The spring transfer portal window officially opened today, April 16. Wisconsin is sure to be active as it makes a final push to bolster its roster entering the 2025 season.
Most notably, the Badgers enter the period with significant needs on the offensive side of the football. While the team seemingly aced the winter portal window, just in the last few days it lost starting left tackle Kevin Heywood to a torn ACL, and starting tight end Tanner Koziol (reportedly) and top depth wide receiver Mark Hamper to the portal.
Both Koziol and Hamper were headliners of Wisconsin’s winter transfer class. As is the case in the current era of college football, winter commitments are nowhere close to guaranteed to be on the roster in Week 1.
With those departures and Heywood’s long-term injury, the Badgers would do well to find a fill-in at left tackle and a dynamic starting tight end. Replacing those projected starters may be easier said than done, however, as the two projected to be among the offensive unit’s top three or four players.
The spring portal window will remain open until April 25. Players have until that date to enter, while those in the portal have unlimited time to commit to a new program.
As the transfer window continues, here is an up-to-date tracker on all of Wisconsin’s incoming and outgoing movement:
(Last update: April 16, 7:50 a.m ET)
OUT: Wide receiver Quincy Burroughs
Burroughs was one of Wisconsin’s first transfer additions of the Luke Fickell era back in 2023, as he followed the head coach from Cincinnati. The veteran played sparingly during his two years with the program, totaling just five catches, 43 receiving yards and five special teams tackles. He was again projected as a depth option at wide receiver entering 2025, with significant talent and competition ahead of him in the room.
Here is more on Burroughs’ departure.
OUT: Wide receiver Mark Hamper
Hamper joined Wisconsin this winter with significant fanfare. The rising sophomore was a Freshman All-American at the Football Championship Subdivision level in 2024, totaling 48 catches, 966 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Fellow winter transfer wide receiver Jayden Ballard has reportedly been a spring session standout, meaning Hamper was likely to enter the season as a primary depth option. That may have instigated his transfer decision.
Here is more on Hamper’s departure.
OUT: Tight end Tanner Koziol (not yet official)
Koziol transferred in this winter after several standout seasons at Ball State, including a 94-catch, 839-yard, 8-touchdown 2024 campaign. He projected to be one of Wisconsin’s top receiving threats as new coordinator Jeff Grimes transitioned the program back to a pro-style offense. After just four months with the program, Koziol is reportedly off to a new destination.
Tucker Ashcraft is the next up at tight end. The position should rise near the top of Wisconsin’s transfer pursuits, as Ashcraft has just 20 total catches, 168 yards and two touchdowns over the last two seasons. Due to the lack of a top-end backup option, Koziol was one player Wisconsin couldn’t afford to lose.
Here is more on Koziol’s departure.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football spring transfer portal window tracker
The spring transfer portal window officially opened today, April 16. Wisconsin is sure to be active as it makes a final push to bolster its roster entering the 2025 season.
Most notably, the Badgers enter the period with significant needs on the offensive side of the football. While the team seemingly aced the winter portal window, just in the last few days it lost starting left tackle Kevin Heywood to a torn ACL, and starting tight end Tanner Koziol (reportedly) and top depth wide receiver Mark Hamper to the portal.
Both Koziol and Hamper were headliners of Wisconsin’s winter transfer class. As is the case in the current era of college football, winter commitments are nowhere close to guaranteed to be on the roster in Week 1.
With those departures and Heywood’s long-term injury, the Badgers would do well to find a fill-in at left tackle and a dynamic starting tight end. Replacing those projected starters may be easier said than done, however, as the two projected to be among the offensive unit’s top three or four players.
The spring portal window will remain open until April 25. Players have until that date to enter, while those in the portal have unlimited time to commit to a new program.
As the transfer window continues, here is an up-to-date tracker on all of Wisconsin’s incoming and outgoing movement:
(Last update: April 16, 7:50 a.m ET)
OUT: Wide receiver Quincy Burroughs
Burroughs was one of Wisconsin’s first transfer additions of the Luke Fickell era back in 2023, as he followed the head coach from Cincinnati. The veteran played sparingly during his two years with the program, totaling just five catches, 43 receiving yards and five special teams tackles. He was again projected as a depth option at wide receiver entering 2025, with significant talent and competition ahead of him in the room.
Here is more on Burroughs’ departure.
OUT: Wide receiver Mark Hamper
Hamper joined Wisconsin this winter with significant fanfare. The rising sophomore was a Freshman All-American at the Football Championship Subdivision level in 2024, totaling 48 catches, 966 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Fellow winter transfer wide receiver Jayden Ballard has reportedly been a spring session standout, meaning Hamper was likely to enter the season as a primary depth option. That may have instigated his transfer decision.
Here is more on Hamper’s departure.
OUT: Tight end Tanner Koziol (not yet official)
Koziol transferred in this winter after several standout seasons at Ball State, including a 94-catch, 839-yard, 8-touchdown 2024 campaign. He projected to be one of Wisconsin’s top receiving threats as new coordinator Jeff Grimes transitioned the program back to a pro-style offense. After just four months with the program, Koziol is reportedly off to a new destination.
Tucker Ashcraft is the next up at tight end. The position should rise near the top of Wisconsin’s transfer pursuits, as Ashcraft has just 20 total catches, 168 yards and two touchdowns over the last two seasons. Due to the lack of a top-end backup option, Koziol was one player Wisconsin couldn’t afford to lose.
Here is more on Koziol’s departure.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football spring transfer portal window tracker
