The Wisconsin Badgers had some transfer portal news at defensive line earlier this week, as they landed a trio of transfers at the position: West Virginia’s Hammond Russell, Buffalo’s Junior Poyser, and Illinois
State’s Jake Anderson.
However, that came at the cost of Wisconsin’s top returning defensive lineman, Charles Perkins, who was a disruptor during the offseason with his big 6’2, 320-pound frame before dealing with some injuries early this season.
Perkins was expected back in 2025, announcing the news himself less than a month ago, and was projected to be Wisconsin’s top returning defensive lineman. So the news of him entering the transfer portal was a bit of a surprise and a blow for the Badgers.
But, as we’ve learned in the current transfer portal era, nothing is set in stone. And that was the case with Perkins, who is returning to the Badgers and withdrawing his name from the transfer portal just days after announcing his departure.
That’s big news for the Badgers, who now have four experienced rotational players that they feel comfortable with, and that’s not including Dillan Johnson, who is expected to see another step up in playing time this season.
Last year, Wisconsin rolled six deep on the defensive line and saw that group really grow as the season went on, going from a question mark to a strength of the team at the end of the year. Currently, I’m not sure they have as strong a group as they did last year when it comes to both production and depth, so they could look for another player in the transfer portal to close things out.
But Wisconsin also has some younger guys, such as Xavier Ukponu and Nolan Vils, who may be ready for that end-of-rotation role. Nonetheless, getting Perkins back is a good sign for the depth and gives the Badgers a disruptor with great size in the middle of their defense.
