Wisconsin is losing one of its former four-star recruits to the transfer portal.
Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman James Durand is entering the transfer portal, he announced late Thursday night.
#Badgers 2023 four-star offensive lineman James Durand is entering the transfer portal.
11th of 15 recruits in the 2023 class to leave. https://t.co/PgC5FHHACp
— Bucky’s 5th Quarter (@B5Q) December 6, 2024
Durand, a redshirt freshman this season, is a former four-star recruit in the Class of 2023. He had committed to the Badgers under the old regime, and stayed on with the new coaching staff when head coach Luke Fickell was hired.
While Wisconsin has struck paydirt in the 2024 and 2025 classes with offensive linemen, Durand was the lone player in the position to commit to Wisconsin in the cycle.
A native of Basha, Arizona, Durand had received 12 scholarship offers during his recruitment, but only had one official visit, which was to the Wisconsin Badgers, as he had committed to the program in May of 2022.
He was a part of the two-deep this season, but never saw meaningful reps at guard, and was stuck on the depth chart with other young talent rising up the ranks.
Durand’s announcement marks the 11th recruit departure for the Badgers from that 2023 class, with a significant group leaving the offseason.
He’ll head to the transfer portal with three years of eligibility after this season.