The Wisconsin Badgers are undergoing plenty of changes this transfer portal season. With Luke Fickell looking to reshape the entire roster after a couple of disappointing seasons, there’s also been a mass exodus from the Badgers. After testing the waters of the transfer portal, it seems that the Badgers will be losing a piece to their defense. According to Justin Thind of 247Sports, EDGE Anelu Lafaele has committed to playing for Big Ten rival Michigan State.
BREAKING: #MichiganState lands former #Wisconsin transfer EDGE Anelu Lafaele.
He was a 2024 four-star recruit and will have 4 years to play in East Lansing. He was originally recruited by this staff at Oregon State out of Hawaii, but he chose UW.
Story: https://t.co/S64CP2UeV2 pic.twitter.com/mQpOLBUKQu
— Justin Thind (@JustinThind) December 23, 2024
Wisconsin Badgers Lose Potential with Anelu Lafaele
Lafaele was a highly touted member of the 2024 recruiting class, and he’s leaving the program with four years of eligibility remaining.
As a high school senior at Farrington High School in Honolulu, Lafaele tallied 7.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and 30 total tackles, showing the potential that could be had on the defense.
Lafaele ended up redshirting during the 2024 season, even with a huge upside. He could take his time to develop while veterans Leon Lowery, John Pius, Darryl Peterson, and Aaron Witt held down the edge positions. He now looks to realize that potential with Michigan State.
A Memorable Recruitment for Luke Fickell
Courting Lafaele to commit to the Wisconsin Badgers was a huge win for both Luke Fickell and the program that was left in flux after Paul Chryst exited.
The 6-foot-,3 220-pound edge rusher was recruited out of Kalihi, Hawaii. He was originally a four-star recruit and a standout for head coach Luke Fickell’s first full recruitment class. Lafaele was ranked as the No. 3 player from Hawaii and the No. 51 edge rusher in the nation, per On3 Industry Rankings. He initially chose Wisconsin over Arizona State, Washington, and Hawaii. His quick first step and pass-rushing potential made him an excellent addition to the program.
He joined fellow four-star recruit Thomas Heiberger at outside linebacker. The duo was expected to help lay the foundation for a new era of defensive success under Fickell. However, Lafaele’s departure, along with plenty of other notable names, leaves the Badgers with work to be done.
Competition Playing a Role in Lafaele’s Decision
Part of Lafaele’s decision to transfer may be from the heavy competition in Wisconsin at his position. The Wisconsin Badgers edge group was led by experienced players like Peterson, Witt, Lowery, and Pius, as mentioned before. Rising junior Sebastian Cheeks also made strides this past season, while Louisville transfer Mason Reiger was brought in for depth.
With Wisconsin bringing in multiple seasoned players and developing talent, there won’t be many snaps to go around, particularly for fresh faces to the NCAA football field. While Lafaele’s potential is undeniable, his path to playing time with the Wisconsin Badgers would likely not be there.
Where are the Wisconsin Badgers Now?
The Badgers still have plenty of talent at outside linebacker. They’re set to return Peterson, Witt, and Cheeks while Heiberger and Willor Jr. represent the future.
The addition of Reiger from Louisville gives the Badgers experienced depth. As Wisconsin continues to build its roster under Fickell, the focus will remain on developing young players while making strategic veteran additions through the transfer portal to help rebuild the Wisconsin Badgers to their winning ways.