The Wisconsin Badgers are seeing a late shake-up along their offensive line, as redshirt junior Leyton Nelson has officially entered the transfer portal. Nelson, who originally came to Madison from Vanderbilt alongside former offensive line coach A.J. Blazek ahead of the 2024 season, never quite found his footing in the program due to injuries and depth chart battles.
After missing the entire 2024 season with a lower-body injury, Nelson entered 2025 with a chance to climb the ladder. He was in the mix for a two-deep spot at offensive tackle and even had a window to claim the starting job in spring camp after Kevin Heywood went down with a torn ACL. But in limited reps, Nelson struggled to make a strong impression, and the Badgers responded by going back to the portal, bringing in Davis Heinzen to solidify the position.
Nelson eventually saw the field in five games this past season, mostly contributing on special teams, but never cracked the regular offensive line rotation. Now, with one year of eligibility remaining, he’ll look for a fresh start elsewhere to close out his college career.
From Wisconsin’s perspective, the offensive line room remains crowded-even after Nelson’s departure. The Badgers have been active in the portal, adding a wave of talent that includes P.J.
Wilkins from Ole Miss, Lucas Simmons from Florida State, Blake Cherry from Arkansas, and Austin Kawecki from Oklahoma State. That influx pushed the scholarship count at the position north of 15 heading into 2026, giving the coaching staff plenty of flexibility.
Still, don’t rule out another move. With roster spots fluid and competition fierce, Wisconsin could dip back into the portal one more time to round out the group. For now, though, the Badgers are well-stocked up front-and Nelson will be aiming to find a place where he can finally turn potential into production.