The Wisconsin Badgers football program was in high hopes after Syracuse EDGE Leon Lowery committed to them after entering the transfer portal. However, Lowery’s time in Wisconsin was cut short when he decommitted today to search for another program to play for.
The Badgers could use a top notch front line defender since their top 12 tacklers come from the LB, S, and CB positions. It’s unclear why Leon Lowery decided to pull out of the Wisconsin program so quickly as of now, but it’s still a big blow to the Badgers’ recruiting team.
Badgers Lose EDGE Commit Leon Lowery In 24 Hours
This season for the Syracuse Orange, Leon Lowery has been a terror on the edge, finding himself 46 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery. The Orange started the year strong after staying undefeated through the first 4 games, but they dropped off hard after that to reach the minimum record for reaching a bowl game at 6-6.
The entire situation around Leon and the Badgers seems a little peculiar given that the EDGE from Syracuse expressed that Wisconsin was everything he wanted. When asked about other schools, he dismissed the topic right away.
I asked Leon Lowery last night if there were any other schools he was considering: "I don’t really want to get into all that. There were other schools I had dates to plan to go to. But I didn’t feel like that was necessary because Wisconsin was everything I was looking for."
— Jesse Temple (@jessetemple) December 4, 2023
Wisconsin deals with several heavy hitters in the Big 10 conference; they’re in need of a defensive star to help out on the front line. If S Hunter Wohler declares for the draft next year instead of coming back for his last year, the Badgers will be down even more. Most of the Badgers front are either entering their last year or are graduating after the 2023 season, leaving a gap for a much needed young leader.
It’s possible that Leon came across a better offer right after committing with the addition of NIL deals and agents to represent amateur players. Lowery even said that Head Coach Luke Fickell “made it feel like home,” making the reason for his departure even more significant.
The transfer portal has shifted NCAA football on its head, and team like the Wisconsin Badgers just dealt with the negative side firsthand. Leon has been a monster for the Orange so far. Wherever he decides to end up, he’ll make a nice addition. Unfortunately, for the Badgers, it appears he won’t be coming to Wisconsin after all.
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