All Badgers

First Wisconsin Badgers player enters transfer portal after disappointing 2025 season

Several Wisconsin Badgers are expected to enter the transfer portal this winter in the new age of college football, and that kicked off Monday with the first player announcing his intentions to leave.
Lorin Cox|
Wisconsin outside linebackers coach Matt Mitchell, left, talks with head coach Luke Fickell during practice April 11 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison
Wisconsin outside linebackers coach Matt Mitchell, left, talks with head coach Luke Fickell during practice April 11 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison | Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

In this story:

Wisconsin Badgers

Several Wisconsin Badgers are expected to enter the transfer portal this winter in the new age of college football, and that kicked off Monday with the first player announcing his intentions to leave.

The good news for Luke Fickell is that it wasn't a major contributor.

Redshirt freshman outside linebacker Cody Raymond posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he will be entering his name into the portal. He thanked Wisconsin for its role in his growth and development through two years.

Sign Up For the Wisconsin Daily Digest - OnSI’s Free Wisconsin Badgers Newsletter

Raymond was rated as a low three-star recruit coming out of high school in Shelby, Michigan back in 2023.

He was recognized as a first-team all-state, all-league and all-region player during his senior season, earning him scholarship offers from Toledo and Temple.

Raymond instead chose to walk-on with the Badgers, and he redshirted his 2024 season.

He did not play any snaps on defense or special teams in 2025, and now he's looking for opportunities to play elsewhere with three years of eligibility remaining.

Related: How Wisconsin Badgers unlocked dominant late-season pass rushing from Darryl Peterson

He found himself buried at a loaded position this year after Wisconsin added Mason Reiger, Corey Walker and Tyreese Fearbry in the transfer portall while bringing back Darryl Peterson, Sebastian Cheeks and Aaron Witt among others.

The Badgers are still bringing back plenty of depth at outside linebacker, and they currently have a scholarship pledge from three-star recruit Yahya Gaad.

Raymond didn't have much of a path toward playing time in 2026. He'll see if he can find it at a different school in the portal.

More Wisconsin Badgers News:

Published
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.

Home/Football