Wisconsin football defensive lineman withdraws from the transfer portal
Badgers nose tackle Jamel Howard has weighed his options in the transfer portal and chosen to return to the Wisconsin football program.
In a positive development for the Wisconsin football program, redshirt freshman nose tackle Jamel Howard has withdrawn his name from the transfer portal and will remain with the Badgers for the 2025 season.
Howard initially announced his decision to transfer earlier this offseason in search of a fresh start. However, after further consideration, the 6-foot-2, 320-pound lineman has opted to stay in Madison after weighing his options. He will provide some added depth to a defensive line group under E.J. Whitlow that has seen significant turnover this offseason.
A former three-star recruit from Marist High School in Chicago, Howard joined Wisconsin’s 2023 recruiting class as one of the late additions under head coach Luke Fickell. According to 247Sports, Howard was ranked as the No. 73 DL in his class and the No. 15 player in Illinois.
While Howard redshirted in 2023 and did not see the field or record any snaps during his first two seasons, his combination of size and movement skills could make him a promising piece for the Badgers’ defensive front in the future if everything comes together.
Notably, Trech Kekahuna, another member of the 2023 recruiting class, also chose to withdraw from the transfer portal and return to Wisconsin earlier this offseason. Howard, Kekahuna, Tucker Ashcraft, Tyler Jansey, and Christian Alliegro are the only remaining players from their 15 person class.
Howard’s return is particularly important given the Badgers’ need for bodies who can line up at nose tackle, hold up at the point of attack, and make an impact against the run. Wisconsin lost several key contributors this offseason, including James Thompson Jr., Curt Neal, true freshman Hank Weber to the transfer portal, and Elijah Hills to graduation.
With Howard back in the fold, Wisconsin’s defensive line room now features a healthy mix of returning players and new faces. Veterans like Ben Barten (returning for a sixth season) and Brandon Lane, plus Dillan Johnson, who earned rotational snaps as a freshman, will combine with incoming transfer portal additions such as Parker Petersen, Michael Garner, Corey Walker, and Charles Perkins for spots in the team’s two deep.
The Badgers will also add high school signees Torin Pettaway, Drayden Pavey, and Xavier Ukponu from the 2025 recruiting class to the mix.
Howard’s decision to stay reflects the coaching staff’s commitment to his development and provides the defense and coach Whitlow another intriguing piece to mold in the trenches, with the hope that he can make an impact for the program down the line.
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