Luke Fickell has done a ton of adding via the portal. In fact, Wisconsin is currently at 23 transfer portal players, and he's not quite done. For Fickell, or maybe any program, sometimes the biggest additions from the portal are players who enter but are convinced to withdraw their names and stay. Fickell has now done that twice in this portal cycle.
A couple of days ago, it was Eugene Hilton Jr. He may end up being one of the top receiving weapons on the Badgers this season, and now he has a top-tier quarterback to throw to him. Huge for Wisconsin to keep him. And then the Badgers were able to talk big defensive lineman Charles Perkins from withdrawing his name from the portal.
After further discussions with Wisconsin, Charles Perkins now plans to stay with the Badgers, his agency @csgathletes tells @CBSSports. https://t.co/XdRctTMuFw
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) January 9, 2026
Charles Perkins has decided to withdraw from the transfer portal and remain at Wisconsin
Related: Wisconsin football transfer portal tracker: Who's out, in, and the speculation
For Perkins, it's been hard to not always be the main starter, to be a veteran but still a rotational depth. Then Wisconsin went into the portal and brought in three other defensive lineman, for Perkins, he may have decided it was time to find a starting role somewhere. However, his rotational depth is vital. Not to mention that he should be competing for that starting spot in his final season.
Wisconsin needs him as he was one of the better run-stuffers and gap closers on the defensive line. While he had only six tackles in 2025, he didn't give opposing running backs much room or allow his linemen to reach the second level. That's a huge key to how the Wisconsin line works.
He may not end up being the starter, but his presence and depth are still a very important part of the game plan. So for Luke Fickell and Wisconsin, talking both Hilton and Perkins out of the portal was two of the best and maybe underrated portal additions this offseason.