Wisconsin Badgers Dip Into Portal, Nab Albany Defensive Lineman

The Wisconsin Badgers football program understood the crucial need to improve its talent in the front seven as it entered the offseason. 

After adding a plethora of linebackers, the staff shifted its focus to bolstering the defensive line depth, and the Badgers feel they’ve found the right fit. 

Following an official visit to Madison, Albany defensive lineman Elijah Hills announced on social media that he’s committing to the University of Wisconsin and head coach Luke Fickell over reported offers from Tulane, Western Kentucky, Coastal Carolina, James Madison, Houston, Western Virginia, and Ball State.

Badger Nation ! Let’s do this thing ! pic.twitter.com/qWSD1slwNG

— Elijah Hills (@3lijah_hills) January 9, 2024

Hills will join the Wisconsin football team with one year of eligibility. 

Wisconsin Football Lands DL Elijah Hills via the Transfer Portal 

This is a much-needed addition by the Wisconsin Badgers football team in the transfer portal, considering how thin the defensive line room is.

Although they weren’t world beaters, Greg Scruggs lost two of his top three leaders in snaps this offseason in Rodas Johnson (transfer) and Gio Paez, who ran out of eligibility. Veteran Isaiah Mullens has chosen to move on from the program, and Darian Varner entered the portal, making it imperative the team add some experience.

Enter Elijah Hill from Albany. The 6-foot-2, 281-pound defensive lineman from New Jersey has played 35 career games, albeit at the FCS level.

This past season, Hills registered 31 tackles, including 15 pressures, 9.0 TFLs, and 1.5 sacks in 779 snaps for the Great Danes en route to earning Phil Steele All-CAA Fourth Team honors.

First part of tape ! pic.twitter.com/GFM2ZlsxH4

— Elijah Hills (@3lijah_hills) December 18, 2023

Pro Football Focus has graded Hills out as an above-average defensive lineman in all three seasons he’s played, earning a 69.8 on their grading metric this past season. For reference, that would have been the highest among the Wisconsin football d-linemen in 2023.

Hills now joins a Wisconsin Badgers defensive line room led by Greg Scruggs and will play alongside James Thompson Jr., Curt Neal, Ben Barten, Cade McDonald, Jamel Howard, and Mike Jarvis. Additionally, 2024 recruiting class signees Ernest Willor, Dillan Johnson, and Hank Weber will join the mix this fall.

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