Jim Leonhard to leave Wisconsin program after bowl game

Jim Leonhard will be leaving the Wisconsin program after the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, he announced via Twitter on Tuesday. Set to face off against Oklahoma State on Dec. 27, Leonhard will serve as the defensive coordinator but leave Luke Fickell’s staff after.

“It has meant the world to me to be able to pour my heart and soul into the UW Football program over the last seven years,” Leonhard said. “After discussions with my family and Coach Fickell, I will remain the DC through the bowl game but no longer be part of the staff at the conclusion of the 2022 season. It has been an honor to coach these young men and thank you to all the fans who supported us along the way. On Wisconsin!”

Wisconsin decided to move on from Paul Chryst in the middle of the 2022 season, starting with two wins in the first three games. Leonhard was dubbed the interim head coach and closed out just above .500 on the season, going 4-3.

Players in Madison were big fans of the defensive coordinator/interim head coach, with some wanting him to take over full-time. Leonhard was a Badger through and through, playing under Barry Alverez in the early 2000s before heading off to the NFL.

Once his playing days were over, Leonhard got into coaching at Wisconsin as the defensive backs head coach in 2016. He was promoted to defensive coordinator just a season later and held the position until getting the interim tag.

Now, Leonhard will be moving on from Wisconsin and surely will be a hot commodity. Whether it’s somewhere else in college football or the NFL, Leonhard will not be without a job for long.

Braelon Allen shuts down transfer rumors

Rumors have swirled for weeks about Braelon Allen potentially entering the transfer portal and leaving Wisconsin. It appears the Badgers star has had enough.

One day after the portal window opened, Allen took to Twitter to confirm he hasn’t left Madison. During the season, the whispers started about a potential departure from the Badgers as they embarked on a coaching search. Allen was vocal in his support for Paul Chryst after Wisconsin fired him.

Tuesday, he made his thoughts quite clear as he called out the speculation about his future.

“Update: sources tell me Braelon Allen is a Wisconsin Badger,” he tweeted Tuesday.

Allen had a huge year for Wisconsin, following up an impressive freshman campaign. He rushed for 1,126 yards and 10 touchdowns as the Badgers finished 6-6. Now, all eyes are on his future, especially after fellow running back Isaac Guerendo entered the portal Tuesday.