Wisconsin Football Expressing Interest in 2x All-Ivy League Cornerback

It is officially transfer portal season, and the Wisconsin football coaching staff has already begun aggressively pursuing potential upgrades to bolster the Badgers’ defense.

With the Ivy League football season wrapping up last weekend — Penn cornerback Kendren Smith entered the transfer portal — and has begun hearing from plenty of Division One programs lining up for his services.

Thus far, Ohio, New Hampshire, Florida Atlantic, Samford, Delaware, Georgia State, Austin Peay, North Texas, and Arkansas State have all offered Smith scholarships — but he confirmed to BadgerNotes that Wisconsin has also reached out and expressed interest.

Wisconsin Football Exploring Additions to Its Cornerback Room

Although Mike Tressel and company were able to make adjustments on the back end this season, most of the Wisconsin football team’s inherited cornerbacks were best suited for a zone coverage scheme. The intention is to become a press-man coverage unit, and the Badgers still need a few experienced schematic fits for the position group.

Ricardo Hallman has been a revelation for the Badgers — and Grand Valley State transfer Nyzier Fourqurean has worked his way into the other starting role on the boundary. But Jason Maitre and Alexander Smith will be gone after this season — leaving the proven cornerback depth extremely thin and needing an influx of plug-and-play talent.

Kendren Smith fits the mold of the cornerbacks this Wisconsin football coaching staff covets — plus height (6-foot-1) and size (200+ pounds). He was a first-team All-Ivy League performer this past season after registering 58 tackles, six pass deflections, six pressures, and a sack.

Smith has 33 total games worth of experience under his belt — and finished with a Pro Football Focus grade of (85.1) this past season, which could make him an excellent depth piece to mix in with the talented young cornerbacks still developing.

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