The Badgers are getting back another defensive line piece after he initially entered the portal.
The Wisconsin Badgers are getting back another piece, as redshirt freshman Jamel Howard is withdrawing from the transfer portal and returning to the program.
Howard, a top three-star recruit in the Class of 2023, was initially a major recruiting win for the Badgers, as they were able to maintain his commitment, despite a coaching switch and a number of programs pushing for him late.
Over his first two seasons in Madison, Howard wasn’t able to crack the rotation despite the opportunity being there.
That seemingly led the defensive lineman to enter the transfer portal back in December, but he’ll now return to the program, becoming the second player to do so this offseason alongside wide receiver Trech Kekahuna.
Howard joins a revamped defensive line room that got a number of commitments from the transfer portal, including the likes of Tulane’s Parker Petersen, LSU’s Jay’Viar Suggs, Grambling’s Micheal Garner, Western Michigan’s Corey Walker, and UT Martin’s Charles Perkins.
The Badgers are trying to retool the position after losing top defensive linemen Curt Neal, James Thompson, and Elijah Hills in the offseason, and now have another player in the fold with Howard returning.