Wisconsin quarterback expected to enter transfer portal

Wisconsin redshirt freshman quarterback Cole LaCrue is expected to enter the transfer portal, a source tells On3. The former three-star recruit will enter the portal with four years of eligibility remaining.

LaCrue picked the Badgers over Colorado and Tulane coming out of high school. The 6-foot-1, 204-pound quarterback has not played the last two seasons. A Broomfield, Colorado, native led his high school team to a state championship in 2022. In three seasons in high school, he threw for 57 touchdowns with over 6,000 yards.

The quarterback was initially recruited to Wisconsin by former head coach Paul Chryst but decided to stick with the Badgers after Luke Fickell got the job in November 2022. Fickell announced the firing of offensive coordinator Phil Longo on Sunday afternoon, coming off the Badgers’ 16-13 loss. Wisconsin needs at least one more win to extend their streak of 22 straight seasons with a bowl game.

LaCrue’s exit is only the first domino for the Wisconsin quarterback room. Tyler Van Dyke has not played since the Alabama game, with Braedyn Locke stepping up in a backup role. The Badgers are 5-5 on the season with remaining games against Nebraska and Minnesota.

The transfer portal officially opens on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. More than 2,800 FBS scholarship players entered their names into the NCAA’s transfer database during the 2023-24 school year. Removing those who withdrew or went pro, the final total sat at 2,707 transfers. That means roughly 25% of all FBS scholarship players hit free agency in one year.