The Wisconsin football program knew it needed stability at center.

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So when the transfer portal opened, finding an experienced, plug-and-play option quickly moved to the top of the to-do list. That search led the Badgers to Oklahoma State transfer Austin Kawecki — and throughout spring practice, it’s becoming clear why he was such a priority.

“It’s the most important thing we did,” offensive line coach Eric Mateos said of adding Kawecki. “What’s maybe the negative of our group right now? We don’t have as many skins on the wall. We haven’t been in as many wars as maybe some other groups. To me, if you’re in that situation, you have to find a veteran center, a guy who has been in those, who can communicate, understands the calls and adjustments we’re making.

“I have a veteran center who’s been in a lot of wars, and is smart, I can just tell him. I don’t have to tell everybody else — then I don’t have other guys thinking about too many things. But I got the veteran, smart guy.”

That quote tells you just about everything you need to know about how Wisconsin views the position — and where Kawecki fits into the equation.

At 6-foot-4, 311 pounds, the Frisco, Texas native arrives as a graduate transfer with Power Four experience in the middle of an offensive line. After developing early in his career at Oklahoma State, Kawecki stepped into a full-time role for the Cowboys in 2025, starting all 12 games — 11 at center and one at right guard — while logging 710 offensive snaps.

From a production standpoint, the profile is steady with clear strengths.

According to Pro Football Focus, Kawecki posted a 63.9 overall offensive grade last season, with his performance leaning heavily toward pass protection. He earned an impressive 76.8 pass-blocking grade across 394 reps, allowing just 12 pressures and two sacks. That comes out to pressure allowed on roughly 2% of his pass-blocking reps — a mark that reflects both his consistency and awareness in the middle of the line.

The run-blocking side for Kawecki, which graded out at 58.8, remains an area for growth. But within the context of Wisconsin’s current roster build, the pass protection and communication piece carries added weight.

And through spring ball, that’s where Kawecki has separated himself.

On film, Kawecki doesn’t overwhelm you with highlight-worthy reps, but that’s kind of the point. What stands out is the consistency — clean snaps, steady pass sets, and a noticeable lack of confusion in the middle of the line. He wins more with leverage and angles than raw power, and while he’s not a dominant run blocker at this stage, the composure he brings in pass protection is exactly what this offense has been missing.

In that sense, his addition isn’t just about one position — it’s about making the entire operation function at a higher level, which it will need to if this offense is going to take the step forward it’s aiming for. That starts at a position where the Badgers haven’t had much consistency in recent years.

Wisconsin has dealt with ongoing instability at the starting center spot during the Luke Fickell era, most notably with former Cincinnati transfer Jake Renfro. Across three seasons in Madison, Renfro appeared in 17 games but missed the majority of two injury-plagued years, including significant time in both 2023 and 2025 due to lower-body injuries.

That lack of continuity showed up in stretches for Wisconsin, particularly when it came to communication and consistency up front, forcing players into roles they weren’t quite ready for or out of their natural positions.

Which brings the conversation back to Kawecki. He can help lead by example, showing younger players how to prepare like a pro while serving as a bridge to developing options the staff likes but believes need time.

Around him, the Badgers are still working through questions across the rest of the offensive line. Transfers like PJ Wilkins, who has kicked out to left tackle after previously playing guard at Ole Miss, and Kevin Heywood, a former blue-chip recruit coming off a torn ACL, are expected to handle the starting tackle spots. Inside, younger options like Emerson Mandell, who started 12 games a year ago, Colin Cubberly, and Blake Cherry are competing for roles along the interior. That level of turnover and inexperience only amplifies the importance of the center position, making it all the more critical for them to have someone steady to lean on in the middle.

Wisconsin’s staff knows it needs to take a big step forward offensively this fall after making a significant investment on that side of the ball. The Badgers moved on from position coach AJ Blazek, bringing in Mateos to reunite with Jeff Grimes. They also added experienced pieces through the portal and brought in dynamic dual-threat quarterback Colton Joseph, who can push the ball downfield and add a threat to the running game.

That kind of investment comes with expectations, and if Wisconsin is going to right the ship offensively this fall under Grimes, especially after finishing 135th nationally in total offense (253.1 yards per game), it will likely start in the middle. Because in this system, everything, from protection calls to timing in the passing game, runs through the center.

And right now, that’s exactly where Kawecki has made his presence felt.

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Spring practice is winding down for the Wisconsin football team, and with it comes a clearer picture of where things stand.

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I’ve got another round of mailbag questions to work through, and this one hits a little bit of everything. We’ll get into whether the Badgers offense can produce their first 1,000-yard rusher since 2022, if there’s a true No. 1 receiver that can emerge in this offense, and what to make of a unit that’s still trying to prove it can take a real step forward.

We’ll also touch on what it means for the program after Wisconsin went without a pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. There’s also some early buzz around true freshman quarterback Ryan Hopkins and what he’s shown so far this spring.

Let’s dive in.

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The Wisconsin football program dipped into the East Coast talent pool to add another promising piece to its 2027 class.

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That piece is Daniel “DJ” Davis Jr., a three-star defensive back out of Middletown, Delaware, who announced his verbal commitment to Luke Fickell and the Badgers over a wide-ranging offer list that included Penn State, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Kentucky, Maryland, and others.

“Badger Nation, I’m HOME!,” Davis wrote.

From a roster-building standpoint, the addition checks a few boxes.

Davis was one of the more versatile athletes on Wisconsin’s recruiting board, earning all-state recognition on both sides of the ball as a junior while splitting time between wide receiver and defensive back.

That two-way background shows up on tape, but it’s the long-term projection on defense that ultimately won out for Wisconsin. Safeties coach Jack Cooper, who served as the lead recruiter, prioritized Davis as a backend piece — a player whose athletic traits would seemingly translate more cleanly to coverage responsibilities than to life in the box.

At around 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, Davis doesn’t profile as a tone-setter near the line of scrimmage. Instead, his game relies on range and recovery. He covers ground quickly, flashes the ability to close windows after the ball is in the air, and brings the kind of track-based athleticism that can mask mistakes while he continues to develop physically.

In that sense, this is less about immediate projection and more about traits. Opinions may vary on how quickly that translates to helping win games on Saturdays in the Big Ten, but Wisconsin has leaned into these types of developmental bets in the secondary before — players who can contribute on special teams early while growing into roles over time.

In an era where the transfer portal has made Power Four football programs more selective with high school evaluations, this type of take signals how Wisconsin views Davis — as a long-term upside bet with the tools to develop into something more once he’s on campus.

The commitment also strengthens the Badgers’ standing as a class.

Davis becomes the 10th verbal commitment in Wisconsin’s 2027 cycle, a number that carries some weight this early in the calendar. With eight of those commitments coming from in-state prospects — including four composite four-star recruits — the staff has already done much of the heavy lifting before official visit season ramps up. That kind of positioning for the Badgers allows for a more selective approach over the summer.

The group also includes legacy four-star quarterback Jack Sorgi, giving the class a solid building block at the game’s most important position.

Within that framework, Davis fills a more specific need.

He’s the second safety in the class, joining in-state product Dustin Roach from Catholic Memorial, and adds another layer of athleticism to a position group that continues to evolve under coach Cooper’s direction.

There’s still plenty of time left in the 2027 cycle, but from a process standpoint, Wisconsin has put itself in a position to be deliberate — and, if needed, aggressive — over the months ahead when building its class.

Davis is expected to return to Madison for his official visit during the second weekend of June, giving the staff another opportunity to continue building that relationship and for him to play an active role in recruiting.

He becomes part of a class that includes Korz Loken, Cole Reiter, Ethan McIntosh, Isaac Miller, Kingston Allen, and the Mallinger twins, in addition to verbal commitments from Sorgi (quarterback) and Roach (safety).

All of it reinforces where this class stands — not just in terms of numbers, but in flexibility as the Badgers staff looks to close on remaining targets.

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There’s a certain point where a Wisconsin football player’s development stops being about projection and starts becoming about expectation and seeing what he’s actually ready to handle when the moment calls for it.

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That’s where Emmett Bork is beginning to live.

The redshirt freshman tight end from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, still checks all the boxes you’d expect from a developmental piece. He’s 6-foot-6, 255 pounds, a former three-star recruit who flipped from Michigan State late in the cycle, and a player who saw the field just once as a true freshman (1 snap) in 2025, making his debut against Middle Tennessee State. On paper, that’s the profile of someone still waiting his turn.

But inside the program, the tone around Bork is starting to change.

“From a physical standpoint, you look at his body type — he’s a well put-together kid,” tight ends coach Nate Letton said. “He’s done a great job working incredibly hard, and one of the things I’m most impressed with about Bork is his work capacity. He rarely fatigues, gets tired, or hits a wall, and that’s a skill — a gift. He keeps pushing his limits, which is really cool.

“And in terms of football growth, there are some tangible fundamental techniques he’s worked hard at becoming proficient in.”

The physical traits were never the question. Wisconsin knew what it was getting when it flipped Bork late in the recruiting cycle, an in-state prospect with a wide catch radius, strong frame, and enough athletic upside to project as a legitimate mismatch in the passing game with time to develop. The early enrollment last spring only reinforced that belief.

What has mattered more over the past year is everything that doesn’t show up in a measurables column.

“We had to lay a year-long foundation of football — learning how to approach the game, how to prepare for practices, and putting himself in position to make decisions post-snap that fit within the offense,” Letton explained.

“He’s done a really nice job of learning and growing on that front, and I’m excited for where he’s going. I want our mindset in that room to be a relentless pursuit of continuous improvement.”

That growth tends to show itself in the moments most fans never think about. It’s one thing to know the play call in the huddle. It’s another to process everything that can happen after the snap, especially at a position that lives in the gray area between the line of scrimmage and the passing game. In Jeff Grimes offense, a single concept can branch into multiple outcomes depending on the front, the leverage, and how the defense rotates late. For Bork, that means stacking practice reps and getting to the point where the right decision becomes second nature.

“That’s the essence of playing tight end in this system,” said Letton. “Emmett and the rest of the group have to continue being exposed to different looks, seeing different fronts and defenses, and making those decisions correctly.”

That’s the tradeoff with young tight ends in this system. The role demands more than just catching passes or setting an edge. It’s about processing, reacting, and making the right decision when the picture changes after the snap. Bork is still climbing that curve. But the staff believes he’s doing it the right way and likes what Bork can become.

Part of that belief comes from something harder to quantify.

“Emmett’s personality is exactly what you want in a college football player,” Letton said. “He never comes into the building and sucks the energy out of the room. He’s excited to be there. He’s tight with everybody in the locker room. When you’re around him, you feel happier.

“As we got to know him through the recruiting process, you felt that. He’s a guy from the state who loves Wisconsin, wears the logo with pride, and takes ownership of his opportunity to be here. That’s really cool. I’m really pleased he’s going to have the chance to affect the game on Saturdays.”

That in-state connection matters here. It always has. Players who understand what it means to wear that jersey tend to carry themselves a little differently, especially when the expectations start to rise.

And those expectations are coming.

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For the first time in nearly half a century, the Wisconsin football program didn’t hear a single player’s name called during the NFL Draft.

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The Badgers went without a selection across all 257 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, ending a 47-year streak of producing at least one draft pick. It was a run that dated back to 1978. In a sport where draft results often mirror the health of a program, it reflected the reality of a 4-8 season and back-to-back losing seasons under Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell.

But even in a year without a selection, there were still decisions being made. And one of the more notable ones came after the draft.

That’s where players like Wisconsin edge rusher Mason Reiger come into focus. There are always a handful of players throughout this process whose path feels less about what they were on tape and more about what they proved they could still become. Reiger fits that mold, ultimately landing with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent — a surprising outcome for a player widely viewed as a potential Day 3 pick, whose lone season in Madison checked many of the boxes NFL scouts look for.

“Walk on out of high school. Told to medically retire-Only 1 offer out of the portalUDFA,” Reiger wrote on Instagram. “The best part about this is that it’s nothing new to me. I’ve been proving everyone wrong for the last 6 years. Thanking God for the opportunity to do it again. Stay tuned.”

At 6-foot-5, 248 pounds, Reiger joined the Badgers as a graduate transfer from Louisville, carrying more uncertainty than guarantees. He missed the entire 2024 season due to injury, and when coach Fickell and his staff brought him in to play a significant role on defense, it wasn’t based on recent production. It was a calculated bet on traits, tape, and the belief that the version of Reiger they saw before the injury was still in there.

That belief didn’t take long to be validated.

During Reiger’s senior season with the Wisconsin Badgers, he appeared in all 12 games and emerged as one of the most disruptive players along a defensive front that desperately needed pass-rushing juice off the edge. He finished with 33 total tackles (18 solo), along with 6.0 tackles for loss and five sacks. But the impact went a lot deeper than the counting stats.

Reiger generated 45 total pressures, consistently affecting quarterbacks even when he wasn’t finishing the play. That kind of down-to-down disruption showed up in the advanced metrics, too. According to Pro Football Focus, the Illinois native posted an 82.3 overall defensive grade across 514 snaps, including an 82.5 pass-rush grade and a 78.4 mark against the run.

That’s not just production. That’s high-level efficiency.

And in a league that increasingly values players who can win their reps consistently — not just occasionally — and do it against high-level competition like Reiger faced in the Big Ten, that matters. But beyond the on-field production and talent for the former walk-on, Reiger’s off-field qualities and his pro-like demeanor make him a worthwhile investment.

Inside Wisconsin’s football program, Reiger was viewed as a foundational piece in the locker room — someone whose approach to preparation and accountability elevated the group around him. Coaches trusted him. In a disappointing 2025 season that came with no shortage of challenges, he became a steady presence, the kind of player who showed up the same way every day regardless of circumstance. That resilience is important.

Because for NFL teams, especially in the undrafted market, you’re not just betting on film and traits. You’re also betting on habits. You’re betting on the ability to handle adversity, develop, and carve out a role over time.

Reiger has already done that once.

Now, he’ll be asked to do it again at the next level.

He wasn’t the only former Badger to find an opportunity after the draft.

Several former players landed undrafted free agent deals across the league, headlined by a pair of signings with the Atlanta Falcons in offensive tackle Riley Mahlman and wide receiver Vinny Anthony II. The Los Angeles Rams added multiple pieces as well, bringing in edge rusher Darryl Peterson and cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean, while safety Austin Brown signed with the Indianapolis Colts.

Elsewhere, tight end Lance Mason landed with the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, fullback Jackson Acker joined the Buffalo Bills, and defensive lineman Ben Barten secured a spot with the New York Giants. Along the defensive front, Jay’Viar Suggs signed with the New Orleans Saints, and Parker Petersen found a home with the Carolina Panthers.

A few others will get their shot through rookie minicamps. Wide receiver Jayden Ballard earned invites from both the Tennessee Titans and Colts, while kicker Nathanial Vakos earned an opportunity with the Buccaneers.

It’s not the path most envision when they arrive to play for a program like Wisconsin. But for this group, it’s the one in front of them now.

In a lot of ways, Wisconsin’s absence from the draft board is a reflection of where the program stands right now. This isn’t just about adjusting to a new era of college football, which they’ve been slow to adapt to; it’s about identifying, developing, and producing NFL-level talent, and that hasn’t happened consistently enough under Fickell. The draft numbers make that clear. Fifteen FBS programs produced seven or more picks in 2026, and 231 of the 257 selections came from Power Four conferences.

That’s the gap.

It doesn’t close overnight, but with an influx of resources and a clearer understanding of what it takes to compete at the highest level, the hope is that Wisconsin is at least moving a step closer to what it’s chasing.

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There’s a reason inside linebacker is the one spot on the University of Wisconsin football team’s roster that feels rock solid right now — and it has very little to do with spring depth charts or offseason hype.

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It’s about proof.

When Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano were forced into bigger roles late in the 2025 season, they didn’t look like placeholders. They didn’t look like players treading water until help arrived. They looked like answers. Not finished products, to be clear, but real solutions. The kind you build a defense around instead of continually searching for difference makers.

That matters more than ever in college football’s current climate.

Posa and Catalano weren’t just serviceable during a lost season that ended in 4-8. They were legitimately impactful. And they did it without the benefit of having the long runway so many young players get now.

Catalano enrolled early last spring. Posa didn’t. That detail gets glossed over, but it shouldn’t. Posa arrived in the summer, went through fall camp, and climbed the depth chart on the fly. Even still, Posa ended his true freshman season as a third-team All-Big Ten linebacker. That’s not a normal development curve. That’s accelerated growth under live fire.

What’s changed now is the expectation.

“It is,” Posa said when asked if his approach is different heading into Year 2. “Everybody just looked at us as freshmen who could make some plays, but before spring ball, Coach Tress and Coach Tuf pulled us aside, telling us it’s our defense now. We’re going to run the show. We need leaders.”

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The University of Wisconsin football program has landed its first out-of-state commit in the 2027 recruiting class.

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And it’s not just any addition.

Four-star quarterback Jack Sorgi, a legacy prospect with deep ties to the program, announced his verbal commitment to the Badgers over offers from Arkansas, Louisville, and Memphis, giving Luke Fickell and his staff a talented prospect at the most important position on the field.

The last name carries weight in Madison.

Sorgi is the son of former Wisconsin quarterback Jim Sorgi, who starred for the Badgers in the early 2000s before being selected in the 6th round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.

That connection doesn’t guarantee anything on Saturdays, but it does give the younger Sorgi a built-in understanding of what the position demands and what it means to play in this program.

“You’ve loved Wisconsin football for as long as we can remember… now watching that dream become reality has been so amazing and seeing you continue your dad’s legacy makes it even more special,” Sorgi’s parents posted on social media. “We are so proud of you, Jack! On Wisconsin ❤️”

Still, this wasn’t a recruiting win handed to Wisconsin.

Sorgi had previously been committed to Louisville, building a strong relationship with Jeff Brohm and the Cardinals’ staff. For a while, it looked like that landing spot would stick. But Wisconsin’s staff, led by Kenny Guiton and offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, stayed involved behind the scenes, continued building that relationship, and ultimately positioned themselves well when his recruitment reopened earlier this spring.

That persistence paid off.

The 6-foot-4, 205-pound quarterback out of Tri-West High School in Indiana brings a combination of size, arm talent, and athleticism that fits what Wisconsin is trying to build offensively. As a junior, Sorgi completed 61.2% of his passes for 2,911 yards and 31 touchdowns to 14 interceptions, while also adding 156 yards of production on the ground.

The traits show up on film.

He’s a quarterback with the arm strength to drive the ball outside the numbers, but what stands out just as much is his ability to operate within structure. He’s comfortable getting the ball out on time, working through progressions, and delivering with touch when needed. When plays break down, he has enough athleticism, evidenced by his reported 4.67 40-yard dash, to extend and create without turning things into backyard football.

That balance matters.

There’s still development ahead. Like most high school quarterbacks, he’ll need to continue adding strength and adjust to the speed of the college game. But the baseline is there, and the tools are easy to see.

Quarterback commitments often set the tone for a class, and landing one rated among the 25 best nationally in the cycle can have a ripple effect across the rest of the offense. In this case, though, that tone was already being established by the deep in-state group Wisconsin has locked in early, making Sorgi more of an amplifier than a starting point. He still gives the Badgers staff something to point to when recruiting skill talent.

Sorgi now joins a group that already has a strong in-state foundation.

Wisconsin has secured commitments from edge rusher Isaac Miller, tight end Korz Loken, running back Kingston Allen, along with a strong group up front that includes offensive linemen Cole Reiter, Ethan McIntosh, and twins Hunter and Reece Mallinger, plus safety Dustin Roach.

It reinforces the staff’s emphasis on locking down talent within its footprint, and adding Sorgi gives that group another blue-chip recruit, signaling that the Badgers are willing to go beyond state lines to land the right pieces.

It’s early in the 2027 cycle, and there’s a long way to go. Nothing is final until the ink is dry on National Signing Day, but in this case, it brings a familiar name back to a program that knows exactly what it’s looking for at quarterback.

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The University of Wisconsin men’s basketball program has added another player from Australia to its roster for next season.

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Forward Isaac Riddle officially signed with the Badgers, giving Greg Gard and his staff another international piece as they continue to reshape the roster with a mix of experience, development, and long-term upside.

“Isaac comes in as one of the best young prospects in Australia with terrific potential as he goes down the path of development,” Gard said. “For our program, it’s a very good time to bring in a budding star from their national team and help Isaac with the next steps in his career.

“His length and athleticism are obvious, but his desire to grow and expand his game is impressive. We’re looking forward to getting to work with him in June.”

Riddle, a 6-foot-8 forward from Golden Grove, Australia, is coming to Madison with a résumé built on international competition and efficiency around the rim. At the 2025 FIBA Under-17 Oceania Cup, he averaged 14.0 points per game while shooting 67.4% from the field, a mark that ranked among the best in the tournament. Riddle also helped lead Australia to a gold medal at the 2023 FIBA Under-16 Asia Championship, further building a track record of winning on the international stage.

That profile fits with how Wisconsin has rounded out its roster this offseason, pairing a group of experienced players expected to carry the scoring load with a younger layer of pieces who make sense from a long-term and roster-balance standpoint and have room to develop.

“Honored to join & be part of the Wisconsin Badgers program,” Ruddle said. “Grateful for the opportunity to develop, compete, and represent such a proud basketball tradition. Thank you to everyone who helped along the journey so far. Looking forward to getting to work in Madison.”

Riddle is currently playing for the Center of Excellence in Australia’s NBL1 East league, a developmental league that has produced a few notable prospects but isn’t the highest level of competition. The early returns point to a player who brings good length, thrives off finishing plays at the rim, running the floor, and impacting the game with his athleticism and motor — even as there’s still plenty of room to refine his overall skill set.

He’s not being brought in to contribute right away.

What Riddle is, at least right now, is a developing forward with tools. Someone who can score efficiently inside the arc, rebound his position, and bring energy on both ends. As Riddle transitions to the college level, the focus will be on adding strength, expanding his offensive skill set, and continuing to round out his game, particularly on the perimeter.

When you look at the roster he’s joining, that timeline makes sense.

Wisconsin’s frontcourt is expected to feature experienced options like Nolan Winter, Austin Rapp, and Will Garlock, along with portal addition Victory Onuetu. That kind of depth gives the staff flexibility to bring Riddle along at the right pace, allowing him to develop without the pressure of immediate production. His energy on the scout team and reps against Big Ten-caliber frontcourt players should help everyone improve.

He becomes part of a larger group of newcomers that includes Trey Autry, Eian Elmer, Owen Foxwell, LaTrevion Fenderson, Josh Manchester, and Jackson Ball, as the Badgers continue to build out a roster designed with hopes to compete now while also sustaining success in the future.

Riddle fits into the latter part of that equation.

He’s a long-term play. A player with the physical tools and international background that give him a foundation to build on, even if the finished product is still a ways away. It’s a low-risk addition, and the truth is, anyone who says they know exactly what he’ll become at this stage is guessing. But if the development hits, there’s a world where he grows into someone who can give you meaningful minutes over time. Time will tell.

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The Wisconsin men’s basketball program has added another in-state talent to its roster for next season.

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Mount Horeb standout guard Josh Manchester announced his commitment to the Wisconsin Badgers, giving Greg Gard and his staff a high-scoring backcourt piece to develop for the future as they continue to reshape the roster and build toward the next phase of the program.

“We’re excited to have Josh join our program,” Gard said. “As we continue to intentionally build out our roster, it’s vital to have players in a variety of roles. Josh appreciates and understands the work and development that his role will require. He’s got a competitor’s mindset paired with a knack for scoring, as witnessed by him being amongst the top 10 scorers in Wisconsin high school history. He comes from an excellently coached high school program and a basketball family.

“Josh is really fired up to be a Badger. We can’t wait for him to arrive on campus this summer and get to work preparing for the coming season. We’re looking forward to helping Josh launch his college career!”

Manchester, a 6-foot-3 combo guard, brings one of the most decorated scoring resumes in the state. He averaged 30.1 points per game as a senior, according to UW’s press release, and was a finalist for the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association’s Mr. Basketball award. In the process, Manchester finished with 2,534 career points, becoming the all-time leading scorer at Mount Horeb and the 10th-most in state history.

That kind of production doesn’t happen by accident.

Manchester has been on Wisconsin’s radar for multiple years, making visits to Madison and building familiarity with the program. He also competed on the Nike EYBL circuit with Team Herro, giving the staff another extended look at his game against high-level competition. But when the offer finally came, the fit was already there, and things moved quickly.

He chose Wisconsin over offers from programs such as East Tennessee State, Northern Illinois, Siena, and UW-Green Bay, as well as late interest from several high-major programs. For an in-state prospect who has long envisioned himself playing for the Badgers, the decision made sense.

And from Wisconsin’s perspective, it aligns with what this staff has been trying to do.

The Badgers are in the middle of rebuilding their roster, balancing retention, portal additions, and high school recruiting as they reshape the roster. Adding Manchester gives them a developmental guard that works hard, can shoot, and has a proven track record of carrying an offense.

He’ll join a 2026 class that already includes in-state forward LaTrevion Fenderson, a familiar name to Manchester from their time together on the AAU circuit. That continuity matters, especially as Wisconsin continues to emphasize fit and culture alongside talent. The Badgers have also added international backcourt pieces in New Zealand guard Jackson Ball and Australia’s Owen Foxwell, who, at 22 years old, is expected to arrive with a more experienced profile and likely won’t have four years of eligibility.

Beyond the high school and international additions, the roster is coming together, with a mix of returning players such as Nolan Winter, Austin Rapp, Jack Janicki, Hayden Jones, Zach Kinziger, and Will Garlock, as well as portal pickups Eian Elmer, Trey Autry, and Victory Onuetu.

Manchester adds another layer to that build.

He’s a volume scorer by nature, but there’s more to his game than just putting the ball in the basket. Manchester is a high-IQ guard with deep range from beyond the arc who can play on or off the ball, attack closeouts, and finish through contact when the opportunity is there. At the next level, the focus will shift to adding strength and refining his game as he adjusts to a different type of role and finds ways to make an impact.

But the foundation is there.

From a roster-building standpoint, this matters, too. Bringing in an in-state player who takes pride in representing where he’s from not only helps balance resources as programs manage the realities of today’s landscape, but also gives the staff a player they’ve evaluated closely and can develop over time. In a sport defined by constant turnover, those types of culture pieces tend to carry more value than they’re often given credit for.

For a coaching staff focused on building the right way and honoring the program’s history, while also operating within the realities of the current college basketball landscape, adding an in-state player with production, familiarity with Wisconsin, and shooting upside simply makes sense.

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The University of Wisconsin men’s basketball program officially retained its top priority in the frontcourt this offseason.

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Nolan Winter announced that he is returning to Madison for the 2026–27 season, giving Greg Gard a cornerstone piece to build around as Wisconsin reshapes the roster. Winter’s decision to remain a Badger for life carries more weight than anything else they’ve done thus far.

“BADGER NATION, I’M BACK,” Winter wrote. “At the end of the day, I couldn’t picture myself anywhere other than with the Wisconsin Badgers. From the moment I stepped on campus, this program has pushed me to grow not only as a player, but as a person. The coaching staff believes in me, my teammates have become family, and the fans show up every night.

“There’s a standard here, a pride in wearing “Wisconsin” across your chest, and that means everything to me. I’m grateful for this place and excited to keep building, keep competing, and give everything I have for this team and city.”

In an era where loyalty is often defined by doing what’s best for you and your family financially, Winter took a slightly different path, staying the course for all four years at Wisconsin while steadily developing his game. It’s a reflection of a program and player who’ve invested in one another.

That context makes what Wisconsin is navigating this offseason worth paying attention to, especially with Winter positioned to provide continuity in the locker room and help carry the program’s culture forward.

The Badgers entered the offseason with plenty of turnover to navigate, starting with the graduation of senior starters Nick Boyd, an All-Big Ten selection, Andrew Rohde, and Braeden Carrington, who served as an important piece off the bench. From there, star combo guard John Blackwell chose to go through the NBA Draft process, enter the transfer portal, and ultimately signed with Duke, further reshaping the roster.

If the Wisconsin Badgers had lost Winter too, they wouldn’t have been building around much of anything. They would have been starting from scratch. Instead, the 7-foot big man stands as the lone returning starter from a team that earned a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

That said, Winter didn’t just take a step forward last season. He became one of the most efficient frontcourt players in the Big Ten, and the progression didn’t happen overnight. As a freshman, his PRPG sat at 0.6 before climbing to 3.5 as a sophomore and 4.6 as a junior, according to BartTorvik, reflecting a steady rise in Winter’s impact and usage within the Badgers offense.

The production followed that same trajectory. After averaging 9.4 points and 5.8 rebounds as a sophomore on 56.3% shooting from the field and 35.8% from beyond the arc, the Minnesota native jumped to 13.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks while shooting 56.9% from the field across 31 appearances, cementing himself as a dependable frontcourt presence.

Efficiency wasn’t just a part of his game. It defined it.

He posted a 133.4 offensive rating, per T-rank. The Lakeville North standout finished with 12 double-doubles, the third-most by a Wisconsin player since 2000. And then there’s the number that really makes you pause.

Winter shot 70.1% on two-point attempts. In a league like the Big Ten, where a lot of possessions feel like they’re being played in a phone booth, that kind of efficiency is almost unheard of. In fact, no qualifying Big Ten player had hit that mark inside the arc since the 1986–87 season.

That’s not just productive. That’s remarkably efficient. And in Gard’s offense, which is built around pace, high-percentage looks at the rim, and floor spacing, it’s hard to imagine a better fit. He can run the floor, finish inside, and has already proven he can stretch the defense when needed.

So when you talk about roster construction, you’re not just talking about bringing back a high-quality starter. You’re talking about keeping a foundational piece — especially at a time when proven big men are commanding a premium on the open market.

Winter is a player that Gard can point to when recruiting in the transfer portal as someone to build around and an example of the program’s player development.

Which is exactly what they’ve done.

The Badgers had no choice but to be aggressive in the portal, and it’s not hard to see why. There’s a significant amount of production walking out the door, with as many as four starting spots being replaced heading into next season. That kind of turnover forced their hand. The frontcourt still needs another plug-and-play option following the departures of Aleksas Bieliauskas, Riccardo Greppi, and Jack Robison, all of whom transferred.

But the cupboards aren’t bare.

With Winter back in the fold, along with Austin Rapp — who has already announced his return — and Will Garlock, Wisconsin is expected to retain three rotational forwards. When you factor in the expected return of Jack Janicki, Hayden Jones, and Zach Kinziger on the perimeter and add in two incoming freshmen in the 2026 class, Jackson Ball and in-state forward LaTrevion Fenderson, along with international point guard Owen Foxwell, you can start to see the vision for next season’s team coming together.

From there, the staff has worked to supplement that group through the portal to fill gaps, adding Hofstra big man Victory Onuetu, Miami (OH) wing Eian Elmer, and George Washington guard Trey Autry to round out the roster and provide experienced depth across multiple spots.

It’s not a finished product. Not even close. But it’s a good start. And in today’s college basketball landscape, Winter’s retention might be the difference between simply reworking the roster with a few targeted players who fit your system and having to tear it down and start over.

Keeping Winter doesn’t solve everything. It doesn’t replace all of the production the Badgers lost. But it keeps Wisconsin from drifting into uncertainty without a compass. As the saying goes, sometimes the most important additions you make in the offseason are the players you keep.

Winter’s decision to spend his entire career in one place is becoming increasingly rare. It’s a reminder of what college basketball used to look like — and a chance to appreciate a player and a program that chose to see it through together.

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If you want to understand why Wisconsin men’s basketball targeted Eian Elmer, you have to start with how this offense is built to function.

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Because not all spacing is created equal.

That’s where Elmer separates himself from a typical transfer portal addition. This signing wasn’t just a move to add a perimeter option. This was a targeted addition that aligns with what this staff values offensively and what they believe translates to winning games in their system.

Start with what you already know.

Elmer averaged 12.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game last season at Miami (OH), doing it on 49.8% shooting from the field and 42.9% from three on volume. He attempted 285 shots, with 168 of them coming from three, meaning nearly 59% of his looks came from behind the arc.

That’s a clear identity.

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At some point, building a roster for Wisconsin basketball stops being about adding more skill and starts being about filling in what’s missing.

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That’s where Victory Onuetu comes into the picture.

This isn’t about Wisconsin expanding the offensive arsenal or finding another player to stretch the floor. It’s about balance. It’s about having a frontcourt piece who can do the things that don’t always show up in the box score but tend to matter over the course of a Big Ten season.

And that’s where Onuetu’s value starts to come into focus as he enters his final year of eligibility.

Start with the baseline. At 6-foot-11, 235 pounds with a long wingspan, Onuetu brings a physical presence that Wisconsin hasn’t consistently had down low, and historically hasn’t prioritized, in its frontcourt.

In 35 appearances at Hofstra, Onuetu averaged 4.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in just under 18 minutes per game while shooting 56.6% from the field, doing all of his work around the rim. According to Barttorvik, he also posted a 0.8 PRPG with a 109.8 offensive rating.

The production is modest. The impact isn’t. Because when you dig into Onuetu’s advanced data, the on-court identity becomes clear.

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The Wisconsin men’s basketball program has added some size and an important piece from the transfer portal.

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Miami (OH) wing Eian Elmer committed to the Badgers coming off his official visit to Madison, giving Greg Gard and his staff a player who checks a lot of boxes in terms of fit, production, and overall skill set.

“We are really excited to add another excellent addition to our spring signees,” Gard said in a press release. “Eian brings a wealth of experience and scoring punch as a 6-7 wing. He played on one of the country’s most successful teams at Miami (Ohio) that won 32 games. A terrific shooter, his skillset and production fit excellently into our plan as we build out next year’s team. Throughout our evaluation process our staff loved his size, power and skill and truly believe he will thrive in our system.

“We can’t wait to get Eian to Madison in June to join all his teammates as preparation begins for what appears to be another exciting Badger team.”

Elmer becomes the third transfer addition for Wisconsin this offseason, joining former George Washington guard Trey Autry and Hofstra big man Victory Onuetu as the Badgers continue to shape their roster.

At 6-foot-7, Elmer brings the kind of size on the wing that Wisconsin has been looking to add, but it’s not just about the frame. It’s how he plays within it.

During his junior season at Miami (OH), Elmer averaged 12.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game while logging over 30 minutes a night and starting every contest for a team that went 32-2 and earned an NCAA Tournament berth. He did it efficiently, shooting 49.8% from the field and 42.9% from three on volume. That combination alone makes it valuable.

But there’s more to it than just shooting.

The shooting profile is real, too. During his junior season, 168 of his 285 shot attempts came from beyond the arc, meaning 58.9% of his shots were threes. For his career, that number sits at 51.2%, with 375 of his 732 total attempts coming from deep, where he’s connected at a 41.3% clip.

Elmer is the type of player who impacts the game without needing the ball to stick. He rebounds his position pretty well, defends with length, and understands how to play within a team-centric offensive system.

And that’s not by accident.

“He rebounds, he defends, he can score, he can shoot, he can do a lot of things well,” Miami (OH) head coach Travis Steele said of Elmer. “Eian impacts the game in every way possible.”

According to Barttorvik, he posted a 2.3 PRPG along with a 120.5 offensive rating, reinforcing just how effective he was in his role. Elmer did it with a 17.4% usage rate and a 64.2% true shooting percentage, a mark that would have ranked second among Wisconsin’s rotation players last season behind only Nolan Winter, which gives you a good sense of the efficiency he brings to the table and how effective he was at Miami (OH).

And that’s where the fit starts to come into focus.

Wisconsin isn’t asking Elmer to come in and be the guy the same way transfers like AJ Storr, John Tonje, or Nick Boyd carried that kind of scoring load. With Winter and Austin Rapp anchoring a frontcourt that can both stretch the floor and create space, and with Australian point guard Owen Foxwell arriving from the NBL to help orchestrate the offense and get others involved, the need shifts to players who can complement that structure.

Elmer fits that mold to a T, and there’s still reason to believe there could be more to unlock offensively within a more defined role.

He’s a connective piece. Someone who can knock down open shots, keep the offense moving, and provide defensive versatility on the wing. In a system that relies heavily on ball screens and spacing, having five players who can shoot and make quick decisions is critical, and Elmer fits that.

There’s a role here, and it’s a meaningful one.

Elmer projects as someone who can step into the starting lineup immediately, provide stability, and give Wisconsin another reliable option on the perimeter. Every team in college basketball is looking for players with his combination of size and shooting ability, which only adds to the appeal.

He’s already proven capable of handling significant minutes at a winning program, and with this being his final year of eligibility, Elmer profiles as someone who will step into a starting role while providing the staff with a dependable presence on the wing as they look to build a roster that can both develop as the season goes along and compete right away.

In a transfer portal cycle where fit and NIL resource allocation matter just as much as talent, this is the kind of addition that feels like a home run. And more often than not, those are the ones that end up mattering most.

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The Wisconsin men’s basketball program has added another piece to its frontcourt, one that looks a little different than what’s already in place.

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That signing comes in the form of Hofstra transfer Victory Onuetu, who committed to the Badgers following a visit to campus as Greg Gard and his staff continue to round out the roster heading into next season.

Onuetu becomes the second transfer addition for Wisconsin this cycle, joining former George Washington guard Trey Autry.

“Having Victory coming to our program is a terrific addition to our team,” Gard said in a press release. “He’s an extremely talented, athletic front line player that gives us excellent rim pressure in transition, lob threats in the half court, shot blocking capability and relentless rebounding.

“In addition to complimenting our roster plan very well, he is an extraordinary person who Badger fans are going to love getting to know. We can’t wait until we can begin working with him when he arrives in June.”

At 22 years old, the 6-foot-11 big man arrives in Madison after taking a unique path to playing college basketball. A native of Málaga, Spain, he didn’t go through the traditional recruiting process. Instead, he developed through Spain’s national system and competed on the international stage before landing at Hofstra for his first college season. During Onuetu’s time in Spain, he also played alongside Brad Davison, now an assistant coach at Wisconsin.

The numbers from Onuetu’s lone season at Hofstra don’t jump off the page at first glance, but the role tells the story.

In 35 appearances, including 17 starts, Onuetu averaged 4.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in just under 18 minutes per game. He shot 56.6% from the field, doing all of his work around the rim, and finished as one of Hofstra’s top rebounders while anchoring the interior defensively.

That’s the appeal.

And when you dig into the advanced numbers, that profile becomes even clearer. According to Barttorvik, Onuetu posted a 0.8 PRPG with a 109.8 offensive rating, but it’s the underlying rates that really stand out. He recorded a 17.0% offensive rebounding rate, a 24.7% defensive rebounding rate, and a 6.7% block percentage, numbers that help paint a much clearer picture of what he’s coming to Wisconsin to do.

Onuetu isn’t being brought in to stretch the floor or carry any kind of offensive load. He attempted zero three-pointers last season and shot under 50% from the free-throw line. That part of his game is what it is. But what he does bring is size, physicality, and a willingness to do the dirty work that every roster needs, especially in a league like the Big Ten.

With Nolan Winter and Austin Rapp expected back in the fold, Wisconsin already has frontcourt pieces who can stretch the floor and play within its spacing-based system. The staff also retained Middleton native Will Garlock, who still has intriguing upside but remains a work in progress.

That’s part of what makes Onuetu’s addition make sense.

It gives Wisconsin another frontcourt piece who can compete for minutes, raise the floor of the room, and push that group forward collectively. Because while the Badgers have pieces in place, what they didn’t necessarily have was a true interior presence who could come in, rebound, protect the rim, and change the tone physically in short bursts.

That’s where Onuetu fits.

He gives the Badgers a different look. Someone who can battle on the glass, contest shots at the rim, and provide depth behind a group that leaned heavily on versatility a season ago. Following the departures of bigs like Aleksas Bieliauskas and Riccardo Greppi to the transfer portal, there was a clear need to add another couple of bodies to the rotation.

Not every addition is about upside or expanding the offense. Sometimes it’s about rounding out the roster. Onuetu projects as a depth piece, someone who can step in and push for a limited rotation role and give you physical minutes when needed. If everything clicks, there’s a path for him to carve out a consistent role as a rebounder and rim protector. And even if that role remains situational, there’s still value in what he brings.

Having an older player like Onuetu, with international experience, who understands how to play hard, defend, and compete without needing the ball, matters. It shows up in practice. It shows up in preparation. And over the course of a long season, it tends to matter more than people think.

This isn’t a move that defines a roster on its own. But it’s one that can help stabilize things in Wisconsin’s frontcourt and raise the floor over time.

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There’s a difference between adding production and adding purpose. For the University of Wisconsin men’s basketball program, the addition of George Washington transfer guard Trey Autry feels a lot more like the latter.

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This isn’t a move where you’re projecting a player into a role and hoping it sticks. The role is already defined. The question is how efficiently he can execute it. And historically, that’s where Autry has been at his best.

Start with the surface-level numbers. Autry averaged 11.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game last season while starting all 34 contests and logging just under 29 minutes a night. He shot 43.5% from the field and 38.5% from three on more than six attempts per game.

That’s a solid baseline.

But the deeper you dig, the clearer the picture becomes.

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The University of Wisconsin men’s basketball program has added a transfer portal guard from the mid-major ranks.

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The Badgers landed a commitment from former George Washington guard Trey Autry. This move gives Greg Gard and his staff another experienced perimeter piece who understands how to play within a role. The news was first reported by Matt Zenitz and confirmed by BadgerNotes.

“We are very excited to have Trey coming to Wisconsin,” Gard said . “He brings some size, physicality, and experience to our backcourt. As a son of a coach, his basketball IQ is high and his ability to stretch defenses from 3 is a great asset to our offensive balance.

“We are looking forward to beginning preparation for next season when he gets to Madison this summer.”

Autry, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound guard, comes to Madison after appearing in 100 career games with 68 starts across three seasons at George Washington. This past year, he started all 34 games, averaging 11.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in just under 29 minutes per game.

The production is solid. The efficiency is what stands out.

Autry shot 43.5% from the field and 38.5% from beyond the arc on high volume, attempting more than six threes per game. He finished fifth in the Atlantic 10 in total made threes with 84, despite taking the second-most attempts in the conference. And the consistency for Autry was there, too, knocking down at least one 3-pointer in 31 of 34 games last season.

This is a player who knows exactly what he is.

"His shot-making numbers are incredible,” George Washington coach Chris Caputo said of Autry. “He’s just not a mistake player, rarely a guy who does something outside of himself, and because of that, just incredibly efficient.”

More than 75% of Autry’s field goal attempts across his college career have come from 3-point range (498 attempts), and he’s converted at a 37.6% clip over that span. Autry is a perimeter-oriented guard who thrives as a spot-up option and has developed into a reliable scoring threat.

According to Barttorvik, Autry posted a 2.8 PRPG with a 125.4 offensive rating while operating at a modest 15.3% usage rate. That combination reinforces what the eye test shows. He’s efficient, he plays within himself, and he doesn’t need the ball to impact winning.

So where does he fit?

There’s a clear parallel to what Wisconsin got from senior guard Braeden Carrington a season ago. An experienced player stepping into a defined role, bringing shooting and stability off the bench, and understanding how to complement the pieces around him. And when you look at George Washington’s roster makeup, with eight players averaging 8.0 points or more per game, it suggests Autry comes from a culture that encouraged operating within a team-first structure rather than isolation basketball.

With players like Nolan Winter and Austin Rapp expected back to anchor Wisconsin’s frontcourt, along with Australian point guard Owen Foxwell facilitating and creating looks, the value of another perimeter shooter becomes obvious. Autry gives the Badgers coaching staff the ability to keep spacing intact and maintain the offensive flow when rotations shift.

He also adds another veteran presence who can lead by example and create more competition for minutes in the backcourt with returning options like Jack Janicki, Hayden Jones, and Zach Kinziger, as well as incoming freshmen LaTrevion Fenderson and Jackson Ball.

And that’s where this addition starts to matter more than it might seem.

In a system that continues to lean into pace, spacing, and shot creation through a European-influenced ball-screen continuity offense, having multiple shooting threats on the floor at all times is critical. Wisconsin finished 10th in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency last season, and if the goal is to maintain that standard, additions like this make a lot of sense.

Autry projects as someone who can come off the bench, provide instant offense, and keep defenses honest without disrupting the group’s rhythm. There’s also value in the experience piece. With over 100 Division I games under his belt, Autry fits what this staff has clearly prioritized: keeping the roster older and more reliable. The less projection involved, the better.

He’s not being brought in to take over games. He’s being brought in to fill a defined role and help finish them. And in an offense that continues to lean more and more into the three-point shot, that role carries real value.

Wisconsin averaged 32 three-point attempts per game last season, ranking seventh nationally, so having another high-volume shooter who can step in and let it fly fits exactly with where this system is headed.

For a roster that’s still taking shape, that kind of addition makes a lot of sense.

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There’s a difference between filling a roster and shaping one. Right now, Wisconsin men’s basketball feels like it’s leaning toward the latter.

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With Austin Rapp already announcing his return and expectations that Nolan Winter, Jack Janicki, Hayden Jones, Zach Kinziger, and Will Garlock will also be back, along with Australian point guard Owen Foxwell and incoming freshmen LaTrevion Fenderson and Jackson Ball, the foundation is starting to take shape. That matters. Because then the staff’s conversation shifts internally from “who’s left?” to “what do you add?”

Wisconsin also doesn’t have the spending power that many of its Big Ten counterparts operate with, which means every move Greg Gard and Marc VandeWettering make has to be intentional. The fit, the analytics, and the NIL investment all have to align before pulling the trigger on a transfer.

And that’s where things start to get interesting, with Wisconsin in the mix for a number of portal targets worth taking a closer look at.

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The Wisconsin football team will be down a starting offensive lineman for the remainder of spring practice.

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That loss comes in the form of redshirt sophomore Emerson Mandell, a projected starting right guard who started all 12 games last season and logged 704 snaps, the most among Wisconsin’s offensive linemen.

Head coach Luke Fickell confirmed Mandell underwent foot surgery and will miss the rest of Spring practice, though the expectation is that he’ll be back in time for fall camp.

“Emerson’s out for the rest of Spring,” Fickell said. “He had a little surgery on his foot, and he’ll be down for the rest of Spring.”

That matters because Mandell wasn’t just another guy in the rotation last year. He was one of the few constants on a line that never quite put it together during Wisconsin’s 4-8 season.

Originally working at guard, Mandell kicked out to right tackle out of necessity and held his own through a season that asked a lot from him.

His overall Pro Football Focus grade landed at 63.2, but that number doesn’t fully capture the trajectory. There were early growing pains, particularly in pass protection, but his run blocking and overall comfort level improved as the season went on. By the end of the year, Mandell looked like someone the staff could trust.

And heading into this Spring, the plan was clear. Slide him back inside to right guard, his more natural position, and let him anchor a group that’s trying to establish a new identity under offensive line coach Eric Mateos.

Now, that plan hits pause.

In the meantime, Wisconsin is getting an extended look at its depth on the interior. Colin Cubberly and Blake Cherry have reportedly taken first-team reps at guard during the Spring, with Cubberly seeing the bulk of the work so far. It’s not a finished competition either. Stylz Blackmon has also worked at guard since arriving, but if he pushes his way into the mix, there’s some flexibility to shuffle pieces around and find the best five.

That’s really what this stretch becomes about.

With Austin Kawecki locked in at center and Kevin Heywood and P.J. Wilkins emerging as the top options at tackle, the focus now shifts to finding the right combination on the interior. This group needs to fit together in a way that makes sense, but also needs the time and continuity to become cohesive.

While losing a projected starter is never ideal, especially in an offense trying to re-establish its physicality up front, it does force answers to come a little sooner. Who can hold up in pass protection? Who can create movement in the run game? And maybe most importantly, who can be counted on when things aren’t perfect?

Mandell’s absence doesn’t change the long-term outlook if he’s back for fall camp. But in the short term, it shifts the spotlight to a group that still has plenty to prove. And for a Wisconsin Badgers offense trying to take the step from being one of the worst Power Four units in college football a season ago, to something Big Ten caliber, that evaluation might end up being just as important as anything Mandell would have shown this Spring.

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The Badgers lost Preston Zachman to a season-ending injury after just two games, and Austin Brown (40 tackles, three pass-breakups), Matt Jung (49 tackles), and the rest of the room were nothing to write home about.

Wisconsin returned Jung, Matthew Traynor, and a handful of younger developmental pieces for the 2026 season. However, it needed a steady, veteran presence to roam the back end of the defense — enter Marvin Burks Jr.

Burks joins the Badgers with 1,287 career snaps, according to PFF, and invaluable experience as a two-year starter in the SEC. It’s something of a foregone conclusion that he’s going to hold down a starting safety role.

So what does Burks bring to Wisconsin football? Below, BadgerNotes dives into the All-22 Film to investigate:

Eye-Discipline/Instincts

One of the first things you notice when watching Burks (#1) play is that he wastes very few steps. The safety trusts his eyes and instincts, and for good reason; they tend to be extremely sound.

Auburn tries a little misdirection handoff here, but Burks calmly reads the play and meets the halfback in the hole, where he’s already been wrapped up by a Missouri defender.

Burks doesn’t take a single step in the wrong direction, and again isn’t fooled by the quarterback Jackson Arnold’s fake speed option.

I never saw the safety get duped when opponents tried to run tricky misdirection plays and reverses. He wasn’t always the first man to the ball, given the nature of his position, but Burks consistently snuffed out plays adorned with eye-candy:

Above, Burks is the free safety in the back end of the defense. Mississippi State fakes the give to the halfback and instead goes with the wide receiver end-around. But Burks sniffs it out, takes a direct route to the ball-carrier, and delivers a hit to limit the Bulldogs to a gain of one or two yards.

The safety’s instincts also showed themselves on more standard plays, not just when the offense was trying to manipulate defenders’ eyes:

Above, Kansas shifts into a trips formation and tries to get a screen off quickly, hoping it’ll catch the Tigers’ defense out of position. Burks ensures that doesn’t happen.

Again: few (if any) wasted steps, a direct route to the ball-carrier, and clearly trusting what he’s seeing. These are the kinds of instincts refined by two years as a starter in the SEC.

Tackling

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There are moments in college athletics where a move happens on paper, but the ripple effects stretch far beyond a title change.

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Chris McIntosh leaving the University of Wisconsin for a newly created deputy commissioner for strategy role with the Big Ten is one of those moments. And if you’re looking for where the impact will be felt most immediately, you don’t have to look far. It starts with Luke Fickell.

Whether anyone wants to say it out loud or not, those two have been tied together from the beginning.

McIntosh made the call to move on from Paul Chryst in 2022. He navigated the uncomfortable middle ground with Jim Leonhard, who served as interim head coach. Then he took the big swing, pulling Fickell away from Cincinnati on a seven-year deal that was supposed to usher in a new era of Wisconsin football. The expectation wasn’t subtle. Compete for championships. Modernize the program. Raise the ceiling.

Instead, three seasons in, Wisconsin sits at 17–21 overall and 10–17 in Big Ten play. That’s not just falling short. That’s a program that overpromised, underdelivered, and is now trying to dig itself out of a hole.

And now the guy who made the hire is gone. There’s also a fair question about timing. With the head coach he brought in entering what many see as a pivotal season, stepping away now leaves someone else to deal with the outcome of a direction that McIntosh helped set in motion.

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