Wisconsin football WR Mark Hamper re-enters the NCAA transfer portal
Wisconsin Badgers WR Mark Hamper has entered the transfer portal, ending his short stint with the Badgers before ever playing in a game.
It was one of those off-season additions that checked a box: the Wisconsin football team needed more size and physicality at wide receiver, and Mark Hamper—a 6-foot-2 pass-catcher from Idaho—offered just that.
The Badgers dipped into the FCS ranks to find a player with production, experience, and the potential to contribute immediately.
But now, before ever taking a snap in Cardinal and White, Hamper is gone.
The redshirt sophomore wideout has entered the NCAA transfer portal, bringing his short stint in Madison to an end. In a move that many around the football program saw coming, Hamper announced his intentions on X—just ahead of the spring transfer window opening back up.
“First and foremost, I want to thank the University of Wisconsin,” Hamper wrote. “Thank you to my coaches, my teammates, and everyone within the athletic department who has supported me throughout my time here.
“After spending time reflecting, praying, and having meaningful conversations with those I trust most, I’ve come to the realization that I need a fresh start—one that will help me grow both as an athlete and as a person while forming stronger connections with a coaching staff that shares my goals and values.
“With that in mind, I have officially entered my name into the NCAA transfer portal to explore new opportunities for the next chapter of my football journey.”
The Oregon native had been present for the start of spring practices but hadn’t been seen on the field the past few weeks. The coaching staff officially said he was dealing with a personal matter, but the signs were there.
And now it’s official.
Hamper’s exit marks the second time this week that a notable portal pickup at a skill spot has walked out the door. Tight end Tanner Koziol, who was expected to start after transferring from Ball State, also left the program. And shortly after that, wideout Quincy Burroughs—who followed Luke Fickell from Cincinnati two years ago—chose to move on as well.
Losing both Hamper and Koziol leaves real holes in a Wisconsin offense that’s still trying to find its footing and rebound after a rocky 2024.
On paper, Hamper felt like a fit.
He arrived from Idaho after posting 49 receptions for 961 yards and six touchdowns in 2024, earning Big Sky honorable mention honors. His film showed a player who operated more as a possession receiver—capable of moving the chains and creating yards after the catch.
According to Pro Football Focus, Hamper graded out at 77.4 as a receiver and finished in the 86th percentile against man coverage and yards after the catch—two traits that translated well to Jeff Grimes’ passing game.
And he didn’t lack interest. Hamper committed to the Badgers in December over portal offers from USC, Arizona State, Stanford, and Washington State after taking an official visit to Madison.
At the time, it felt like a smart pickup. A proven weapon at the FCS level with multiple years of eligibility who brought a unique element Wisconsin’s offense sorely lacked last fall. But things change fast in the portal era.
Fickell didn’t directly address Hamper by name during his latest press conference but didn’t shy away from the reality of this roster transition.
“This isn’t for everybody, right?” Fickell told reporters. “This is a grown-ass man’s league, and this is a grown man’s game. If guys don’t understand that and this isn’t the right thing for them, it is what it is.
“I think that's what's a little bit harder on some. Sometimes, having options isn't always the best thing for guys to grow. And whatever we kind of come across here, we're going to continue to practice. We're going to continue to push—we're to continue to develop the guys that are within here and the guys that understand what it takes to climb this mountain and to play in this league.”
The exit clears the way for more opportunities this spring, particularly among the reserve group. Vinny Anthony and Jayden Ballard are all but locked in as starters on the outside, and in many ways, so is Trech Kekahuna in the slot—even if he’s been sidelined with injury.
But the slot depth has shown real promise. Tyrell Henry has flashed in an expanded role, and Kyan Berry-Johnson has more than enough talent to push for some snaps this fall. Chris Brooks Jr. has reportedly benefited from Hamper’s absence with increased reps, while Joseph Griffin Jr. and incoming freshman Eugene Hilton Jr. remain firmly in the mix.
This spring is as much about evaluation as it is about survival.
Still, there’s no sugarcoating the loss. Hamper was a calculated swing and a sunk cost—a player the staff viewed as a potential two-deep piece for the 2025 season. Whether it was fit, feel, or philosophy, things didn’t click.
And now Wisconsin is back to reshuffling the depth chart—and likely headed back to the portal this spring to find help at receiver and replenish the depth they just lost.
The portal giveth, the portal taketh away—and now Wisconsin football coaches have another hole to fill. Let’s see who’s next on the board.
We appreciate you taking the time to read our work at BadgerNotes.com. Your support means the world to us and has helped us become a leading independent source for Wisconsin Badgers coverage.
You can also follow Site Publisher Dillon Graff at @DillonGraff on X.