New University of Wisconsin head football coach Luke Fickell and his staff have brought a number of players through the transfer portal who will make an instant difference in 2023. Struggling to keep track of them all? We will keep this file as current as possible.
Tanner Mordechai, quarterback (Southern Methodist University)
Easily the most controversial addition may have come out of nowhere, popping into the gate and announcing almost simultaneously that he was heading to Wisconsin. Combined with offensive coordinator Phil Longo and his “air-raid” sentiments, this marks a dramatic turnaround for a Wisconsin program, which looks set to rely far more on its passing game than it has a reputation for. Mordecai has one year of eligibility.
Last year, he completed 65% of his passes for 3,524 yards with 33 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He initially signed with Oklahoma and was a part of the program until after the 2020 season, when he transferred to SMU. Listed as 6 ft 3 in and 214 lbs.
Nick Evers, quarterback (Oklahoma)
Prior to Mordecai’s arrival, the Badgers had already made a move to address the quarterback room with the transfer of Evers, who had four years of eligibility remaining.
The former 6-3 Texas high school MVP is a dual-threat quarterback who played in one game as a freshman at Oklahoma.
In his last two seasons in high school, Evers passed for 44 touchdowns and nearly 5,000 yards and rushed for 18 touchdowns. He initially committed to Florida before signing with Oklahoma. Listed at 6-3, 185.
Braden Locke, quarterback (Mississippi State)
The third quarterback brought in by the new coaching staff, Locke did not play as a true freshman in 2022 but is a former four-star recruit from Rockwall High School in Texas. He will have four years of eligibility remaining. He stands 6-1, 195.
Jason Maitre, Safety (Boston College)
With a bunch of secondary players who moved on (Cedric Dort, Jay Shaw, Justin Clark), the Badgers knew they needed to add some new faces in the defensive backfield. Maitre played safe and defensive at Boston College and started 11 of 12 games last season, with 42 tackles, six passes broken up and one interception. Standing 5-10, 188.
Darian Varner, Defensive Line (Temple)
A first-team all-conference selection in the American Athletic Conference has two years of eligibility remaining. Varner announced he was transferring to Virginia Tech but then changed his mind. The defensive lineman played 10 of 12 games this past season (he missed the last two games with a foot injury) and had 7 sacks and 12 tackles for loss at Temple. He stands 6-2, 260.
Joe Hooper, offensive line (Cincinnati)
It should come as no surprise that Fickell was able to bring in players, both recruits and transfers, from the Cincinnati program.
The Ohio native was named an honorable mention all-conference this past season after starting all 13 games at right tackle for Cincinnati last year. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Hooper, from Dublin, Ohio, joined Cincinnati in 2020. He redshirted in 2020, played in seven games in 2021 and was placed on scholarship before last season. Hooper then started all 13 games at right tackle and was an All-American Athletic Conference honorable mention selection. Standing 6-5, 310.
Jake Renfro, Center (Cincinnati)
The first-team all-conference position in 2021 gives the Badgers a senior option to replace 2022 player Joe Tippmann, who left the program for the NFL Draft. Renfro himself missed the 2022 season with a knee injury, but started 13 games in 2021 and six as a freshman in 2020.
Between missing a year and playing during the COVID season in 2020, he will have three years of eligibility remaining. He stands 6-3, 308.
Jeff Petroski, Defensive End (Michigan State)
The defensive end linebacker/outside linebacker with the Spartans is an Ohio native who missed the last nine games of 2022 due to a leg injury and played in only three games that season, but played 23 in his career with Michigan State, with his best season coming in 2021 when Send 5 bags. With the medical gown on, he would have three years of eligibility left. He stands 6-2, 250.
CJ Williams, wide receiver (USC)
One of the best receivers in the class of 2022, the California native played in 10 games as a true freshman last year and caught four passes for 34 yards. The top 100 recruit in his class would be the highest-ranked recruit to play for Wisconsin in the ranking era. He will have three years of eligibility remaining. He stands 6-2, 190.
Bryson Green, wide receiver (Oklahoma State)
Green, who remained out of eligibility for two years, had the second most receiving yards by the Cowboys in 2022, with 584 yards on 36 catches, including five touchdowns. This adds up to the most college experience of any of the four receivers the Badgers have added. He stands 6-1, 205.
Nathaniel Vacus, Kicker (Ohio)
Vakos made a 56-yard field goal as a freshman last year among his 22 attempts in 27 attempts (3-of-5 from 40-49 yards and 2-for-4 of 50+), giving him the most field goals of any FBS freshman in a year 2022. He also set a national record by making 260 extra points (on 261 attempts) at Avon High School in Ohio. He will have three years of eligibility remaining. He stands 6-1, 188.
Will Bowling, wide receiver (Cincinnati)
The Chicago native appeared in just four games last year with the Bearcats, allowing him to keep all four years of eligibility when he joins Wisconsin. He suffered an MCL injury that forced him to miss four games. Standing 5-10, 180.
Quincy Burrows, wide receiver (Cincinnati)
He did not play as a freshman and would have four years of eligibility remaining. The speedster from Jacksonville, Florida, has had multiple offers out of high school and in the gate. He stands 6-2, 202.
Manny Mullins, Defensive Line (Lake Erie College)
Mullins, younger brother of current Wisconsin defensive lineman Isaiah, transfers from Lake Erie College (NCAA Division II) as a walk-on. He stands 6-3, 285.
Upcoming members of the UW Recruitment Class of 2023
Christian AllegroOLB (Darien, Connecticut), 6-3, 220; Jess ArnoldDB (Marietta, GA), 5-10, 168; Tucker AshcraftTE (Seattle, WA), 6-5, 235; Jonas DuclonaDB (Naples, FL), 6-0, 175; James DurandOL (Chandler, AZ), 6-4, 280; Tyler JanseyLB (Batavia, IL), 6-1, 215; Trish KikahunaWR (Las Vegas, NV), 5-11, 180; Cole lacroQB (Broomfield, CO), 6-2, 190; Jordan MayerDE (Jefferson Hills, PA), 6-4, 235; Braden MooreATH (Hamilton, OH), 6-1, 190; Amari SnowdenCB (Roseville, Mich.), 6-3, 187; Justin TaylorDB (LaGrange Park, Illinois), 6-1, 185; AJ TisdellDB (College Station, Texas), 5-10, 180; Nate WhiteRB (Milwaukee), 6-0, 175.
Verbally abide by the Class of 2024
Austin AlexanderCB (Chicago Heights, IL), 6-1, 165; Mabry MeteorQB (The Woodlands, Texas), 6-5, 215.
more:Badgers football players and departing recruits during coaching changes
JR Radcliffe can be reached at (262) 361-9141 or jradcliffe@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @employee