The Wisconsin Badgers thought they had landed a key piece for their defensive front. And then, just like that, they didn’t.
Jibriel Conde, a standout defensive lineman from Grand Valley State, has flipped his commitment from Wisconsin to Kansas only days after initially pledging to the Badgers. It’s a surprising move, especially considering the recent pipeline forming between Grand Valley State and Wisconsin.
Conde, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound sophomore, had been viewed as a major addition to Wisconsin’s transfer class. He was the first player to commit to the Badgers from the portal this cycle and was ranked as the top defensive lineman available, per 247Sports’ transfer rankings. His size and athleticism made him a prime candidate to bolster a Wisconsin defensive line that’s set to lose multiple seniors this offseason.
The Badgers had good reason to feel confident. They’ve already brought in talent from Grand Valley State before-cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean and defensive lineman Jay’Viar Suggs both made the jump to Madison, and outside linebackers coach Matt Mitchell, formerly the head coach at GVSU, has helped build that connection. So when Conde announced his commitment, it felt like a continuation of a well-established pipeline.
But recruiting-especially in the transfer portal era-is anything but predictable. Just two days after his initial commitment, Conde reversed course and committed to Kansas, where he’ll have two years of eligibility remaining. It’s a big win for the Jayhawks, who continue to build momentum in the trenches.
For Wisconsin, it’s a setback, albeit an early one in what’s shaping up to be a busy portal season. Right now, the Badgers have just one transfer locked in: linebacker Taylor Schaefer, who committed over the weekend. With the portal expected to heat up in the coming weeks, Wisconsin is already doing its homework, targeting players from the Division II level and junior college ranks.
There’s still plenty of time for the Badgers to reload, but they’ll have to do it without Conde, who was once expected to be a foundational piece of their defensive line rotation. The portal giveth, and the portal taketh away.