A former Wisconsin Badgers‘ starting offensive lineman announced his commitment out of the transfer portal to a rival Big Ten Conference program. Joe Brunner committed to the new Big Ten powerhouse Indiana after dramatically entering the transfer portal.
The offensive lineman was a four-star offensive tackle coming out of Whitefish Bay (WI) in the 2022 recruiting class. Brunner held offers from Ohio State, Notre Dame, Arizona State, and California among many others. The recruit ultimately signed with Wisconsin as the 85th ranked recruit nationally and the top ranked recruit in the state.
Brunner was a massive signing for the Badgers at the time and the recruit managed to hit the field for 15 games between the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Brunner found a home at left guard ahead of the 2024 season before starting all 12 games at the position. As a left guard, the athlete managed to finish the season as the third best guard in the conference according to PFF. Wisconsin allowed just 13 sacks in 2024 which was the lowest total in the conference.
Wisconsin Badgers’ Starting Left Guard Joe Brunner Transfers to Indiana Hoosiers
In 2025, Brunner took his starting role at left guard back and managed to remain an anchor on an ever-changing line. The Badgers dealt with injuries, lack of depth, and certain players simply not panning out this past season. However, Brunner remained constant for Wisconsin and the loss of the offensive lineman will likely be felt during the 2026 season.
Brunner initially left the team at the end of the 2025 season, and his options were believed to be between returning to the Badgers or entering the NFL draft. However, the guard eventually settled on a decision between returning to Wisconsin or entering the transfer portal and his entrance was rather lucrative.
The former four-star recruit received plenty of attention in the transfer portal, but will not go far for the 2026 season. Brunner announced his commitment to the Indiana Hoosiers and will play out his final season of eligibility with the program.
For the Badgers, new offensive linemen Austin Kawecki (Oklahoma State), Lucas Simmons (Florida State), Blake Cherry (Arkansas), and PJ Wilkins (Ole Miss) will join the roster for the 2026 season. Kawecki and Cherry both specialize in playing the interior positions and could become key parts of the offensive line next season.
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