Wisconsin Badgers Football Gets Disappointing Transfer Portal News

Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin Badgers football program will continue its search for defensive line help in the transfer portal.

On Sunday evening, Badgers top defensive line target Joey Slackman from Penn announced on social media that he was committing to the Florida Gators over a group of finalists that included Wisconsin, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Auburn, and Texas A&M.

Let’s get to work, @GatorsFB 🐊. pic.twitter.com/NR6BzHyG1S

— Joey Slackman (@JoeySlackman) December 18, 2023

Slackman was one of the Wisconsin Badgers’ first transfer offers once the portal opened at the end of the regular season. He was ranked as the No. 24 overall player and No. 3 defensive lineman available in the portal. 

In 28 career games, Slackman registered 115 tackles, 25 TFLs, 11 sacks, and two forced fumbles. This past season, the grad transfer finished with 50 tackles, 12 TFLs, four sacks, and four QB hurries. Because of that, Slackman was named the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year. 

Wisconsin Badgers Football Program Heads Back to the Drawing Board. 

The defensive line remains one of the most prominent areas of need for the Wisconsin Badgers football team this offseason. 

With the losses of Gio Paez, Rodas Johnson, and Isaiah Mullens, Greg Scruggs unit returns just James Thompson Jr., Darian Varner, Cade McDonald, Ben Barten, and Jamel Howard. 

Finding multiple plug-and-play options will be imperative to improving Mike Tressel’s defense next season, considering the linebacker unit has already undergone a massive revamp with the additions of Leon Lowery and John Pius.

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