The Badgers are losing one of their in-state freshmen to the transfer portal.
The Wisconsin Badgers are midway through their spring practice schedule, with practice No. 7 of 15 wrapping up on Tuesday.
It’s been a competitive spring, with a lot of younger players getting opportunities as Wisconsin rotates through its top teams. We’ve seen freshmen get second-team reps, up-and-comers see time with the top group, and as a result, certain players are starting to flash.
But, there have also been some injuries, most notably Trech Kekahuna and Thomas Heiberger, who will be out for the spring with lower-body injuries. In addition, tight end Tanner Koziol has been ‘dinged up’.
On top of that, there has been one player who hasn’t been seen at all this spring: redshirt freshman offensive lineman Derek Jensen.
Jensen, an Arrowhead, Wisconsin native, enrolled early with the Badgers as a four-star recruit in the Class of 2024, and was one of the five offensive linemen that Wisconsin picked up in the class.
However, he’s been nowhere to be seen this spring, and head coach Luke Fickell confirmed that on Tuesday when speaking to the media.
“Jensen hasn’t been out here all spring,” Fickell said.
Per BadgerExtra’s Colten Bartholemew, Jensen is planning on entering the transfer portal as the spring portal opens up between April 16-25. That marks an unfortunate loss for the Badgers, as Jensen was one of the lone in-state recruits in Wisconsin’s loaded 2024 class.
The remainder of that offensive line group (Kevin Heywood, Emerson Mandell, Ryan Cory, Colin Cubberly) have all either been competing for a starting spot or with the twos all spring.
Jensen did not suit up for a game during his freshman season.