Wisconsin football TE Tucker Ashfcraft entering the transfer portal
Wisconsin Badgers tight end Tucker Ashcraft plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal after three seasons in the football program.
Tucker Ashcraft’s time as a member of the Wisconsin football program has come to an end.
According to a report from Hayes Fawcett, the junior tight end plans to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 26, closing the book on a three-year run that began with promise and ended quietly amid a roster overhaul.
The 6-foot-5, 257-pound tight end from Seattle (WA.) was part of Luke Fickell’s first recruiting class in 2023, a group that has steadily withered away as the Badgers continue to rebuild their roster in the portal era.
Ashcraft’s recruitment to Wisconsin was shaped as much by timing as it was by this staff’s evaluation. Originally committed to Colorado in the spring of 2022, he became a casualty of transition when Karl Dorrell was fired, and Deion Sanders arrived in Boulder. With Colorado’s roster turning over in a hurry, Ashcraft reopened his recruitment, visited Madison shortly thereafter, earned a scholarship offer from Fickell’s coaching staff, and signed with the Badgers within days. At the time, he filled a need as the lone tight end in the class following multiple departures at the position.
The start of Ashcraft’s career suggested he was a player with the potential to become a high-level contributor. As a true freshman in 2023, Ashcraft appeared in all 13 games and carved out a role. He finished the season with eight receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown in 230 snaps.
That momentum carried into 2024. Ashcraft played in all 12 games, made five starts, and was a steady presence despite modest production. He recorded 12 catches for 82 yards and a touchdown, operating more as a complementary piece than a featured option in a struggling offense.
“The thing with Tucker that’s been fun… you saw a guy who physically wasn’t ready, get thrust into playing, and not having a tremendous amount of confidence in what he’s doing,” Nate Letton said. “But to me, what’s been the most fun with his development is you just see somebody who’s sure of himself and confident—both in the run and in the passing game.
“We’ve added some responsibilities in the protection elements as well that he’s taking in stride. He’s a confident football player now.”
The trajectory shifted in 2025. Entering the season projected as the top tight end on the depth chart, Ashcraft’s path toward a featured role shifted quickly as the staff reshaped the room. Wisconsin added Lance Mason during the spring portal window after Tanner Koziol’s departure.
When Ashcraft suffered a lower-body injury in fall camp, Mason seized the opportunity. Ashcraft appeared in just four games, finishing with two receptions for 10 yards across 85 offensive snaps. Wisconsin ultimately finished 4–8 and missed a bowl game for the second consecutive season.
In 29 career games for the Badgers, Ashcraft finished with 22 receptions for 178 yards and two touchdowns in 697 snaps. He was viewed internally as a willing blocker, but the receiving breakout never quite materialized.
His departure also spotlights a bigger picture reality for the program. Ashcraft is one of the last holdovers from Fickell’s first recruiting class, which now has only a couple of players remaining. At tight end, that means Wisconsin’s staff will once again be active in the portal as it looks to reshape the room. Mason is also pursuing another year of eligibility.
For Ashcraft, the move offers a fresh start. With up to two years of eligibility remaining, he’ll look for a situation where his size and athleticism can translate into a bigger role. In an era where fit and opportunity often matter as much as patience, the portal gives him a chance to find both.
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More bad news, but for those with ambitions, UW is not the place to gain notice. Sad, but true.