Grambling State transfer DL Micheal Garner commits to Wisconsin football
The Wisconsin Badgers have made another addition to the defensive line room from the transfer portal, adding a standout from Grambling State.
The Wisconsin Badgers football program continued its efforts to rebuild its defensive line through the transfer portal.
Grambling State transfer Micheal Garner announced his commitment to the Badgers on social media not long after his official visit to Madison.
Garner, a 6-foot-6, 280-pound defensive lineman, recorded 11 tackles, 11 pressures, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, and a forced fumble as a redshirt freshman for the Tigers. The Chicago native has appeared in 14 games during his career at Grambling State and logged 243 snaps.
A former three-star recruit in the class of 2023, Garner didn’t receive any scholarship offers from power-conference programs. However, Garner did pick up offers from schools like Akron, Central Michigan, Eastern Illinois, Miami (Ohio), and Navy, among others.
According to Pro Football Focus, Garner earned a 71.3 pass-rushing grade and a 68.5 overall defensive grade during the 2024 season. Looking closer at Garner's stable metrics, PFF ranks Garner in the 73rd percentile nationally for pass-rushing in true pass-rush situations.
Garner, who redshirted in 2023, brings an intriguing blend of size and athleticism to the Badgers front seven. Once a high-level basketball prospect, he transitioned to football and quickly showed his potential.
“I think one of the things we have to address in recruiting, we have to address in the transfer portal, is we have to get bigger, and we have to get bigger up front of the defensive line,” Fickell said. “That is going to be an incredible emphasis.”
Wisconsin has now added four defensive linemen through the portal this offseason to E.J. Whitlow's room. Garner joins a group of transfers that includes Parker Petersen (Tulane), Corey Walker (Western Michigan), and Charles Perkins (UT-Martin). That said, there’s a chance Garner could play as a stand-up edge rusher in the Badgers defensive scheme as a Jack.
Garner chose Wisconsin over offers from Colorado, UAB, Coastal Carolina, and others. With three years of eligibility remaining, he gives the Badgers another potential building block as they reload their defense after a disappointing year.
Adding another piece through the portal was a priority for the Badgers, especially with the losses they’ve sustained from the 2024 roster. Elijah Hills, arguably the top player on the defensive line, has exhausted his eligibility. Meanwhile, key contributors like James Thompson and Curt Neal, along with Hank Weber and Jamel Howard, decided to transfer out.
Wisconsin does have the option to bring back Ben Barten for a sixth season, and both Brandon Lane and Dillan Johnson are expected to return. The staff also strengthened the defensive line by signing Torin Pettaway, Drayden Pavey, and Xavier Ukponu in the 2025 recruiting class.
The Badgers have been active in the portal, bringing in 15 total transfers this offseason, but have lost 25 players of their own. Garner’s commitment is another step forward as Wisconsin works to reshape its roster heading into the 2025 season.
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