Wisconsin still has a number of positions to address in the transfer portal.
The Wisconsin Badgers have been one of the busiest teams in the country in the transfer portal, as 25 players have transferred out, while 17 others have joined the program thus far this offseason.
Wisconsin has addressed a number of needs via the portal thus far, adding multiple players at a number of key positions, including quarterback, wide receiver, and defensive line.
But, there is still work to be done as the transfer portal unwinds, so let’s rank the biggest remaining needs for the Badgers with January just a few days ago.
Cornerback
The Badgers need cornerbacks, both from a depth perspective and even another potential starter.
Wisconsin has three cornerbacks returning from their 2024 roster, assuming Ricardo Hallman returns, with freshmen Jay Harper and Omillio Agard being the other returnees.
They’ll also bring in 2025 recruits Jahmare Washington and Cairo Skanes, while recently adding Jacksonville State transfer Geimere Latimer, who could line up as a starter next to Hallman next season.
But, the Badgers need a number of cornerbacks to bolster the depth in the room, and they could very well need another starter to compete with Latimer, potentially a player with more size for the boundary.
Agard could compete for the nickel role, but getting players with more experience as well makes sense to round out the room.
Quarterback
Even after landing the two transfer quarterbacks, I hinted at the Badgers potentially needing a third as it was unclear whether Mabrey Mettauer’s future would be at Wisconsin.
Well, Mettauer entered the transfer portal, which means no scholarship quarterbacks from 2024 will be on the roster next year. Wisconsin needs to add another quarterback to get ample numbers in 2025, as their room currently consists of senior Billy Edwards Jr., freshman Danny O’Neil, and 2025 recruit Carter Smith.
You can never have enough quarterback talent, and the Badgers have firsthandedly seen the issues with injuries at the position. So, they’ll need to add one more player in the offseason to get them to four quarterbacks, which would be one short of Luke Fickell’s ideal room with five signal-callers.
Kicker
The Badgers have a scholarship kicker with Nathanial Vakos on the roster.
But, they need some competition in the room. Vakos wasn’t great in 2024, hitting just 12/19 of his field goals after making 15/19 in 2023.
The ugly part? He was 6/13 between 30 and 49 yards, costing the Badgers a number of scoring opportunities, which is a confidence killer for head coach Luke Fickell.
The Badgers need some fresh bodies to compete with Vakos, so I’d look for an addition to the position, even if it’s necessarily a scholarship player.