Badgers football players and recruits departing during coaching changes

We’ll keep this list updated as information rolls in on players who decide to transfer from the University of Wisconsin football team or re-open their commitment in the aftermath of the university hiring Luke Fickell as its next head football coach. Some players had already announced an intention to transfer following the firing of head coach Paul Chryst.

In the current transfer portal era, first-time transfers can gain immediate eligibility next season with a new school. A 45-day window opened for new transfers to enter their name into the portal starting Dec. 5, with a second 15-day window in May. Players putting their name into the portal aren’t necessarily committing to transfer. Graduate transfers can enter the portal at any time (not just within the window), and if a player’s coach gets fired midseason, a 30-day window opens up where he’s eligible to enter the portal (as was the case this year at Wisconsin).

More:Chris McIntosh’s moves to fire Paul Chryst and hire Luke Fickell are bold. Time will tell if they were right for Wisconsin.

More:Luke Fickell is the Wisconsin Badgers’ new head football coach. Here’s what you should know about the Ohio native.

Badgers players from 2022 leaving

The transfer portal opens for a 30-day window if a coach is fired midseason, and four Badgers players (Logan Brown, Stephan Bracey, Deacon Hill, Markus Allen) took advantage of that option, though the offensive lineman Brown was dismissed following an incident at practice.

More:Offensive lineman Michael Furtney among three Wisconsin players to enter transfer portal

Isaac Guerendo, running back

The speed demon has had a star-crossed career with injuries since he started at UW in 2018, but he’s shown flashes of excellence when healthy, including touchdown runs of 82 and 89 yards earlier this year. Hailing from Indiana and originally a wide receiver, he played in all 12 games this year and recorded five rushing scores. He’ll have a year of eligibility left.

More:Tailback Isaac Guerendo is among three more Wisconsin football players who plan to transfer

Graham Mertz, quarterback

It’s been a wild journey for Mertz, who announced Dec. 4 that he was entering the transfer portal, a four-star recruit who came to campus with significant fanfare prior to the 2019 season. But after a magnificent debut in 2020, Mertz struggled to maintain consistency. He saw the field over four seasons with the Badgers, passing for 5,405 yards and 38 touchdowns with 26 interceptions. He’ll have two years of eligibility remaining.

Michael Furtney, offensive line

With one year of eligibility remaining, the guard from Michigan announced on Instagram that he was transferring. He’s played in every game this year, starting eight, after appearing in 31 games (three starts) over the past three seasons.

Semar Melvin, defensive back

The junior cornerback from Florida still has two years of eligibility left. He played in eight games in 2022 with two pass breakups and six tackles. He played in 15 games over the previous three years with the UW program.

Jaylan Franklin, tight end

He came to Wisconsin as a linebacker and switched to tight end before 2020 but never consistently saw the field, working mostly on special teams. The native Michigander will have one year of eligibility remaining.

Titus Toler, safety

Toler announced he’ll enter the portal with three years of eligibility remaining. The California native appeared in two games in 2020 but missed all of 2021 with an injury. He appeared in five games this year.

Markus Allen, receiver

Allen played in eight games over the past two seasons and caught 10 passes with one touchdown. He announced he’s transferring to conference rival Minnesota.

Stephan Bracey, receiver and return specialist

Bracey was in his third year with the Badgers; he returned the opening kickoff against Nebraska for a touchdown in 2021. He’s committed to play next at Central Michigan.

Deacon Hill, quarterback

The quarterback with a cannon arm seemed to have fallen behind Myles Burkett for No. 3 on the quarterback depth chart, prompting him to enter the portal after Chryst was fired.

Logan Brown, offensive lineman

The former five-star offensive line recruit had been in the program for four years and had earned the No. 1 right tackle spot out of spring practice but lost his job before the season opener and was then dismissed from the team after a practice altercation. He announced he was transferring to Kansas to play for former UW-Whitewater coach Lance Leipold.

Tristan Monday, defensive lineman

The freshman from Scottsdale, Arizona, did not see the field as a true freshman this season. He quickly announced he was returning home state to play at Arizona State.

Badgers 2023 recruits re-opening recruitment

Running back from Michigan announced he was re-opening his recruitment Dec. 5. Before committing, his scholarship offers included Michigan, Iowa, Kentucky and Pitt.

The defensive lineman from Illinois has received interest from Michigan, Illinois and Texas.

The most high-profile recruit to flip elsewhere, the Illinois offensive lineman quickly announced a commitment to Notre Dame.

The Ohio wide receiver decommitted in mid-November before the hiring of Fickell. He’s taken visits to Illinois, Pitt and Penn State.

Chicago defensive lineman has an offer from Michigan; he decommitted on Nov. 17 before Fickell was hired.

Hawaii native who finished his high-school career in Nevada decommitted in early November and has offers from Oregon and Hawaii.

Remaining members of 2023 UW recruiting class: Tyler Jansey, LB (Batavia, Illinois); James Durand, OL (Chandler, Arizona); Justin Taylor, DB (LaGrange Park, Illinois); Nate White, RB (Milwaukee); Jordan Meyer, DE (Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania); A.J. Tisdell, DB (College Station, Texas); Jace Arnold, DB (Marietta, Georgia); Cole Lacrue, QB (Broomfield, Colorado)

Cincinnati players and recruits to know

First-team All Conference cornerback in the American Athletic Conference has two years of eligibility remaining. He ranked second in the league in pass breakups (10) and finished with 50 tackles and 4 ½ tackles for loss while starting all 12 games.

Freshman cornerback played in 11 games, registering a sack and seven tackles, and was one of the highest-ranked players in the 2022 recruiting class for the Bearcats. According to the Bearcats website, the Alabama native had offers from Florida, Georgia and USC before committing to the Bearcats.

Freshman wide receiver didn’t catch a pass before electing to enter the transfer portal. New Jersey native had interest from Wisconsin, among others

Also committed to play baseball at Cincinnati, the Michigan native is the highest-profile player to announce his preference to play elsewhere, with offers from numerous Big Ten schools (including Wisconsin).

The Tennessee wide receiver has offers from Virginia Tech, Tennessee, Pittsburgh, Arkansas and more.

The cornerback from Florida has interest from Florida State, Auburn, Louisville, Illinois, Kansas and, yes, Wisconsin.

The Ohio “athlete” has maintained his verbal commitment to Cincinnati but re-opened his recruitment. He took a visit to Wisconsin in June and has received interest from several Big Ten programs.

Tight end from Detroit also had offers from Michigan and Pitt before choosing Cincinnati; he de-committed Nov. 28.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Latest Wisconsin football transfers, recruiting changes with new coach