Badgers Four-Year Linebacker Enters Transfer Portal

The Wisconsin Badgers have a bit of a revolving door at linebacker with Kaden Johnson's reported intention to transfer.

Another day, another Wisconsin Badgers football player in the transfer portal.

This time outside linebacker Kaden Johnson has entered the portal, per multiple outlets.

Johnson follows offensive lineman Nolan Rucci, who reportedly moved into the transfer portal on Thursday after three seasons with Wisconsin.

Johnson has one year left of eligibility and he’ll likely look for a program where he can play a more prominent role in 2024.

He received consistent playing time in four seasons, appearing in 13 games each of the last two seasons and 35 games for his career. After a 22-tackle season in 2022, Johnson managed only five tackles, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble last season.

That’s another quality recruit from the Paul Chryst out the door. When he joined the Badgers as part of the Class of 2020, he was rated a four-star player by multiple services and he chose the Badgers over LSU, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa and Tennessee.

The Badgers have taken in two of the top-rated transfer linebackers this cycle in Leon Lowery from Syracuse and John Pius from William & Mary. Both play outside. Meanwhile, the Badgers got a commitment from Arkansas transfer Jaheim Thomas, who plays inside linebacker.

The Badgers just wrapped up a 7-6 season in Luke Fickell’s first year as head coach. The season ended with a 35-31 loss to LSU in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

Along with Johnson and Rucci, nine other Badgers are in the portal — quarterback Myles Burkett, wide receivers Chimere Dike and Skyler Bell, center Dylan Barrett, defensive ends Rodas Johnson and Darian Varner, and linebackers Jordan Turner and Jordan Mayer.

Along with Thomas, Lowery and Pius, the Badgers have received seven other commitments from incoming transfers including Oklahoma running back Tawee Walker, North Carolina linebacker Sebastian Cheeks, Northern Iowa linebacker Jahsian Galvin, Michigan State wide receiver Tyrell Henry, LSU tight end Jackson McGowan, Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke and Cincinnati long snapper Cayson Pfeiffer.