Reaction, Analysis: Wisconsin Football Goes Portaling, Adds Specialist

Wisconsin Badgers head football coach Luke Fickell and his staff have added another specialist from the transfer portal. 

On Tuesday, the Wisconsin Badgers landed a commitment from graduate transfer Gianni Smith, a multi-year starter at kicker from Portland State University. 

“Grateful, excited & ready to be a Badger,” Smith wrote on social media.  

grateful, excited & ready to be a badger #OnWisconsin 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/ltx75RdZnc

— Gianni Smith (@GianniSmith19) February 20, 2024

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound kicker connected on 8-of-9 field goal attempts this past season while making 42-of-44 extra point attempts.

Smith is expected to join the Wisconsin football team as a walk-on. 

Reaction, Analysis: Wisconsin Football Adds Kicker Gianni Smith

This is an interesting move by the Wisconsin football program. While Gianni Smith has multiple years under his belt as a starting kicker, he’s joining the Badgers as a walk-on to serve as the kickoff specialist.

With Portland State University this past season, 44 of 62 kickoffs Smith had went for touchbacks (71%). On paper, this would seem to be an upgrade for Wisconsin, who used Gavin Lahm in that role last season. For reference, Lahm sent 12 of his 32 attempts for touchbacks (37%) in 2023.

Improving the special teams has been a significant point of emphasis for Luke Fickell since taking over. He’s gone out and added starting kicker Nathaniel Vakos and punter Atticus Bertrams from the portal, both of whom are on scholarship at Wisconsin.

The addition of Smith feels like the missing piece and a nice pickup as a walk-on. Improving on the margins is always a plus.

It’s also worth noting that Wisconsin football now has coverage behind Vakos at kicker should he ever go down with an injury. Smith connected on 18 of 23 field goals at Portland State with a career-long of 55 yards.

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