The Wisconsin Badgers continue what seems like an entire remake of their 2025 roster. With the NCAA transfer portal becoming a major player in college sports, the Badgers aren’t the only school undergoing significant changes year to year, even if it’s a necessity this time around. This time, according to multiple reports, including his own X statement, the Wisconsin Badgers gained a commitment from defensive lineman Micheal Garner out of Grambling State.
318–>608…✞ #badgerdown pic.twitter.com/WF1QVtA1CB
— Micheal Garner (@TheRealGMikey) December 22, 2024
The Wisconsin Badgers Addition of Micheal Garner Continues a Busy Offseason
Garner, a 6-foot-6, 280-pound lineman, brings size and potential to a defense that’s getting a massive overhaul. He’s the fifth DL that the Wisconsin Badgers have added via the transfer portal this cycle. This was after adding Parker Petersen out of Tulane, Corey Walker out of Western Michigan, Mason Reiger out of Louisville, and Charles Perkins out of UT-Martin.
With a poor showing in 2024, Luke Fickell is looking to completely change the trajectory of the program. Garner marks the 14th addition to the Wisconsin Badgers for 2025, and there are definitely more additions to come.
Garner attracted interest from several programs, including Colorado, Coastal Carolina, and UAB. However, the Wisconsin Badgers made a good enough pitch, along with Garner’s official visit that sealed the deal for him to join a program that needs a strong 2025 after a few years of downward trends and experimentations, particularly on the offensive side.
What Michael Garner Brings to the Badgers
With Garner, the Badgers are getting eligibility and plenty of athleticism that comes from being a high-level basketball prospect as well. Coupled with the power they desire for the defensive line, Garner makes a ton of sense for the Wisconsin Badgers. He’s versatile enough that he could potentially play as a stand-up edge rusher if the coaching staff chooses to push him in that direction.
Garner redshirted in 2023 and had limited playing time in his freshman year this past season. He had 11 tackles, including six solo, with two sacks and a forced fumble. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
Garner was rated a three-star recruit out of Bloom High School in Chicago Heights, IL. He drew offers from Eastern Illinois, Central Michigan, Miami (OH), Navy, and Tennessee state before committing to Grambling. Now, after a year of limited playing time, he has the opportunity to burst onto the scene in the Big Ten.
The Badgers have also made key additions at quarterback, bringing in Billy Edwards Jr. from Maryland and Danny O’Neil from San Diego State, among others. With the firing of offensive coordinator Phil Longo, and adding his replacement in Jeff Grimes, the Wisconsin Badgers are headed for a complete overhaul as fans had called for Luke Fickell to lose his job this past season.
While the Badgers head coach is likely safe after signing an extension in January of 2024 to bring him through 2031, fans can be excited for this iteration of Wisconsin football.
This Wisconsin Badgers transfer class ranks 10th in the nation according to 247Sports, and there is still work to be done to fill out the roster.
