As the transfer portal opened on Friday morning, two Wisconsin Badgers defensive linemen entered their names in and will head elsewhere for 2026.
Sophomore Jamel Howard and freshman Ernest Willor Jr. are both entering the transfer portal after spending the last three and two seasons with the Badgers, respectively.
Howard, a prized recruit for Wisconsin in the Class of 2023, has played in just one game over his three-year career at Wisconsin. He struggled to crack the rotation at a position of need
and will be entering the transfer portal for the second straight year. Howard was in the same situation last year, but elected to return to Wisconsin.
Willor, a late signee in the Class of 2024, was considered a top-100 recruit and a good get for the Badgers along the defensive line. But, dealing with position changes, he’s struggled to also crack the field and is moving on after two seasons.
With Willor departing, Wisconsin has just one of the three defensive linemen they signed in the 2024 class left: sophomore Dillan Johnson.
Defensive line will be a position of need in the transfer portal this offseason, with four rotational seniors departing. Now, the Badgers are losing two more scholarship players at the position.
