Last offseason, the Wisconsin Badgers were active in the transfer portal, especially at the linebacker position. These are the players Luke Fickell and Co. recruited to Madison for 2024:

● Cornerback RJ Delancy III (Toledo)

● Defensive linemen Elijah Hills (Albany) and Brandon Lane (Stephen F. Austin) ● Linebackers Jaheim Thomas (Arkansas), John Pius (William & Mary), Leon Lowery Jr. (Syracuse), Sebastian Cheeks (North Carolina) and Tackett Curtis (Southern Cal) ● Kicker Gianni Smith (Portland State)

● Long Snapper Cayson Pfeiffer (Cincinnati)

● Offensive linemen Joey Okla (Illinois) and Leyton Nelson (Vanderbilt) ● Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke (Miami, FL)

● Running back Tawee Walker (Oklahoma)

● Tight End Jackson McGohan (LSU)

● Wide receivers Joseph Griffin Jr. (Boston College) and Tyrell Henry (Michigan State)

On Friday, writers Bruce Feldman, Sam Khan Jr. and Manny Navarro of The Athletic listed the 100 best college football transfers for the 2024 season.

Three Badgers made the list: Jaheim Thomas, John Pius and Tyler Van Dyke. Ohio State’s Caleb Downs, who transferred from Alabama this offseason, was the No. 1 overall transfer.

John Pius was ranked 29th after a star-studded career at William & Mary. One of Wisconsin’s assistant coaches told the Athletic that he estimated Pius would have the most quarterback sacks on the Badgers in 2024.

Ranked 35th is Tyler Van Dyke, who is looking to return to his outstanding 2021 form after two weak seasons with the Miami Hurricanes. Van Dyke recently won the starting position ahead of Braedyn Locke and was ranked the third-best quarterback in the Big Ten according to Pro Football Focus.

The last Badger on the list was former Cincinnati Bearcat and Arkansas transfer Jaheim Thomas. Ranked just behind Van Dyke at No. 36, Thomas brings athleticism and experience, having played for Luke Fickell in Cincinnati before joining the Razorbacks in 2023.