After losing projected starting left tackle Kevin Heywood to a torn ACL, Luke Fickell and the Badgers have turned their attention to the transfer portal in hopes of finding a replacement. According to Chris Hummer of 247Sports, Wisconsin is one of the many teams who have reached out to the top tackle in the portal, South Dakota's Joe Cotton.
South Dakota OT Joe Cotton has emerged as one of the most popular names in the transfer portal.
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) April 16, 2025
His agency @QCSports tells @mzenitz and I he's set Cincinnati and Wisconsin visits.
But many teams are reaching out to the portal's top available OT.https://t.co/S2RkBunJaP pic.twitter.com/XmbdW3aRv6
Badgers hoping to find left tackle replacement in South Dakota's Cotton
Wisconsin is now uncomfortably thin at tackle after losing Heywood to injury, so landing Cotton would be a huge boost to the offensive line. Cotton, the number one overall tackle in the portal according to 247Sports, has heard from over 20 teams since entering his name early Wednesday. He has a visit scheduled with both Wisconsin and Cincinnati.
Wisconsin got an up close and personal look at Cotton when the Coyotes took on the Badgers at Camp Randall last September. The 6-foot-7, 315-pound tackle received All-Missouri Valley honors this past season on his way to becoming one of the top players in FCS. Despite the loss, South Dakota was able to run for 123 yards behind Cotton.
Cotton would be an immediate plug and play starter for Fickell, who behind Heywood, lacks options. Tackle Jack Nelson and guard Joe Huber left for the NFL, and Heywood's injury will cause him to miss the entire year, leaving the Badgers' offensive line in rough shape this spring. A player of Cotton's talents might not only be an impressive catch, but a necessary one if the teams hopes to improve upon 2024.