The Wisconsin Badgers are only returning one key contributor at wide receiver next season. They've lost players like Vinny Anthony and Jayden Ballard to graduation while also watching Trech Kekauna and Eugene Hilton Jr. decide they want to portal when it opens in January.
They are in desperate need of some receiving help for next season. With that in mind, Pete Nakos of On3.com has listed Wisconsin as 'a school to watch' for Oklahoma transfer Jayden Gibson.
South Carolina and Wisconsin are two early schools to watch for Oklahoma transfer WR Jayden Gibson, sources tell @On3sports.
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos) December 23, 2025
He’s repped by @caseygunn0. https://t.co/w5Lif1e66r https://t.co/ngfWIBBEsu pic.twitter.com/9h6NRYedlJ
Wisconsin may be in the market for Jayden Gibson according to On3.com
Related: Luke Fickell makes another staff move to tackle one of Wisconsin’s biggest problems
Gibson is headed into his senior year, and he's looking for a place to get a lot of snap counts and prove he is the real deal. He only had 14 receptions for 375 yards and five touchdowns this season for Oklahoma. However, he came out of nowhere on the depth chart. He has been buried for his first few seasons, recording only one catch before this season.
He posted on social media the other day that his transfer is not so he can get paid, but so he can prove himself. He wants "an opportunity, not a bag." This prompted many fanbases, including Wisconsin fans, to message Gibson saying, "Come here for an opportunity."
just to clear the air i’m looking for a FOOTBALL OPPORTUNITY, not a bag 💯
— Jayden Gibson (@TheJaydenGibson) December 22, 2025
The reality is, as of now, Gibson may not find another opportunity quite like Wisconsin. There's currently no one to compete with. He's going to have a chance to prove he can be the top receiver for the Badgers and show that his senior year will matter.
He may want to bide his time and see what Wisconsin does at quarterback, but for now, if the opportunity is bigger than the amount of NIL money, it will be hard for any school to compete with what the Badgers and Luke Fickell can offer. Maybe this is why Nakos and others consider Wisconsin a favorite.
