Wisconsin Football Hosts Homegrown Big Ten Transfer Target From Portal

Luke Fickell and the University of Wisconsin football program hosted a transfer portal target from the Big Ten at spring practice on Saturday.

During practice No. 10, Illinois transfer Joey Okla was in attendance watching the Badgers’ offensive line work under new position coach AJ Blazek.

This young man was spotted at #Badgers practice today. Either that, or his twin brother. UW was outside in 40 degrees today but Okla was wearing shorts. 💪 https://t.co/xjQWNXtaBf

— Jeff Potrykus (@jaypo1961) April 20, 2024

“It was a really high-energy practice and very physical as well,” Okla told Badgernotes. “Really happy I got to experience it.”

Okla is a native of Hartland (Wis.) who spent the last two seasons developing under former Wisconsin football head coach Bret Bielema. He was considered a three-star recruit in the 2022 class and the No. 9 player from that in-state class, according to the composite rankings.

The 6-foot-2, 320-pound interior offensive lineman appeared in one game during his tenure with the Fighting Illini. That appearance came against Florida Atlantic in 2023 after redshirting his freshman season. 

It’s no secret that the Wisconsin football team is in need of some depth along the offensive line. Behind the program’s projected starting five, the Badgers lost a lot of established depth in the two-deep to the transfer portal this offseason and have multiple spots up for grabs.

“We’re making sure we build the depth there because we lost quite a bit with some of those guys that left and transferred,” Fickell told reporters. “They were guys that were going to compete to play and to start, but also to give you that bunch of depth up there to allow you to play a bunch of guys. So we’re going to have to continue to build that back.”

Should Wisconsin football secure Okla’s services from the transfer portal, a source has indicated to me that it would come in the form of a preferred walk-on spot. From what I’ve gathered, this one could materialize quickly. 

If Okla, a former first-team all-state selection, chooses to join the Badgers, he would provide Wisconsin football with a nice depth piece on the interior. He would likely compete with guys like JP Benzschawel, James Durand, Collin Cubberly, and some of the other incoming freshmen for a spot in the team’s two-deep this fall.

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