The Wisconsin Badgers have another player in the portal before it officially opens next month. This time it's starting punter Atticus Bertrams. Though maybe "starting" is the wrong word, as he slowly lost his job throughout the season to freshman Sean West. There was going to be an offseason battle between the two, but now it's officially going to be West as the starting punter next season.
Bertrams played for Wisconsin for three seasons, but the true freshman West came in and outperformed him; the stats below prove it.
— Atticus Bertrams (@BertramsAtticus) December 7, 2025
Atticus Bertrams has jumped into the portal and will be looking for a new home
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West didn't play at all to start the season, but something must have been revealed in practice about his ability for Luke Fickell and his staff. For against Ohio State, West took the field for six punts and was absolutely impressive with an average punt of 56.17. It was then that maybe Bertrams realized he was going to lose his job to the freshman.
Bertrams ended the season with 37 punts, and West had 25. Bertrams had an average of 41.54, and West's average was 47.68. That may seem slight, but Fickell is a big field position style coach; he will measure every single yard.
Though West may be most known for the time he decided not to punt and run for a first down. It was an improv moment that endeared him to fans. It wasn't a playcall; he just did it, which, if it backfired, he may have been in the doghouse with Fickell, but it worked.
For Bertrams, he will have one year of eligibility left and is still a good punter who should be able to find a place to punt for his senior season.