Wisconsin football WR Eugene Hilton Jr. entering NCAA transfer portal

Eugene Hilton Jr. plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal after a promising freshman season with the Wisconsin Badgers.

Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Eugene Hilton Jr. lines up out wide during a game. Photo credit: UW Athletics.

The University of Wisconsin football program will be without one of its most talented young wide receivers on the roster in 2026.

Eugene Hilton Jr. announced his intention to enter the transfer portal when it opens on Jan. 2, ending a brief but promising chapter as a member of the Wisconsin Badgers and reopening the door on what many around the program believed was just the beginning of his development.

Hilton, a 6-foot-1, 202-pound wideout from Indiana, appeared in all 12 games for the Badgers as a true freshman, finishing the season with eight receptions for 91 yards while logging 158 offensive snaps, per PFF. The raw numbers were modest, but they never told the full story of his role, or the trajectory Wisconsin envisioned when it landed his commitment.

According to Pro Football Focus, Hilton finished the season with a 59.4 offensive grade, a 59.4 mark as a pass catcher, and a 56.7 grade as a run blocker. The grades reflect a freshman still finding his footing within a struggling offense, rather than a lack of trust or belief from the coaches.

For all the talk about increased investment in the football program and a renewed focus on player retention, it’s fair to wonder what ultimately kept Wisconsin from being able to hold onto a player like Hilton.

A highly regarded recruit coming out of Zionsville High School, Hilton committed to Wisconsin’s 2025 class over a strong offer list that included the likes of Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Louisville, and Miami. He arrived in Madison as an early enrollee and quickly earned the trust of the coaching staff, standing out in practice settings for his polish, competitiveness, and ability to win at the point of attack. Those traits showed up consistently behind the scenes, even if the opportunities on Saturdays were limited.

Hilton is the son of former NFL wide receiver T.Y. Hilton, and while the name naturally garnered attention, his reputation inside the program was built on reliability. He ran routes with purpose, took to the coaching, and did what was asked of him as consistently as anyone in the receiver room.

“He definitely will have a role,” offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes said of Hilton on Aug. 15. “I would say right now, that he’s one of our better receivers, when you’re asking a guy to run a route in the way it’s designed to be run, create separation, and then just go up and make a play on the ball. He just has a knack for getting open, and he doesn’t drop balls.”

The flashes came when the opportunities did. Hilton’s contested-catch ability was on display most clearly on a 42-yard reception against Oregon, a play that hinted at what he could potentially become in a more stable offensive environment. That moment, and others like it in practice, showed why the staff viewed him as a long-term piece when he signed.

“I think he’s got a complete skill set as a receiver,” Grimes said. “His real gift right now is that he kind of does some receiver things naturally, things that some other guys maybe two or three or four years into their career, and you’re still trying to teach them: how to run this route, or how to make that cut, or how to adjust to this ball. He just does them pretty naturally.”

But context matters here.

Wisconsin’s offense struggled mightily this season, averaging just 12.8 points per game, ranking 135th nationally, and dead last among Power Four college football programs. Injuries at quarterback, constant shuffling on the offensive line, and a lack of rhythm would have made it difficult for any young pass catcher to carve out a consistent role in this offense. For a true freshman learning on the job, the targets simply weren’t there.

Hilton’s departure also comes at a pivotal time for the Badgers’ wide receiver room. Wisconsin will graduate Vinny Anthony and Jayden Ballard, while Trech Kekahuna has already announced his intent to enter the transfer portal. The result is a room that’s light on scholarship bodies, making Hilton’s exit a significant loss both in the short term and long term.

That’s what makes this one sting a bit more.

Hilton finished his high school career with 156 receptions for 2,162 yards and 29 touchdowns, production that reflected both consistency and big-play ability. The expectation internally was that his role would grow as the offense stabilized and the room turned over. Instead, he’ll now look for a fresh start where he can be a more central piece of their passing game.

For Wisconsin, it’s another reminder of how fragile development timelines can be in the portal era, especially for young skill players caught between potential and opportunity. For Hilton, it’s a chance to find a situation that allows him to showcase the skill set that made him such a coveted recruit in the first place. Wherever he lands next, the talent and foundation to find success are undoubtedly there. The opportunity is what comes next.

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