With the NCAA Transfer Portal open to begin 2026, the Badgers are bolstering their roster to prepare for the 2026 season. Wisconsin has already added a handful of playmakers and will continue to attract talent until the portal closes on Jan. 16. Follow along below to learn more about fresh faces joining the Badgers' roster.
| Name | Position | Year | HT/WT | Hometown | Previous School |
| Cai Bates | DB | R-So. | 6-2/190 | West Orlando, Fla. | Florida State |
| Justus Boone | OLB | Gr. | 6-4/275 | Sumter, S.C. | Arkansas |
| Blake Cherry | OL | So. | 6-5/315 | Owasso, Okla. | Arkansas |
| Jaylon Domingeaux | WR | Sr. | 6-2/210 | Lafayette, La. | Southeastern Louisiana |
| Eric Fletcher | CB | R-So. | 6-1/180 | Ft. Myers, Fla. | Oklahoma State |
| Jacob Harris | TE | R-Jr. | 6-4/255 | Westerville, Ohio | Bowling Green |
| Colton Joseph | QB | R-Jr. | 6-2/200 | Newport Beach, Calif. | Old Dominion |
| Jon Jon Kamara | LB | R-So. | 6-4/230 | Goodyear, Ariz. | Kansas |
| Austin Kawecki | OL | R-Sr. | 6-4/300 | Frisco, Texas | Oklahoma State |
| Junior Poyser | DL | R-Jr. | 6-1/310 | Brampton, Ontario | Buffalo |
| Shamar Rigby | WR | Jr. | 6-3/190 | St. Petersburg, Fla. | Oklahoma State |
| Javan Robinson | CB | R-Sr. | 5-11/180 | Winter Garden, Fla. | Arizona State |
| Abu Sama III | RB | Sr. | 5-11/210 | Des Moines, Iowa | Iowa State |
| Taylor Schaefer | LB | R-Jr. | 6-4/230 | Sturgeon Bay, Wis. | Iowa Central CC |
| Ryan Schwendeman | TE | Sr. | 6-5/245 | O'Fallon, Mo. | Southern Illinois |
| Lucas Simmons | OL | R-Jr. | 6-8/308 | Stockholm, Sweden | Florida State |
| Carson Van Dinter | S | R-So. | 6-3/210 | Kaukauna, Wis. | Iowa State |
| Bryce West | CB | R-So. | 5-11/210 | Cleveland, Ohio | Ohio State |
| PJ Wilkins | OL | R-Jr. | 6-5/340 | Atlanta, Ga. | Ole Miss |
Allow us to officially introduce QB1.@_ColtonJoseph1 x #OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/669Zcnw3YE
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) January 5, 2026
Colton Joseph
Quarterback - Old Dominion
- Dual-threat quarterback with dynamic skillset
- Earned Sun Belt OPOY honors after throwing for 2,624 yards and rushing for 1,007 in second season as a starter at Old Dominion
- Was one of two QBs in the nation to throw for 2,000+ and run for 1,000+ during the 2025 season
- Led Old Dominion to its second winning season in program history, starting all 12 regular season games at quarterback
- Posted 302.6 total yards per game, the 8th-most in the nation in 2025
- Helped Old Dominion finish No. 29 nationally in scoring offense with 32.0 points per game and No. 16 in total offense with 454.7 yards per game
- Became just the seventh QB to surpass 2,000 passing yards, 1,000 rushing yards and post a yards per completion clip above 15.0 since 2016 - that list includes LSU’s Jayden Daniels (2023), Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts (2019) and Kyler Murray (2018) and Louisville’s Lamar Jackson (2016)
- Threw for 96 yards and ran for 179 yards and two scores on 10 carries in the 2025 opener at Indiana (Aug. 30) - Indiana has gone on to allow 100 rushing yards only once in the rest of the regular season (117, Penn State)
Abu Sama III
Running Back - Iowa State
- Explosive runner with plenty of proven production
- Closing in on 2,000 career yards, totaling 1,933 across three seasons at Iowa State
- Burst onto the scene with 614 rushing yards (7.3 ypc) as a freshman in 2023
- Posted a career-high 732 yards on 140 carries and scored five touchdowns in 2025
Javan Robinson
Cornerback - Arizona State
- Physical corner with playmaking instincts and big-game experience
- Started 26 consecutive games for Arizona State from 2024-25
- Posted 34 tackles, 2.5 TFLs and eight PBUs in 2025
- Grabbed three INTs in 2024, including picks against BYU and Texas (Peach Bowl)
Shamar Rigby
Wide Receiver - Oklahoma State
- Downfield threat with size and experience in the Big 12 and Big Ten
- Started nine games and caught 25 passes without a drop in lone season at Oklahoma State in 2025
- Began career at Purdue and played in all 12 games as a true freshman in 2024
- Caught one pass at Camp Randall versus Wisconsin (Oct. 5, 2024)
Jacob Harris
Tight End - Bowling Green
- Receiving threat with a large frame that has been efficient in the red zone
- Played in all 12 games at Bowling Green as a redshirt sophomore in 2025, grabbing five touchdowns, the most for any MAC tight end, on 19 total catches
Cai Bates
Defensive Back - Florida State
- Highly recruited defensive back with a lengthy frame
- Played in 10 games as a reserve across his first two seasons at Florida State
- Once a consensus four-star recruit and top-20 cornerback prospect out of Edgewater High School
Justus Boone
Outside Linebacker - Arkansas
- Veteran defensive stopper with experience at Arkansas and Florida
- Has played in 23 games across the past two seasons at Arkansas (2025) and Florida (2024)
- Started three games and totaled 28 tackles in 2025
Blake Cherry
Offensive Line - Arkansas
- Young offensive lineman with high upside and skill set to play inside or outside
- Played all 12 games during true freshman season at Arkansas under now-Badger OL coach Eric Mateos
- Rated as a three-star prospect in the 2025 class out of Owasso High School
Jaylon Domingeaux
Wide Receiver - Southeast Louisiana
- Lands in the Big Ten after productive three seasons at Southeastern Louisiana
- Has totaled 1,500+ career receiving yards, including 857 yards on 52 catches in 2025
- Hauled in 11 touchdowns in 2025, the sixth-most among FCS wideouts
- Had catches of 30+ yards in eight games and can be deployed as a downfield threat for Colten Joseph
Eric Fletcher
Cornerback - Oklahoma State
- Developing corner with experience in multiple systems
- Played in 12 games in 2025 as a redshirt freshman at Oklahoma State after his first collegiate season at East Carolina
- Was a standout two-way playmaker at Dunbar High School
Jon Jon Kamara
Linebacker - Kansas
- Versatile and athletic linebacker who can play inside or on the edge
- Played in all 12 games in 2025 as a redshirt freshman at Kansas, making three starts
- Totaled 13 tackles, including 1.5 TFLs
- Originally from Monrovia, Liberia
Austin Kawecki
Offensive LIneman - Oklahoma State
- Experienced interior offensive lineman
- Started 11 games in 2025 at Oklahoma State, including 10 at center
- Has played in 25 career games since debuting in 2022
- Originally recruited by Eric Mateos at Baylor
Junior Poyser
Defensive Line - Buffalo
- Broke out during 2025 season at Buffalo, making seven starts and totaling 31 tackles, including 5.5 sacks as an interior lineman
- Earned All-MAC Third Team honors
- Averaged 35 snaps per game and helped a Buffalo defense that ranked fifth in the MAC in rushing defense per carry (3.8)
Taylor Schaefer
Linebacker - Iowa Central CC
- Wisconsin native with track record of production at Iowa Central CC
- Named the Iowa Community College Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2025
- Transfers to the FBS level after totaling 146 tackles across two seasons
- Named Packerland Conference DPOY as a junior and senior at Southern Door High School
Ryan Schwendeman
Tight End - Southern Illinois
- Prototypical tight end with size to contribute in the running game
- Caught 15 passes for 191 yards and two scores in 2025 at Southern Illinois
- Played in 28 career games at Southern Illinois since 2022
Lucas Simmons
Offensive Line - Florida State
- Joins the Badgers after serving a rotational role at Florida State as a redshirt sophomore in 2025
- Was a consensus four-star recruit and ranked as the nation’s No. 9 offensive tackle by 247Sports in the 2023 class
- Originally from Sweden, played handball and soccer in addition to football
Carson Van Dinter
Safety - Iowa State
- Wisconsin native, versatile defensive back
- Played in 11 games as a redshirt freshman at Iowa State in 2025
- Saw significant action in the Cyclones’ final two games and finished with 18 tackles
- Was a three-sport standout at Kaukauna High School
Bryce West
Cornerback - Ohio State
- Highly-recruited cornerback with three years of eligibility
- Played in 8 games as a redshirt freshman at Ohio State in 2025
- Ranked No. 27 in the 2024 ESPN 300 as a four-star prospect
- Intercepted four passes and did not allow a TD during senior state championship season at Glenville High School
PJ Wilkins
Offensive Lineman - Ole Miss
- Saw time with current-CFP qualifier Ole Miss in 2025, totaling 186 snaps on the offensive line
- Started the two games of the season for the Rebels at left guard and played in 14 total games
- Played at both guard spots in 2024 at the University of Charlotte, where he started his collegiate career
