Badgers Land Defensive Lineman From FCS Power Via Transfer

The Wisconsin Badgers have addressed some depth at the defensive line position with the transfer of Elijah Hillis.

The Wisconsin Badgers continued to address their defense with another transfer commitment, this time from one of the top programs in FCS.

Albany defensive lineman Elijah Hillis will transfer to the Badgers per multiple reports.

He’s the latest Great Danes connection for the Badgers in the transfer portal. Former Badgers quarterback Myles Burkett is transferring to Albany and will have a chance to succeed former Great Danes starter Reese Poffenbarger, who is transferring to Miami (FL) after leading FCS in passing yards and touchdowns in 2023.

Poffenbarger will be a leading candidate to take the Hurricanes starting job in the wake of the transfer of quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, who recently announced his transfer to … Wisconsin.

On defense, the Badgers have primarily addressed the linebacker position in the transfer portal and have received commitments from three of the five highest-ranked linebackers on the board, per On3.com.

Hillis will be the first defensive lineman the Badgers have received a transfer commitment from so far this offseason. He comes to Wisconsin with one year of eligibility remaining.

He was a contributor to the Great Danes’ run to the FCS semifinals last season, as he finished with 27 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries, three blocked kicks, and a forced fumble.

The 6-foot-2, 281-pounder had 28 tackles and four sacks in nine games in 2022 and finished with just eight tackles in his first season in 2021.

He prepped at the Delbarton School in Rockaway, N.J.

Hillis joins a growing list of players that have announced their commitment to transfer to Wisconsin for the 2024 season, including linebackers Jaheim Thomas (Arkansas), Leon Lowery (Syracuse), Jahsian Galvin (Northern Iowa), Sebastian Cheeks (North Carolina), Tackett Smith (USC) and John Pius (William & Mary). The list also includes running back Tawee Walker (Oklahoma), Tyrell Henry (Michigan State), tight end Jackson McGowan (LSU), quarterback Tyler Van Dyke (Miami FL), safety RJ Delancy (Toledo) and long snapper Cayson Pfeiffer (Cincinnati).

Meanwhile, the Badgers have lost more than 10 players in the transfer portal, some of which have found landing places. That includes offensive lineman Nolan Rucci (Penn State), offensive lineman Dylan Barrett (Iowa State), defensive end Damian Varner (Cincinnati), linebacker Kaden Johnson, quarterback Myles Burkett (Albany), wide receivers Chimere Dike (Florida) and Skyler Bell (UConn), defensive end Rodas Johnson, and linebackers Jordan Turner and Jordan Mayer.