Wisconsin Football: Former 5-Star Recruit Enters the Transfer Portal

The transfer portal giveth and it also taketh away. On the same day that the Wisconsin football team landed high-profile inside linebacker Jaheim Thomas from Arkansas, the Badgers learned that Nolan Rucci would exit. 

Adam Rittenber of ESPN reported that Rucci, the Wisconsin Badgers backup left tackle, would enter his name into the transfer portal after three seasons with the program. UW officials confirmed his departure. 

Wisconsin offensive lineman Nolan Rucci is entering the transfer portal. He was ESPN’s No. 7 offensive tackle and No. 36 overall recruit in the 2021 class.

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) January 4, 2024

Rucci was a five-star prospect coming out of high school and committed to Wisconsin despite having 29 scholarship offers as a member of the 2021 recruiting class put together by Paul Chryst. 

The 6-foot-8, 300-pound offensive lineman will have two years of eligibility remaining at his next stop and should have plenty of suitors. 

Wisconsin Football OT Nolan Rucci Enters the Transfer Portal 

Well, I can’t say that I’m surprised. It felt like the clock was ticking for Nolan Rucci after his brother Hayden announced that he was declaring for the NFL Draft. Then, Rucci’s current road, Jack Nelson, decided to return for another season, casting doubt on his prospects of seeing the field.

The Pennslyvania native will end his tenure with the Wisconsin Badgers having played just 70 total offensive snaps, including a career-high 35 snaps in the ReliaQuest Bowl against LSU.

Pro Football Focus gave Rucci a 76.2 grade this past season, which is considered high quality by their grading metric. Hopefully, the big fella will find a landing spot where he can try and re-establish himself.

Regardless, we’ll always have the game-winning Thicc-6 against Illinois.

best feeling in the world for a big fella has to be unexpectedly scoring the game-winning touchdown

pic.twitter.com/HkfLMtZiZp

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 21, 2023

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