The transfer portal is officially open, and Wisconsin is already seeing the first ripple. On Monday, outside linebacker Cody Raymond announced he’s entering the portal, kicking off what could be a busy offseason in Madison.
Raymond, a 6-foot-4, 235-pound linebacker out of Utica, Michigan, joined the Badgers as a walk-on in the 2024 class. He turned down scholarship offers from Toledo and Temple to bet on himself at Wisconsin. Now, after two seasons without seeing the field, he’s looking for a new opportunity with three years of eligibility still in his pocket.
Coming out of Eisenhower High School, Raymond had the kind of résumé that turns heads-First-Team All-State, All-League, and All-Region honors in 2023. While he didn’t crack the rotation in Madison, his size and athletic background suggest he could be a valuable addition elsewhere, especially for a program looking to develop talent on the edge.
As for Wisconsin, Raymond’s departure is just the beginning. The Badgers are bracing for significant roster turnover this offseason, and the defensive front is already a focal point.
They’re set to lose a handful of key veterans-outside linebacker Mason Reiger and defensive linemen Jay’Viar Suggs, Ben Barten, and Brandon Lane-all out of eligibility. That’s a lot of experience walking out the door, and it leaves some serious gaps to fill in the trenches.
Expect the staff to be active in the portal themselves, whether it’s finding plug-and-play defenders or bringing in developmental pieces to build out the depth chart. The front seven, especially, will be under the microscope as Wisconsin looks to reload and stay competitive in a Big Ten landscape that’s only getting tougher.
Raymond’s exit may not shake the foundation of the program, but it’s a reminder that roster management in today’s college football is a 365-day job. The portal giveth, the portal taketh-and for Wisconsin, the work is just getting started.