The Wisconsin Badgers have reached out to a talented Division-II transfer corner back with over 30 offers since his recent portal entry.
Wisconsin has a history of reaching out to levels outside of the FBS in order to pluck both the best talent and the most logical fits within the team. The Badgers already have a junior college commitment in the 2026 class, and previously held a portal commitment from Grand Valley State, a Division-II program.
The Badgers have continued this trend with West Florida duo Marcus Stokes and Corey Scott. Now, Wisconsin is looking at another Division-II athlete after contacting Slippery Rock defensive back Kanye Thompson. The redshirt junior put together his best season to date this year with 60 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, and four forced fumbles.
Thompson is currently considered to be a three-star transfer portal defensive back with many programs eyeing a future at corner back for the athlete. The defensive back provided a list of 31 teams to Hayes Fawcett of On3 of programs that have reached out which included Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Badgers Aiming to Bolster Secondary, Add Versatile Kanye Thompson
Wisconsin will likely have a great deal of playing time to go around in the secondary as depth is needed. Ricardo Hallman and D’Yoni Hill are both set to depart, leaving two starting jobs up for grabs next season. Hallman and Hill were responsible for nearly 1,100 snaps this past season and replacing the presence of the two could prove to be difficult.
Additionally, 2026 four-star running back Amari Latimer flipping to West Virginia could have a consequence in the secondary of the Badgers. Geimere Latimer, the brother of Amari, previously expressed a desire for the two to play together which could open a potential transfer decision down the line.
The Badgers need to add experienced play-makers to the secondary and need to do so quickly. Enter Thompson and Wisconsin could land a potentially beneficial commitment from someone who appears prepared to make the jump to the Big Ten Conference.
At 6-foot, 170-pounds, Thompson is extremely fast with great hips and eyes that are constantly locked onto the play. The defensive back has proven himself to be a solid coverage player who can do the majority of his damage in traffic.
Between swatting away passes and knocking loose fumbles, Thompson is a player who is comfortable with playing in the middle of the field. One of the reasons why Thompson is so comfortable is due to his insane speed which often allows any play to remain within range for the defensive back. Thompson flies around the field with precision, control, and a special play-making instinct.
This past season Thompson had the chance to do a bit of everything for Slippery Rock. One area where the defensive back excelled was in the pass rush as Thompson recorded three sacks. Thompson was additionally a notable help against the run. Despite having a frame that more closely resembles a corner back, the play of the athlete can be closer to a safety at times given his physicality and willingness to hit.
Where does the Future Stand for Wisconsin?
Landing Thompson is certainly possible, but for the Badgers the process could prove to be too much for someone making the jump from Division-II play. Thompson already has over 30 programs interested and the defender was an early entrant. By the time the portal officially opens, the defensive back could already have a decision made.
Arkansas has a visit booked with the defensive back while the Kansas Jayhawks’ staff already hosted the recruit last month. Penn State and Pittsburgh remain potential close-to-home options for the recruit, but the Nittany Lions have not offered a scholarship yet.
Nebraska, TCU, Texas Tech, and Kansas State are the most recent programs to offer the recruit since his entry into the transfer portal. As more programs begin to prepare off-season plans, the offer list of Thompson grows. The Badgers, if highly interested, will need to work quickly with Thompson on a visit and an offer before the athlete begins to finalize a transfer decision.
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