Kentucky transfer OLB Tyreese Fearbry commits to Wisconsin football
The Wisconsin Badgers have picked up a commitment from Kentucky transfer edge rusher Tyreese Fearbry.
The Wisconsin Badgers coaching staff continues adding pieces to their defense, more specifically, their front seven, through the transfer portal.
On Sunday, the Badgers added some SEC experience to their roster with a commitment from Kentucky outside linebacker Tyreese Fearbry.
The former four-star recruit brings two years of eligibility to Madison as he looks to make an impact in Wisconsin’s revamped defense.
Fearbry, a Pennsylvania native, spent the last three seasons at Kentucky, appearing in 27 games. After taking a redshirt season, Fearbry appeared in all 13 games for the Wildcats, splitting time between outside linebacker (139 snaps) and special teams (129 snaps). He finished the 2023 season with six total tackles, 13 pressures, a tackle for loss, and a pass breakup. Pro Football Focus gave Fearbry a 66.3 overall defensive grade.
This past fall, Fearbry played in 11 of Kentucky's 12 games, logging 199 snaps at outside linebacker and 68 on special teams. He posted a career-high 14 total tackles (six solo) on the year, along with eight pressures and three quarterback hits, while providing depth in the Wildcats’ rotation.
A highly-touted recruit in the class of 2022 out of Perry Traditional Academy, Fearbry was ranked as the No. 185 overall prospect, No. 18 edge rusher, and No. 4 player in Pennsylvania, per the Composite.
The 6-foot-5, 242-pound outside linebacker initially chose Kentucky over scholarship offers from programs like Auburn, Penn State, Arizona State, Michigan State, Tennessee, Pittsburgh, and Miami, among others.
Fearbry joins a Wisconsin outside linebacker room that’s returning key players like Darryl Peterson, Aaron Witt, and Sebastian Cheeks. The Badgers also added Louisville transfer Mason Reiger, bringing more experience to a group tasked with improving a pass rush that struggled mightily in 2024, finishing 128th out of 134 schools in havoc rate and near the bottom nationally in sack production. This makes Fearbry’s addition an intriguing one as the team looks to create more pressure off the edge.
Fearbry brings notable speed and length as a pass rusher, with the versatility to play standing up or with his hand in the dirt. His quick first step off the line is a standout trait, and he shows some impressive bend in his game.
The staff also signed four-star prospects Jaylen Williams and Nicolas Clayton, in addition to Samuel Lateju, in the 2025 recruiting class, who will compete for playing time in Matt Mitchell's rebuilt room this fall.
With Fearbry’s physical tools and pedigree, he has the potential to carve out a role in Wisconsin’s two-deep as the Badgers aim to turn the page on a disappointing 5-7 season. His arrival now marks the 16th addition from the transfer portal in what has been an active cycle for Luke Fickell and Co.
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