Wisconsin’s offseason portal haul was massive, and the offensive side of the ball is where the ripple effects could hit hardest in 2026. The Badgers brought in 33 transfers overall, and a big chunk of that group is expected to shape how this team looks when the season kicks off in Madison.
At the top of the list is quarterback Hunter Simmons, the dynamic dual-threat gunslinger who is already locked into the starting job at the sport’s most important position. Right behind him is center Davis Kawecki, whom offensive line coach Eric Mateos called “the most important thing we did” this offseason.
With how rough the center spot was in Madison last fall, that kind of praise fits. Kawecki is a true plug-and-play starter and should be on the field for every offensive snap.
The backfield also got a major boost. Dilin Jones Sama should be Wisconsin’s RB1, and his mix of physicality and elusiveness, along with a relentless drive to be great, makes him a dangerous piece in this offense.
Darrion Dupree Jackson brings a different look as a sturdy, powerful back who arrived with a strong recruiting reputation, and he projects as the Badgers’ power back and RB3 overall. That should still leave him with a healthy workload.
Meanwhile, TCU transfer Rodney Palmer appears to be RB4 right now, and it may take an injury for him to carve out a bigger role.
Up front, PJ Wilkins has already climbed fast. He didn’t come into the portal ranking this high on the impact list, but after winning the starting left tackle job in spring ball, he’s instantly one of the most important players on the roster.
Another tackle to watch is Trey Simmons-Johansson, who has drawn praise during summer workouts and looks like the team’s third offensive tackle. That probably keeps him on the bench for much of 2026, especially if Kevin Heywood and PJ Wilkins live up to expectations.
On the interior, Chase Cherry looks headed for a backup offensive guard role, but he also profiles as one of the seven or eight offensive linemen Wisconsin would trust in a game. He should begin the year as a reserve, though meaningful snaps would not be a surprise.
Tight end should be a more interesting spot than it first appears. Jace Harris may not post huge numbers, depending on how efficient the passing game is, but he looks like the clear TE1 and should leave his mark as both a blocker and receiver.
Behind him, FCS transfer Jake Schwendeman could still see plenty of action because Wisconsin is expected to use a lot of 12 personnel in Jeff Grimes’ offense. He may sit behind Harris, Grant Stec and Emmett Bork on the depth chart, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be invisible.
The receiver room is the toughest group to sort through. Chris Domingeaux made a late push in spring ball, and his FCS production - 106 catches, 1,512 yards, 14 touchdowns - makes it hard to ignore him.
The staff also likes Chris Brooks Jr., Tyrell Henry and Eugene Hilton Jr., but Domingeaux should get every chance to become a starter. Jalen Rigby brings the most FBS production of any wideout in the room, and the 6-foot-4 former Oklahoma State receiver has a skill set worth betting on even if he didn’t make much noise in spring.
Another former high-profile recruit, 6-foot-5 Jayden Coleman, still has plenty of upside, though it’s tough to see exactly where he fits in such a crowded and underwhelming group. Former Oklahoma speedster Kaden Lockett faces a similarly murky path to playing time.
At quarterback, behind Simmons, the picture gets a little cloudy. Jalen Adams could rise if he wins the backup job, especially given Wisconsin’s recent injury issues at signal-caller, but he might be QB3 behind Joseph and surging true freshman Ryan Hopkins. Still, if he does land the No. 2 role, that would change his standing on this list.
Rounding out the offensive additions, D-II transfer Jalen Bickham looks like a reasonable bet to land on the two-deep, though Wisconsin would be in trouble if it ever had to count on him for meaningful snaps. And then there’s Deuce’s brother, who is technically a walk-on and buried so far down the depth chart that he won’t see the field this fall.
In Other News...
Tyler Herro Just Reopened Wisconsin's Oldest Recruiting Wound
Tyler Herros latest stop in Milwaukee brought an old Wisconsin recruiting scar back into view. During an NBA Summer League interview in Las Vegas, the former Badgers commit revisited the decision to back away from Wisconsin and head to Kentucky, a move that still sits as one of the programs most frustrating what-ifs. Now with the Bucks after a trade from Miami, Herro was asked about the path that got him here, and the answer only underscored how much his basketball journey has been shaped by choices made years ago.
Herro framed the flip as a business decision, noting that staying with Wisconsin would likely have changed the entire arc of his career and left him in a very different place than the one he occupies now. He also spoke warmly about his relationship with the Heat organization, adding another layer to a story that Badgers fans have never quite stopped revisiting. For Wisconsin, it is a reminder that the recruiting loss was never just about one player leaving the state, but about a door that closed on a version of the future the program still wonders about. [Read more 🡒]
Badgers Fans Already See One Big Test For Shawn Eichorst
Shawn Eichorst is back in Madison, and Wisconsin introduced its new athletic director with the kind of familiarity that usually comes from a second act. He already knows the school from his earlier run there, and since then he has built a rsum that includes AD stops at Miami and Nebraska, plus a recent stint as deputy athletic director and COO at Texas. For a department that wants steadiness at the top while keeping support flowing to both football and basketball, the hire brings experience and a built-in sense of what Wisconsin expects.
The first reaction from fans has been less about the press conference and more about the job ahead, especially with football still under the microscope after three straight disappointing seasons. Wisconsin has put more money into the program this offseason, but it is still chasing the financial level of the Big Tens biggest spenders, which makes Eichorsts next moves matter even more. The early debate is not whether he knows the place. It is whether he can make the Badgers look like a program closing the gap. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce West Could Be The Badgers Answer In The Secondary
Bryce Wests arrival gives Wisconsin a different kind of option in the secondary, one that comes with Big Ten pedigree and some real flexibility. The former Ohio State cornerback has already seen the field in multiple games for the Buckeyes, and after entering the transfer portal he heads to Madison with three years of eligibility left and a chance to become part of the Badgers plans for 2026.
What makes West especially intriguing is how the staff expects to use him. Wisconsin sees enough versatility to move him around and keep him on the field depending on the opponent, which matters for a defense that wants more answers in the back end. If West settles in quickly, he could end up being one of the more important additions to the roster before the season even gets here. [Read more 🡒]