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Meet RJ Delancy III, the Badgers’ transfer cornerback

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Meet RJ Delancy III, the Badgers’ transfer cornerback


RJ Delancy III continues the recent history of University of Wisconsin football cornerbacks from South Florida, even if he didn’t initially sign with the Badgers out of high school.

Delancy, who transferred to Wisconsin from Toledo this offseason, played at Miami Northwestern and was a consensus three-star recruit in the 2020 class. He now joins others from the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area to find their way to Madison in the last decade, including: Derrick Tindal, Dontye Carriere-Williams, Faion Hicks, Rachad Wildgoose, Semar Melvin, James Williams, Ricardo Hallman and 2024 four-star signee Xavier Lucas.

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“I wasn’t here when he first got here — I was obviously in my (shoulder) surgery — but from what I heard even when he first got here, it was such an attack mindset,” Hallman said of Delancy. “And I loved the mindset he’s brought. He brought that veteran maturity and that competitiveness and just a little bit of swagger to our room.

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“He’s been awesome. Being from the same place, we knew each other a little bit before I got here, so it’s been awesome to see how he’s been taking it. He’s been having an amazing spring. He’s been doing awesome, competing really well, and then he’s doing a great job. Him and Nyzier (Fourqurean) are both setting the standard for the younger guys at what they’re supposed to be. So I’m really excited for him and what he can do this year, and I think he’s adjusted so well here, and everybody loves him.”

Here are five things to know about Delancy.

RJ Delancy III is no stranger to the Big Ten

Delancy initially committed and signed with Nebraska during Scott Frost’s tenure in Lincoln. He played three games as a Husker during the truncated 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic before deciding to enter the transfer portal. He eventually moved on to the MAC, where he played for Toledo between 2021-23.

“What made me actually leave Nebraska, it was the COVID year and stuff was just going downhill over there,” Delancy said. “(I) went to Toledo, had a good relationship with coach (Jason) Candle. (I) just had to go over there and work and show coach Candle my skills and stuff.”

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Delancy has had the opportunity to play against Big Ten competition while at a Group of Five program. Toledo played Ohio State (2022) and Illinois (2023) in the last two seasons, nearly upsetting the Fighting Illini in Champaign last September. That experience stood out, according to Wisconsin cornerbacks coach Paul Haynes, who said the program was looking for a player who could cover and run.

“So as our recruiting staff goes through all the film, just watching guys and watching guys and watching guys, RJ was a guy that showed those things,” Haynes said. “And when you look at a program like Toledo that’s playing some Big Ten games, you can watch him against Big Ten opponents and seeing him run stride-for-stride with guys and things like that. So he fit everything that we do.”

What made Delancy transfer to Wisconsin

Delancy finished his time at Toledo with 62 tackles, two interceptions and 16 passes defended in 38 games. He entered the transfer portal and took an official visit to Wisconsin in January. He eventually announced his intentions to join the Badgers on Jan. 8. He was one of 12 transfers the program welcomed to Madison this offseason.

4 observations from Wisconsin football's 9th spring practice

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“I came here, the environment was good, the coaching was tremendous,” said Delancy, who is listed as a fifth-year senior by Wisconsin. “Just everything about Wisconsin, it was just a W.”

Delancy is already seeing early results at Wisconsin (part 1)

There’s a noticeable change in Delancy’s physical appearance in his three months with the Badgers. Toledo listed him at 6 foot and 180 pounds on last season’s roster, and though Wisconsin’s spring roster shows only an eight-pound increase, it’s been an even greater change. 

Delancy credited both Wisconsin’s strength and conditioning staff, along with football performance dietician Sophie Pomrehn.

“My body changed tremendously,” Delancy said. “Coach Brady (Collins) is a great coach (from) the weight room standpoint. I came here at 174 (pounds), and now my body weight is like 194, so that’s a big difference. And coach Brady is just that guy.”

Delancy is already seeing early results at Wisconsin (part 2)

Defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach Mike Tressel praised Delancy on April 3, calling him “very businesslike.” The transfer cornerback primarily received second-team reps during the early portions of Wisconsin’s spring schedule, but within the last week, that’s changed to first-team snaps.

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Delancy is versatile after playing at outside corner and nickel back for Toledo, but he’s been more than solid in covering Wisconsin’s wide receivers exclusively on the outside through nine spring practices.

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“I know he played nickel at Toledo, but we were always looking at him as a corner just because we needed the depth there at corner,” Haynes said. “And again, the same things I said before, he showed on film playing on the outside and playing against some Big Ten opponents that we saw that he can cover and run. 

“Plus again, talking with the kid, he’s very competitive. Kid from Miami Northwestern who has a lot of tradition, tough, hard-nosed, nasty guys, and those are again, you know coach Fickell, those are the type of guys that he wants.” 

Delancy has added depth to Wisconsin’s secondary

Delancy’s presence also helps solidify something that was missing from the Badgers’ cornerback room last season. Hallman played 880 snaps in 2023, according to PFF, while Fourqurean was second at the position with 453. Alexander Smith, who was listed as a sixth-year senior by Wisconsin last year was the only other outside cornerback with significant time on the field with a reported 383 snaps. The outlet also reported that Jason Maitre, who played primarily as the starting nickel back, received 646 snaps. 

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“Getting RJ in was a good addition for us, and then you got Jace (Arnold) and Jonas (Duclona) that are playing a lot more reps and playing a lot better,” Haynes said. “So the depth is a little bit better. I think it’s four to five guys that we feel good about that can go in there and win a game for us.”

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin former four-star quarterback Mabrey Mettauer appears headed for transfer portal

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Wisconsin former four-star quarterback Mabrey Mettauer appears headed for transfer portal


MADISON – It appears that the Wisconsin football team will have almost a completely new quarterback room next season.

Mabrey Mettauer, the last scholarship player left at the position on the roster from this season, is expected to enter the transfer portal, according to 247sports. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound true freshman from The Woodlands, Texas, was a consensus four-star recruit coming out of high school.

This season he served as the top backup to Braedyn Locke after Tyler Van Dyke suffered a season-ending knee injury against Alabama. Mettauer appeared in one game and completed his only pass attempt.

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He maintained his redshirt status and will have four years of eligibility remaining.

Mabrey’s departure was the last domino to fall from the firing of Phil Longo as offensive coordinator. Like Van Dyke and Locke, Mettauer came to Wisconsin with the idea that he would play in Longo’s pass-friendly offense.

Locke’s brother, Landyn, a member of the 2025 recruiting class, was also recruited by Longo. Landyn Locke has been released from his letter of intent and has re-opened his recruitment.

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After 247sports broken the news of Mettauer’s expected departure he reposted the post on his X and Instagram accounts.

The loss of Mettauer means Wisconsin has three scholarship quarterbacks plus walk-on Milos Spasojevic on the roster for next season:

* Billy Edwards Jr., who started this season at Maryland and threw for 2,800 yards. He has one year of eligibility left.

* Danny O’Neil, who started at San Diego State as a true freshman and threw for 2,000 yards this season. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

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* Carter Smith, a four-star prospect from Florida, will enroll early and participate in spring practice.



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14-year-old killed in Wisconsin school shooting shared gifts of music and art with many, friends say

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14-year-old killed in Wisconsin school shooting shared gifts of music and art with many, friends say


MADISON, Wis. — Rubi Patricia Vergara was a talented young teenager who often handcrafted gifts for others and shared her musical talents with many, family friends recounted at funeral services held Saturday morning.

14-year-old killed in Wisconsin school shooting shared gifts of music and art with many, friends say

Vergara, 14, was a student at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, where she was shot and killed by a fellow student Monday. Teacher Erin West, 42, was also killed in the attack.

“She was a quiet, gentle spirit who cared deeply for others,” City Church lead pastor Tom Flaherty said. “But Rubi also had a faith beyond her years.”

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Vergara’s services were held at City Church, which is adjacent to the school. West’s funeral is set for Monday at Doxa Church in Madison, according to her obituary.

Two other injured students remained hospitalized Saturday in critical condition but were stable, UW Hospital said.

A family friend, Dawn Moris, spoke about Vergara’s compassion and empathy. Vergara made personalized birthday cards for loved ones with digital artwork, origami and had started crocheting. Moris showed those in the congregation a small crocheted smiley face potato crafted by Vergara.

“She applied a caring and creative approach to everything she did,” Moris said.

Vergara played keyboard in a family worship band and could hear a song and pick it up on the piano, Moris said. As a singer, she had a special talent of harmonizing and “sang like an angel,” Moris said.

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Vergara’s aunt played her niece’s favorite song, “Shoulders” by for King & Country, on the guitar during the service. Her uncle, Andy Remus, thanked the people of Madison for supporting his family this past week.

Police say the shooter, 15-year-old student Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow, shot herself at the school and died at a Madison hospital. Police have said she was in contact with a man in California who authorities say was planning to attack a government building. Rupnow’s motivation for the attack remains a key part of their investigation.

Volmert reported from Lansing, Michigan.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

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Teenager accused in Wisconsin school shooting had a tumultuous family life, court documents show

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Teenager accused in Wisconsin school shooting had a tumultuous family life, court documents show


MADISON, Wis. — A 15-year-old girl who police say killed two people and wounded multiple others at a private Christian school in Wisconsin endured what appeared to be a tumultuous home life marked by divorces, custody battles and a series of court-mandated mediation sessions to resolve disputes over her care, according to court documents obtained by NBC News.

Jeff and Mellissa Rupnow married and divorced twice, during which their daughter Natalie Rupnow would at times travel between her parents’ homes every few days and attend therapy.

They married in 2011 and divorced for the first time in 2014, according to court documents.

The two agreed to joint custody of Natalie, but she would live primarily with her mother, the documents state.

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They remarried in 2017, according to their marriage certificate obtained by NBC, but filed for divorce a second time in 2020. Mellissa and Jeff Rupnow again agreed to share custody of Natalie, but this time she would spend “equal time with both parents,” the court documents show. A divorce certificate obtained by NBC News shows their divorce was finalized in 2021.

Natalie Rupnow, who also went by Samantha, shot and killed a teacher and a student and wounded six others during study hall on Monday at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, before dying from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said. The victims were identified as Erin M. West, 42, and Rubi P. Vergara, 14.

Two students who sustained life-threatening injuries during the shooting remained in the hospital and the other four injured have been discharged, police said.

The FBI detained Alexander Paffendorf, 20, in California earlier this week and ordered him to temporarily surrender his firearms after he allegedly communicated with Natalie Rupnow. Authorities say Paffendorf admitted to discussing plans with Rupnow to arm himself with explosives and target a government building. The FBI uncovered messages between the two but did not disclose their alleged plans.

Paffendorf and his family could not immediately be reached for comment.

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A makeshift memorial at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wis., on Dec. 17.Jamie Kelter Davis / New York Times via Redux

The apparent turmoil in Natalie Rupnow’s family life, as documented by court records, offer a glimpse into events that may have shaped her path before Monday’s tragedy.

In 2022, Mellissa and Jeff Rupnow sought mediation for custody of Natalie. That May, Dane County Family Court Services notified the parents of a requirement to attend a “mandatory parent education program via Zoom” due to a “disagreement concerning child custody and/or physical placement.” A month later, according to court documents, Mellissa Rupnow had “been scheduled to attend on June 2nd and June 16, 2022, but did not appear” for the Parent Education Program. Shortly after, the couple was asked to appear for a “mandatory mediation session in person appointment.”

In July 2022, an agreement was reached, granting them joint legal custody of Natalie, who would primarily live with her father, according to court documents. The documents also indicate that the parents agreed to “consider Natalie’s therapist’s recommendations regarding placement” for Natalie during the weekends.

Natalie’s mother agreed to connect with her therapist and “participate in therapy to the extent recommended by the therapist,” according to the court documents. Natalie’s father would make “every effort to schedule therapy appointments” to accommodate the mother’s schedule.

The court documents noted that “the parents report a generally positive co-parenting relationship and will continue to communicate with one another by text messages and phone conversations.”

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Jeff and Mellissa Rupnow did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said the two are “fully cooperating” with investigators, who are still trying to identify a motive and have not released many details on the teenager.

“Identifying a motive is our top priority. But at this time, it appears that the motive was a combination of factors,” Barnes said at a news conference.

Trish Kilpin, the director of Wisconsin’s Office of School Safety, said on Monday that “targeted violence is preventable.”

“When somebody decides to use violence, it’s often to redress an upset or a grievance, and they progress down a pathway towards that violence,” Kilpin said. “And when they do that, they often study previous school shooting incidents.”

A neighbor of Jeff Rupnow’s who spoke to NBC News expressed shock when he learned about the shooting and described Jeff as a “kind person.”

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“He really helped us out,” said the neighbor, who did not want his name used out of fear of publicity about the case. “I know we’re still trying to piece everything together.”

The neighbor indicated he didn’t know Natalie, saying “the very limited things we knew, it’s horrifying for everyone, obviously, and just horrifying for the families of the school and those kids.”

Selina Guevara reported from Madison, and Chloe Atkins and Daniella Silva reported from New York City.



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