in 2024 with the Big Ten now expanded to 18 teams. Any significant success will not come without substantial contributions from its group of transfers.
As the season nears, here is a look at that full completed class:
Wisconsin quarterback Tyler Van Dyke throws a pass as coach Luke Fickell watches during spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wisconsin on Tuesday April 2, 2024. Credit: Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
Transfer Ranking: Four-star, No. 113 overall transfer, No. 17 quarterback
Notes: Van Dyke will start under center for the Badgers. He represents a veteran bridge before Braedyn Locke and others take over — as Tanner Mordecai was in 2023.
The former Miami Hurricane a great redshirt freshman year in 2021, though struggled in 2022 and 2023, and was benched midway through last season. He doesn’t run as much as Tanner Mordecai, but the hope is Phil Longo’s offense will re-create his 2021 form. Time will tell.
Oct 7, 2023; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers quarterback Tony Muskett (11) is sacked by William & Mary Tribe linebacker John Pius (8) during the first half at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
Ranking: Four-star, No. 132 overall transfer, No. 16 edge defender
Notes: Pius was an FCS All-American at William & Mary. He totaled a whopping 172 tackles, 35 tackles for loss and 21 sacks combined over the last two seasons. Other portal offers included Virginia, Cincinnati and Connecticut.
He should be a primary piece of Wisconsin’s pass-rushing rotation in 2024.
Wisconsin long snapper Cayson Pfeiffer (99) is shown during spring football practice Thursday, April 25, 2024 in Madison, Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Badgers football team plays their season opener against Western Michigan on August 31. Credit: Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
Ranking: Unranked. 247Sports doesn’t rank long snappers.
Notes: Multi-year starter at Cincinnati. He joins Wisconsin to replace Peter Bowden. He is on scholarship for the 2024 season, which shows how much of a priority he was.
Wisconsin outside linebacker Leon Lowery goes through a drill during the team’s 10th spring practice, which was held on a practice field north of Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin on Saturday April 20, 2024. Credit: Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
Ranking: Three-star, No. 205 overall transfer, No. 16 outside linebacker
Notes: Lowery had a 46-tackle, 7.5-tackle-for-loss, 3.5-sack 2023 campaign at Syracuse. He’s immediately one of the more polished pass-rushers in the room. I’d expect Lowery, Pius and Darryl Peterson to lead the group in 2024.
Wisconsin tight end Jackson McGohan makes a catch during practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wisconsin on Tuesday April 23, 2024. Credit: Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
Ranking: Three-star, No. 350 overall transfer, No. 31 tight end
Notes: McGohan committed to Luke Fickell at Cincinnati coming out of high school. He played in eight games for LSU in 2023, all on special teams. This is more of a depth signing with the hope McGohan develops into a true receiving threat.
Wisconsin wide receiver Tyrell Henry (14) is shown during spring football practice Thursday, April 25, 2024 in Madison, Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Badgers football team plays their season opener against Western Michigan on August 31. Credit: Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
Ranking: Three-star, No. 355 overall transfer, No. 64 wide receiver
Notes: Henry caught 24 passes for 195 yards and three touchdowns for the Spartans in 2023, plus contributed as a kick and punt returner on special teams. Luke Fickell’s Cincinnati staff had originally offered him coming out of high school.
He slots in as one of Wisconsin’s top six receivers and should see meaningful snaps in 2024.
Wisconsin linebackers Sebastian Cheeks (15) and Garrison Solliday go through a drill during the team’s 10th spring practice, which was held on a practice field north of Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin on Saturday April 20, 2024. Credit: Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
Ranking: Three-star, No. 571 overall transfer, No. 39 inside linebacker
Notes: Cheeks joined North Carolina as a four-star in the class of 2022. He joins the Badgers with three years of eligibility remaining and should compete for a starting role starting in 2025.
Wisconsin running back Tawee Walker turns upfield after catching a pass during the team’s final spring practice, which was held on the field north of Camp Randall Stadium on Thursday May 2, 2024 in Madison, Wisconsin. Credit: Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
Ranking: Three-star, No. 386 overall transfer, No. 37 running back
Notes: Walker recorded 102 carries, 513 yards, seven touchdowns, 10 receptions and 81 receiving yards in 2023 with Oklahoma. He slots in as the clear 1B in the Wisconsin backfield alongside Chez Mellusi. I’d expect a big 2024.
Oct 7, 2023; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels running back Ulysses Bentley IV (24) runs the ball as Arkansas Razorbacks linebacker Jaheim Thomas (28) makes the tackle during the first half at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Ranking: Three-star transfer, No. 256 player in portal, No. 19 linebacker
Notes: Thomas recorded 90 tackles, 6.5 tackles-for-loss, 3.5 sacks in 2023 as leader of Arkansas’ defense — that after he played for three years under Luke Fickell at Cincinnati. He figures to be one of Wisconsin’s starters in 2024.
Wisconsin defensive back RJ Delancy (5) covers Jace Arnold during a drill in spring practice at the McClain Center in Madison, Wisconsin on Tuesday April 16, 2024. Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
Ranking: Three-star, No. 435 overall transfer, No. 52 cornerback
Notes: Delancy recorded 28 tackles, 0.5 tackles-for-loss, one interception in 13 games at Toledo in 2023. He joins a deep and talented cornerback room at Wisconsin for his final year of eligibility.
Oct 28, 2023; Berkeley, California, USA; USC Trojans linebacker Tackett Curtis (25) celebrates with long snapper Jac Casasante (39) after recovering a fumble against the California Golden Bears during the fourth quarter at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Ranking: Four-star transfer, No. 66 overall in the portal, No. 3 linebacker
Notes: Wisconsin narrowly lost out on Curtis during his high school recruitment. They now land a promising young linebacker that played 12 games as a true freshman at USC in 2023 and registered 40 tackles, four tackles-for-loss, two sacks, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
He will be a long-term starter at the position, just not in 2024.
Wisconsin defensive lineman Elijah Hills (94) battles with an offensive lineman during the team’s 14th spring practice, which was held Tuesday morning April 30, 2024 at the McClain Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Credit: Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK
Ranking: Three star, No. 613 overall transfer, No. 64 defensive lineman
Notes: Hills has one year of eligibility remaining. He tallied 27 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries and one forced fumble for Albany in 2023. Wisconsin’s defensive line badly needed help and Hills will help provide valuable depth and experience.
Ranking: Three star, No. 691 overall transfer, No. 41 offensive lineman
Notes: Nelson played in 11 games for the Commodores in 2023. He follows former Vanderbilt offensive line coach A.J. Blazek to Madison where he will backup several positions along the line and work to win a starting role in a future year.
Ranking: Three star, No. 885 overall transfer, No. 90 defensive lineman
Notes: Lane played a big role on the Lumberjacks’ defense in 2023, recording 45 total tackles and 1.5 sacks. He provides a valuable depth piece along what was a razor-thin defensive line.
Sep 30, 2023; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Boston College Eagles wide receiver Joseph Griffin Jr. (2) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
Ranking: Three star, No. 687 overall transfer, No. 103 wide receiver
Notes: Griffin recorded a combined 43 catches for 579 yards and six touchdowns in his two seasons of on-field action with Boston College. His 2023 season included 25 receptions, 345 yards and one touchdown.
He’ll slide into Wisconsin’s wide receiver rotation and play meaningful snaps immediately.
Ranking: Unranked (walk-on)
Notes: Okla appeared in one game for the Fighting Illini in 2023, that after redshirting as a true freshman in 2022. He was a three-star recruit ranked 14th overall in the state of Wisconsin coming out of high school. Add him to the depth along the interior of the line.
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