Wisconsin Football: Former Transfer Kicker Enters the Portal

Madison, Wis. – The Wisconsin football program lost another player just a few days after Spencer Lytle entered the transfer portal.

According to a report by Colten Bartholomew, kicker Vito Calvaruso has entered the transfer portal.

#Badgers kicker Vito Calvaruso is entering the transfer portal. Story here: https://t.co/WsMKxkvcIy

— Colten Bartholomew (@CBartWSJ) April 25, 2023

Per multiple reports last weekend, Calvaruso did not attend “The Launch,” adding to the speculation that he would no longer be with the team. Now, the news is official.

Calvaruso joined the Badgers through the transfer portal in 2021. The former Arkansas kicker played in just two games before being held out due to injury.

Calvaruso attempted just three field goals in the 2023 season and hit one 28-yarder. He missed two attempts against Washington State before suffering a leg injury that would sideline him for the rest of the season.

The Badgers now have two kickers on the roster, Nate Van Zelst and Nathanial Vakos. Van Zelst took over kicking duties following Calvaruso’s injury.

Last season, Van Zelst hit 11 of his 14 field goal attempts, his longest being a 47-yarder. He was also perfect on extra-point opportunities, hitting all 35 attempts.

Vakos is a newcomer in the specialist room who transferred from Ohio. In his freshman campaign, Vakos made 19 of his 23 field goal attempts, with his longest make being a 56-yarder. On top of that, the Ohio native made 48 of 49 extra-point attempts. His impressive season ended with a Freshman All-American nomination.

There has been a limited amount of news surrounding the specialists in spring practices, so it’s unknown right now who will take on the primary kicking duties. However, without Calvaruso, the competition will be much more interesting.

Wisconsin has now lost 11 players to the transfer portal since the end of the 2022 season.