The Wisconsin Badgers have landed a commitment from a Division III defender out of the transfer portal who is eager to prove himself at the FBS level.
Defensive lineman Liam Danitz announced his commitment to Wisconsin on social media after traveling to Madison for an official visit. The Badgers recently offered Danitz a scholarship as the defender will attempt to make the jump for his final year of eligibility.
The Ogemaw Heights (MI) defensive lineman stands tall at 6-foot-5 with a solid 227-pound frame, but will need to have a waiver granted to play next season with Wisconsin.
Danitz attended Hope College, a small liberal arts school in Holland, Michigan with a student body of roughly 3,200 students. The football roots in Holland are deep however with the program kicking off for the first time in 1893 against a high school team.
Wisconsin Badgers Land Hope College Transfer Defensive Lineman Liam Danitz
The defender originally enrolled with the Flying Dutchmen as a member of the 2022 before taking a redshirt year as a true freshman. Danitz saw his first real action in 2023, recording 16 tackles and eight sacks while playing in just eight games for the team.
In 2024 Danitz played his first full season with the Flying Dutchmen, recording 35 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and four sacks. The defensive lineman played in 12 games and recorded a season-high seven tackles against Albion.
Danitz took his game to another level this past season while recording career-highs in sacks, tackles, and tackles for loss in 11 games. The defender tallied 46 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 15 sacks for a whopping 115 yards lost. Danitz had a sack or an assist in ten games and five straight games with two or more tackles for loss. The Flying Dutchmen made the NCAA Division III Championships with a 9-1 record before losing, 9-7, against UW-La Crosse.
Next season, Danitz will play FBS football in the Big Ten Conference for the first time in his collegiate career. Attempting to make the jump in one season can be difficult, but the dominance displayed this past season could help propel the defender forward in 2026. Others programs like Ole Miss, UCLA, and Utah were fighting for a commitment from the defender which says plenty about his potential.
The Badgers have also added transfer portal commitments along the defensive line from Junior Poyser (Buffalo), Jayden Loftin (Tennessee), Justus Boone (Arkansas), and Hammond Russell V (West Virginia). Danitz will join Loftin and Boone on the edge alongside returners Sebastian Cheeks and Tyreese Fearbry, who combined for 31 tackles and four sacks during the 2025 season.
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