Badgers' Starting Linebacker to Enter Transfer Portal

Two days after the Wisconsin Badgers' season-ending loss to Minnesota, redshirt senior linebacker Leon Lowery Jr. announced on X that he will enter the transfer portal. He isthe second Badger to enter the portal, following quarterback Cole LaCrue. 

Leon Lowery Jr. came to Wisconsin after playing four seasons at Syracuse. When he was with the Orange, Lowery Jr. accumulated 75 tackles, 46 of which as a starting linebacker in 2023. Fans might remember his convoluted recruitment to Wisconsin, where he committed and then de-committed within 24 hours. Later that month, Lowery re-committed to the Badgers. During this time, it was speculated that NIL money was a factor in the recruitment.

Lowery Jr. was expected to be a contributor to the starting linebacker core this season. In 12 games at Wisconsin, Lowery Jr. accumulated 29 total tackles; 18 were solo tackles. He collected his only quarterback sack of the season on September 14th in the blowout loss to Alabama. Lowery Jr. failed to register any stats in the Axe game last Friday.

According to Rohan Chakravarthi of SB Nation's Bucky's 5th Quarter, Lowery Jr. was fourth on the Wisconsin Badgers defense with eleven quarterback pressures. However, he was unable to replicate his 2023 season in Madison. Like most of the Badgers' defensive players, Lowery Jr. failed to generate consistent pressure on the quarterback every week.

While no other Wisconsin football players have announced their decisions to enter the portal or return to the team, the transfer portal does not open until December 9th. Therefore, more Badgers are almost expected to enter the portal to play for another program. Badger fans will also wonder about the quarterback position in particular, as Tyler Van Dyke will consider a return to Madison for one more season after his year ended with an ACL tear against Alabama.