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Badgers WR Vinny Anthony Shares Why He Never Transferred Away From Wisconsin, Despite Team Struggles

Vinny Anthony spent all four years with the Wisconsin Badgers, while seeing multiple teammates at wide receiver transfer away to other schools.
Lorin Cox|
Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Vinny Anthony speaks to members of the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center.
Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Vinny Anthony speaks to members of the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. | Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images

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Wisconsin Badgers

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — In the transfer portal era of college football, it's becoming less and less common for a player to stick with one school for all four (plus) years.

Vinny Anthony was a part of that rare breed for the Wisconsin Badgers.

The former three-star wide receiver out of Louisville went through some challenging seasons at UW that saw plenty of change around him, but he chose to stick it out instead of bailing in the transfer portal.

He was recruited by Paul Chryst in the 2022 class, but the head coach was fired halfway through Anthony's rookie season.

Luke Fickell replaced him and provided some stability at the top, but the new coaching staff has cycled through offensive staff members over the last three season.

At the NFL combine in Indianapolis, Anthony shared why he held on through it all.

"It shows that I'm loyal to any team," Anthony said. "I've been through four different receivers coaches, three different OCs (offensive coordinators), two different head coaches, and it's been a long process, but I truly trust the process and think it gave me my best opportunity."

Related: Wisconsin Badgers EDGE Mason Reiger Boosts Draft Stock With Impressive Drills at NFL Combine

It would have been easy for him to leave after his freshman season when the coaches that recruited him all left.

No one would have blamed him if he left after a sophomore season where played all 13 games and started three of them but still only had 10 catches for 99 yards.

Anthony's patience paid off in 2024 when he broke out with 39 catches for 672 yards and four touchdowns, but adversity struck again in 2025 when his production dropped off due to significant quarterback issues on offense.

His loyalty to Wisconsin wasn't always the best for his draft stock and professional aspirations, but he believes he has a lot more in the tank to offer NFL teams.

"I wasn't my best version of myself in college," Anthony said. "I think I'll be a better NFL player than a college player in general. I feel like I can definitely improve a lot, and I feel like I have much more in the tank."

Related: PFF grades confirm Vinny Anthony boosted his NFL Draft stock at Senior Bowl practices

He started to show that last month at the Senior Bowl practices, where he made some impressive plays during one-on-one drills in front of scouts.

Now he's trying to boost his NFL Draft stock even more at the NFL combine, where he hopes his athleticism can help him stand out among his peers.

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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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