Wisconsin Football Bolsters Defense With Elite Transfer Portal Haul at LB

The Wisconsin Badgers football program has produced all-conference linebackers like a factory for the last decade. 

That’s what made back-to-back seasons of solid to good play from the position seem like a discernible step backward. Adding another layer to that ho-hum production was Luke Fickell and defensive coordinator Mike Tressel coming in and implementing a new scheme.  

Tressel runs a 3-5-5 nickel-based defense, and last season, he did his best to blend the system with the inherited players. Results varied, but anyone with two fully functioning eyes could tell the Badgers didn’t have the ideal personnel to play the way they envisioned. 

At season’s end, the Wisconsin football team went to work, overhauling the linebacking corps. While numbers aren’t everything and certainly aren’t indicative of production on the field, the Badgers have landed the top transfer portal linebacking class in the country by a wide margin. 

Wisconsin Football Completely Rebuilt the Linebacker Rooms

Wisconsin football has seen linebackers Jordan Turner, Jordan Mayer, Aidan Vaughan, Kaden Johnson, and a pair of walk-ons enter the transfer portal this offseason. Their departures, along with Maema Njongmeta declaring for the NFL Draft and CJ Goetz exhausting his eligibility, paved the way for a complete makeover of the position groups. 

Mike Tressel’s scheme requires versatility, agility, and the ability to be multiple, making size, length, and athleticism crucial attributes. 

To rectify some of those needs, the Wisconsin Badgers brought five linebackers in to reshape the group entirely with players that better fit the mold. The lack of pass-rush stood out like a sore thumb. So, UW added edge rushers John Pius and Leon Lowery to revamp outside linebacker. Both have a more slender frame, some bend, and longer arms. 

Odds are, they will immediately slot into roles atop the depth chart alongside Darryl Peterson and Jeff Pietrowski. 

Inside linebacker is where the biggest changes have occurred. Wisconsin football landed Jaheim Thomas, Tackett Curtis, Sebastian Cheeks, and Jahsiah Galvan (briefly until he flipped to Stanford) to both provide some plug-and-play options while rebuilding their depth with some athletic options to develop for the future.

The Badgers now possess significantly more size and athleticism at the position than they had a year ago. This staff knows they’ll need a combination of linebackers who can play in space and also excel in throwback Big Ten football games that require players who fill gaps. 

According to On3’s transfer portal rankings, Wisconsin football has now landed three of the top five linebackers available in the transfer portal: John Pius, Tackett Curtis, and Jaheim Thomas.

According to On3’s transfer portal rankings, Wisconsin has now landed three of the top five linebackers available in the transfer portal: John Pius, Tackett Curtis, and Jaheim Thomas.

— Dillon Graff (@DillonGraff) January 9, 2024

Whether this transformation or even the scheme itself, will succeed at this level remains to be seen. Still, the talent they’ve added on paper is undeniable and provides plenty of reason for optimism. 

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