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Meet Wisconsin football's full 2024 transfer portal recruiting class

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Meet Wisconsin football's full 2024 transfer portal recruiting class


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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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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Madison, Wisconsin, school shooting suspect was in contact with man accused of plotting his own attack: report

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Madison, Wisconsin, school shooting suspect was in contact with man accused of plotting his own attack: report


The 15-year-old girl who police say killed a teacher and teen student in a shooting at a private Christian school in Madison, Wisconsin, on Monday was in contact with a man in California whom authorities say was plotting a mass shooting with her, according to a report. 

The man, according to a restraining order obtained by the Associated Press, told FBI agents that he had been messaging Wisconsin shooter Natalie Rupnow about attacking a government building with a gun and explosives. The order doesn’t say what building he had targeted or when he planned to launch his attack. It also doesn’t detail his interactions with Rupnow.

The order was issued by a California judge on Tuesday against a 20-year-old Carlsbad man under the state’s gun red flag law. The order requires the man to turn his guns and ammunition to police within 48 hours unless an officer asks for them sooner because he poses an immediate danger to himself and others.

Emergency vehicles are parked outside the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, following a shooting, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024.  (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

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MEDICAL EXAMINER IDENTIFIES VICTIMS KILLED IN WISCONSIN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL SHOOTING

Rupnow opened fire inside a study hall inside Abundant Life Christian School just before 11 a.m., according to Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes. He said responding officers found Rupnow with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. She died on the way to a hospital.

The Dane County Medical Examiner’s report identified Rupnow’s deceased victims as 14-year-old student Rubi Patricia Vergara and 42-year-old teacher Erin M. West.

The report stated that West, of Deforest, and Vergara, of Madison, were both pronounced dead at the scene and that preliminary results of the examinations confirm that both died as a result of “homicidal firearm related trauma.”

Six others were injured in the shooting, including two students who are in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.

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According to an obituary, Vergara was a freshman at Abundant Life Christian School and was described as being “an avid reader, lover of art, and singing and playing keyboard in the family worship band.”

Vergara’s aunt told Fox News Digital that it has been a “very hard week” for their family, and they are trying to get through her niece’s funeral, which is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday in Madison.

Man standing with cross after school shooting in Wisconsin

Dan Beazley stands with the homemade cross he brought from Michigan for victims of a shooting at Abundant Life Christian School on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, in Madison, Wisconsin.  (AP Photo/Mark Vancleave)

SCHOOL SHOOTER’S MOM JENNIFER CRUMBLEY HAD ‘TAINTED’ TRIAL, ATTORNEYS SAY IN REQUEST TO TOSS CONVICTION

The Madison Police Department confirmed to Fox News Digital that two guns were recovered from the school following the shooting. However, only one gun was allegedly used by Rupnow.

During a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Barnes said “identifying a motive is our top priority.” He said the motive appears to be a combination of factors, but he did not elaborate any further.

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“Every child, every person in that building is a victim and will be a victim forever. We need to figure out and try to piece together what exactly happened,” Barnes said. “We may never know what she was thinking that day, but we’ll do our best to try to add or give as much information to our public as possible.”

While Rupnow had two handguns, Barnes said he does not know how she obtained them and he declined to say who purchased them, citing the ongoing investigation.

No decisions have been made about whether Rupnow’s parents might be charged in relation to the shooting.

Police were speaking with Rupnow’s father and other family members, who were cooperating, and searching Rupnow’s home, Barnes said. He declined to offer additional details about the shooter, partly out of respect for the family.

Rebekah Smith, whose 17-year-old daughter is a student at the Abundant Life Christian School, told Fox News that she and her husband knew all the victims and their families.

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Emergency vehicles are parked outside the Abundant Life Christian School

Emergency vehicles are parked outside the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, where multiple injuries were reported following a shooting on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Bauer)

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Smith said the teacher who was killed had a daughter who was in sports with the Smiths’ daughter, and they talked with the mother at the games all the time. 

She added that the victim had been a long-term substitute teacher at the school and just became a full-time teacher this year.

The school’s communication director, Barbara Wiers, said in a statement Wednesday evening that West worked as a substitute teacher for three years before accepting a position as the school’s substitute coordinator and an in-building substitute teacher.

She said Vergara had attended the school since kindergarten.

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Fox News’ Greg Wehnerm, Stephen Sorace and the Associated Press contributed to this report.



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FBI links Carlsbad man to Wisconsin school shooting suspect

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FBI links Carlsbad man to Wisconsin school shooting suspect


A 20-year-old Carlsbad man has been ordered to surrender his guns after authorities said he communicated with the teenage girl suspected of committing a fatal school shooting in Wisconsin, allegedly expressing his own plans to carry out a deadly attack against a government building.

Police and FBI agents went to the home of Alexander Paffendorf on Tuesday night to seize his guns and ammunition after a San Diego Superior Court judge approved a gun violence restraining order, according to documents obtained by NBC 7.

The restraining order said, in part: “During an FBI interview, Paffendorf admitted to the FBI agents that he told Rupnow that he would arm himself with explosives and a gun and that he would target a government building.”

Paffendorf was detained, but it was not clear if he was arrested.

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The Carlsbad Police Department told NBC 7 on Wednesday night that “there is no threat to the Carlsbad community at this time.”

The FBI’s San Diego office declined to comment.

On Monday, 15-year-old Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow allegedly fatally shot a teacher and a student and wounded six other people at Abundant Life Christian School, in Madison, Wisconsin.

Rupnow was later found dead at the scene with what were believed to be self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

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Former Ohio State Wide Receiver Jayden Ballard Transferring to Wisconsin

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Former Ohio State Wide Receiver Jayden Ballard Transferring to Wisconsin


Jayden Ballard will remain in the Big Ten for his final season of college football.

The former Ohio State wide receiver announced Wednesday that he has committed to Wisconsin, where he will play for former Ohio State defensive lineman and assistant coach Luke Fickell.

In four seasons with the Buckeyes, Ballard made 35 appearances and collected 11 catches for 177 yards and one touchdown. He also made an impact on special teams, returning 11 punts for 63 yards and three kickoffs for 23 yards.

This season, the Massillon, Ohio, native and No. 55 overall prospect in the 2021 class was buried on the wide receiver depth chart behind Emeka Egbuka, Carnell Tate, Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Inniss.

With five-star freshman Mylan Graham and several talented pass-catchers arriving in the 2025 class, including Quincy Porter, Bodpegn Miller, De’Zie Jones and Phillip Bell, there was no guarantee Ballard would receive playing time in the final year of his collegiate career.

Ballard will look to carve out a role for himself at Wisconsin in 2025. Fickell recently replaced offensive coordinator Phil Longo with former Kansas playcaller Jeff Grimes. He also brought in former Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. to lead the Badgers’ offense.

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