The Wisconsin Badgers have been on a spree in the transfer portal, adding 14 commitments over the first five days, with more still to come as visits continue to happen.
Wisconsin, in need of a number of players on both sides of the ball, has been targeting younger players with multiple years of eligibility, but has also filled some key positions, including their starting quarterback role.
Let’s break down all of Wisconsin’s transfer portal additions by position.
Quarterback (1): Colton Joseph
The Badgers
got Old Dominion quarterback Colton Joseph, who was their top target in the portal. On paper, it’s a great fit for Jeff Grimes’s system. Joseph is one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks available, and Wisconsin needs a mobile quarterback for Grimes’s offense to reach its potential.
He’s also got the arm for the downfield passing attack and plays well without structure. The big questions here are: 1) how well can he play in structure and 2) can Wisconsin find a way to keep him healthy in the Big Ten with the amount of QB runs?
Joseph hasn’t been the most accurate quarterback (59.7 percent completion rate in 2025) and he loves to take downfield shots (over 15 yards per completion in 2025). It’ll be important for the Badgers to get some wide receivers to fulfill that vision, but Joseph will also have to show better quick decision-making to fit well in Grimes’s offense with the quick passing game.
He also isn’t the biggest quarterback (6’3, 210 pounds), and it’s tougher to run in the Big Ten with the physicality level. Wisconsin has struggled to keep quarterbacks healthy, regardless of the reason, and running the quarterback can increase the chance of injury.
Nonetheless, he’s an exciting player with two years of eligibility left and immediately elevates Wisconsin’s ceiling as a great scheme fit. Now, Wisconsin probably needs another player here, as Danny O’Neil will be nursing an injury and could miss much of the offseason. Currently, the room is Joseph, Carter Smith), O’Neil, and incoming freshman Ryan Hopkins.
Running Back (1): Abu Sama
One of my favorite additions in the portal so far has been Iowa State transfer Abu Sama, who has been highly productive through three years with the Cyclones. He instantly elevates the running back room and brings the threat of an explosive play every time he touches the ball.
Sama, once touted the next Breece Hall, had 732 yards and five touchdowns on five yards a carry in 2025. He’s rushed for 13 touchdowns in his career and has averaged 5.6 yards per carry. It’ll be imperative for Wisconsin to add offensive linemen and improve the quality of play there in 2026, but Sama is huge for the running back room and instantly jumps to RB1.
Wisconsin needs another back here, potentially a bigger-bodied back to complement Sama and sophomores Darrion Dupree and Gideon Ituka. The idea here is to build another deep and competitive running back room with the hope for much better results in 2025.
But, this is one of Wisconsin’s best additions in the transfer portal so far.
Wide Receiver (1): Shamar Rigby
Wisconsin is in big need of receivers this offseason. They got one so far: Oklahoma State transfer Shamar Rigby, who was a sophomore in 2025 and caught 25 passes for 351 yards and a touchdown this season.
A fluid mover at 6’3, 190 pounds, Rigby will compete at one of the outside receiver spots and possesses the frame Wisconsin likes on the boundary. But, there’s much work to do here, as the Badgers are only returning two scholarship wideouts from last year: Chris Brooks Jr. and Tyrell Henry.
Still not sure if Rigby will ultimately grab a starting spot this year or if he’ll be in the two-deep behind a guy like Brooks, who blocks well and is a good athlete for his size. But he’s a young body with multiple years of eligibility and some untapped potential.
The Badgers do have incoming freshmen Keeyshawn Tabuteau and Zion Legree joining the group, but there probably needs to be three or four more additions in this room.
Tight End (2): Jacob Harris, Ryan Schwendeman
The Badgers went with experience for both of their tight ends, looking to add some blocking and receiving talent here.
Harris is more of a receiver than a blocker, despite being 6’4 and 255 pounds. Harris caught 19 passes for 182 yards and five touchdowns this season, the latter of which led the MAC in 2025 for tight ends. He’s got some work to do as a blocker, though, which could determine his playing time.
A redshirt sophomore in 2025, he has two years of eligibility left.
Schwendeman is another bigger tight end at 6’4, 245 pounds, and is the better blocker of the duo, while also having some pass-catching ability. At Southern Illinois in 2025, he caught 15 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns. While being a fifth-year college player this season, he does have two more years of eligibility, having used both a redshirt and a medical redshirt so far.
With the two additions, I’m not sure how much Wisconsin tight ends will be a factor in the passing game this season, like Lance Mason was in 2025, given the construction of the team. But, Wisconsin is addition depth and experience into a very young room that will hope to see another step from Grant Stec in 2025.
Offensive Line (2): Austin Plawecki, Blake Cherry
The Badgers added two offensive linemen so far in the transfer portal: Oklahoma State center Austin Plawecki and Arkansas freshman Blake Cherry.
Plawecki was a good get, being one of the top transfer centers in a relatively weak class. Wisconsin got him to campus early and locked him up after a visit, and he should replace Jake Renfro at center in his final year of eligibility.
Cherry, on the other hand, followed offensive line coach Eric Mateos from Arkansas to Madison. He was a promising backup lineman as a true freshman this season, playing in all 12 games, and has three years of eligibility left.
Not sure that Cherry cracks the starting lineup this early, but he should compete for a two-deep spot and has time to develop for the Badgers.
Wisconsin needs more bodies here, though. Wouldn’t be surprised if they still look to add three or four more guys along the offensive line, especially after taking just one in their 2026 class. Some needs include a tackle, a potential veteran guard (if Joe Brunner doesn’t come back), and some more young depth.
Overall, the Badgers have added quite a bit on the offensive side of the ball. There’s been a splash (Colton Joseph), some key experience, and a lot of younger players. But there’s still quite a bit more to do on this side of the ball for the Badgers, especially at wide receiver and along the offensive line.
