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Wisconsin Badgers transfer portal class ranks Top 5 in the country after opening weekend

The Wisconsin Badgers came out strong when the winter transfer portal window opened, adding a Top 5 group of transfers according to 247 Sports.
Lorin Cox|
Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell is shown during the third quarter of their game against Maryland
Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell is shown during the third quarter of their game against Maryland | Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Luke Fickell made it clear the Wisconsin Badgers would be even more active in the transfer portal this winter than in year's past.

His actions have backed up his words through the first weekend of the portal window being open.

As of Sunday night, the Badgers have added 10 players in the portal, all ranked three stars, according to 247 Sports.

That's good for the fifth-best transfer portal class in the country so far, according to 247 Sports.

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The only team that has signed more transfers through the opening weekend was Penn State, which brought in a large group of former Iowa State players that are following head coach Matt Campbell to his new school.

Wisconsin has added a dynamic new starting quarterback, plus a running back, a wide receiver, two tight ends and a new starting center to fill out the offense so far.

Related: How Colton Joseph compares to other recent Wisconsin Badgers transfer portal QBs

Fickell is expected to add more at running back, receiver and the offensive line as he builds around QB Colton Joseph in the portal.

On defense, the Badgers had signed an edge rusher, a linebacker, a cornerback and a safety.

Wisconsin will likely need additional players along the defensive line and in the secondary as they lost experienced starters in both areas to graduation.

It's the exact start to the transfer portal window that Badgers fans wanted to see as athletic director Chris McIntosh promised more resources for the football program.

Fickell still has more work to do to finish building out a roster that needs more improvement, but it's a good first step.

Those players will still also have to prove themselves as upgrades over the departing talent they are trying to replace, but the coaching staff has been successful selling outside players on coming to a struggling Wisconsin team.

That's a good sign for the future.

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Lorin Cox
LORIN COX

Lorin Cox is the managing editor of Wisconsin Badgers on SI. He has been covering Badgers sports since 2014, when he was an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin. He previously wrote for the Wisconsin State Journal, NBC Sports Chicago and USA Today Sports Media Group, and he is a former analyst for Pro Football Focus.

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