The transfer portal may have grabbed most of the attention around Wisconsin this offseason, but the Badgers also kept enough of their own talent in place to build around. That matters, because 2026 is shaping up to lean heavily on younger returners who are ready to take on far larger workloads.
With more resources, Wisconsin added over 30 transfers and plugged in new starters at nearly every position. But the players already on campus still have a real path to impact, and a handful of them look ready to move from supporting pieces to much bigger roles.
Eugene Hilton is one of the biggest names in that group. He briefly entered the portal before deciding Wisconsin was the right fit, and now the Badgers are counting on him.
Hilton had his share of highs and lows in spring ball, but he was regularly working with the top offensive unit and saw plenty of targets. He may not technically be listed as a starter, but the snaps should be there.
Wisconsin needs more from its receivers, and while transfer Jaylon Domingeaux has a strong chance to lead the team in receiving, Hilton could be right behind him as the No. 2 option. For that to happen, he’ll have to keep cleaning up his separation and drops.
Tyrell Henry is another receiver on the rise. After playing only 86 offensive snaps in 2025, he looks set for a much bigger workload this season.
Injuries played a part in his limited role last year, and he also arrived with a reputation as more of a return man. That picture has changed.
Henry has grown into a more complete receiver, added size, and become a more willing blocker. That gives him a real shot to open the season in the slot.
His speed has already shown up in a variety of ways, and offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes could create easy touches for him in the short game.
On the defensive side, Nicholas Clayton looks ready to take his next step. Wisconsin has been high on him for a while, and after logging just 15 defensive snaps as a true freshman, the jump seems close.
Clayton brings speed and burst as a pass rusher, and he’s also put in the work to add size. He arrived at Wisconsin in the 212-218 pound range and is now up to nearly 250 pounds at 6’5.
Even if the edge rotation keeps him from starting, he should still be a key piece in the pass rush.
Jai’mier Scott may have made the biggest leap of any young Badger this offseason. The redshirt freshman went from not playing a defensive snap last year and sitting behind Cairo Skanes to being projected as the starter opposite Javan Robinson on the boundary.
Scott took full advantage of an open cornerback room and was consistently making plays in spring. He also spent a lot of time with the top defense.
Even if fall camp changes the depth chart, he’s still in line for a much bigger role.
Charles Perkins gives Wisconsin another returning player with a clear opening. Injuries slowed him in 2025, but he had a strong spring as a disruptive force on the defensive line.
Now entering his fifth season, he has a chance to matter more because the Badgers need bigger bodies up front after losing so much production. At 6’2, 330 pounds, Perkins is undersized in some ways for the position, but he brings explosiveness and a knack for making plays against the run.
He should be in the mix for steady snaps alongside Hammond Russell and Junior Poyser.
And there’s one more returner in line for a major change: Lahm. He’s set to take over full-time kicking duties after serving only as the kickoff specialist a year ago. With Nathanial Vakos gone, Lahm now holds the field goal and extra point job with little competition.
In Other News...
Former Badgers Guard AJ Storr Adds Another Twist To His Journey
AJ Storrs college career has already taken him from St. Johns to Wisconsin to Kansas and then Ole Miss, a winding path that now has him on the move again. The former Badgers guard was granted a fifth year of eligibility, and after a season of changing roles and varied production across those stops, he is once more looking for a new fit.
According to On3s Joe Tipton, Storr plans to transfer again, adding another layer to an already unusual journey. What comes next is still unclear, and for a player whose college story has been defined by movement, the next landing spot will say plenty about how teams view his value and how he sees the rest of his career unfolding. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Fans Are Already Debating Which Young Badgers Must Play
Fall camp is only getting started, but the early chatter around Wisconsin already has fans and analysts sorting through the young players who could force their way onto the field in 2026. With several position groups still in open competition, the conversation has centered on where the Badgers can find immediate help and which newcomers or underclassmen are ready to turn promise into real snaps.
Emmett Bork has drawn attention in the tight end battle, while the EDGE rotation is another spot drawing plenty of scrutiny as Wisconsin looks for reliable depth. On the defensive side, names like Jai'mer Scott and Raphael Dunn are also surfacing as players who could fit into different roles, and the bigger question is how much trust the staff will place in them once camp really starts sorting things out. [Read more 🡒]
Mason Posa Just Gave Wisconsin Fans Another Reason To Believe
Mason Posas latest move says as much about his place in Madison as it does about the changing college football landscape. The Wisconsin sophomore linebacker has put NIL money into Mikies Dairy Bar, a local restaurant that already counts former Badger Joe Thomas among its co-owners, giving Posa a stake in one of the citys familiar neighborhood stops.
For Wisconsin fans, the investment reads as more than a business decision. It points to a player leaning into the community around him and signaling his intent to stay part of the Badgers future after a stretch that could have pushed him elsewhere. In an era when NIL deals can send players in plenty of directions, Posa choosing to tie himself to a Madison business offers another reason for the fan base to believe. [Read more 🡒]