Luke Fickell identified where the Badgers have to adapt in the Big Ten.
The Wisconsin Badgers were one of the busiest teams in the transfer portal this offseason, bringing in 21 transfers and landing a top-15 class in the country, according to 247Sports.
Wisconsin had a large overhaul, looking to improve at certain positions while replacing players who left in the transfer portal. They also brought in players who better fit their new defensive scheme, getting bigger up front, while also bringing in help at wide receiver and tight end on the offensive side of the ball.
When being hired as the head coach at Wisconsin, Luke Fickell emphasized his desire to work primarily through high school recruiting, pointing out a 350-mile radius that he’d like to target.
However, that strategy has changed, as the Badgers have reeled in recruits from all over the country and have also relied on the transfer portal quite heavily. Wisconsin has brought in at least 15 transfers in each offseason under Fickell, while also consistently landing top-30 recruiting classes.
What changed in the head coach’s philosophy when it comes to roster building?
“I think one of the big things we look at in our program is—the last two years we’ve played with 70% of our guys in their first two years,” Fickell said on The Jime Rome Show earlier this week. “And as we see college football, and the Big Ten in particular, you’re seeing so many more teams be older.
“I mean, 70% or so of the guys playing in this league are in their fourth and fifth year,” he continued. “And we recognize how much older teams are getting, which is why the teams are so much better. We’ve got to continue to get older.”
Experience has been a key in the Big Ten, but it’s not like the Badgers haven’t been invested in the portal in past years. Their hit rate has just been far too low.
Last year, the Badgers landed 16 transfers, but many didn’t live up to expectations, with Elijah Hills being their best player. If Wisconsin is going to operate in the transfer portal as much as they are, they need to see much better results, with some of those players turning into immediate-impact starters.
That’s been the issue separating them from the pack as they wait for their prized high school recruits to develop. Wisconsin looked to bring in experience across the board this offseason.
Each of their front seven targets, except perhaps for Tyreese Fearby, saw considerable playing time at their previous spots. In the secondary, the Badgers brought in Geimere Latimer, a starter at Jacksonville State, at cornerback. At safety, Wisconsin got multiple starters in 2024 to join the room with Matthew Traynor and Matt Jung.
So, it’s clear that experience is a key factor in Wisconsin’s transfer portal approach. Now, those players have to start producing for the Badgers.