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Wisconsin Badgers find Preston Zachman replacement at safety with SEC transfer Marvin Burks

The Wisconsin Badgers just landed one of the top safeties in the transfer portal in Missouri's Marvin Burks. The rising senior could wind up being Wisconsin's most impactful member of the secondary during 2026.
Cam Wilhorn|
Oct 18, 2025; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers wide receiver Perry Thompson (3) makes a catch over Missouri Tigers safety Marvin Burks (1) during the first quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-Imagn Images
Oct 18, 2025; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers wide receiver Perry Thompson (3) makes a catch over Missouri Tigers safety Marvin Burks (1) during the first quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-Imagn Images | John Reed-Imagn Images

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Wisconsin Badgers

The only possible silver lining from Preson Zachman's season-ending injury in Week 3 was that he could obtain a medical redshirt and return for the 2026 campaign.

That possibility became reality, just not for the Wisconsin Badgers.

Zachman did receive a medical redshirt and declared his intent to return for another college season. The caveat? He'd do so at Indiana.

Just days later, Wisconsin found a transfer portal replacement with two years of starting experience to anchor the secondary in Marvin Burks.

Experienced SEC safety Marvin Burks could anchor Wisconsin's secondary

Burks immediately becomes one of the Badgers best transfer portal gets. He has played a significant role in all three of his collegiate seasons at Missouri.

The free safety has started in all 26 of his appearances over the past two seasons. He was ranked the 16th best safety in the transfer portal, per On3 Sports.

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In 2025, he logged 49 tackles, the fourth most on his team, with 1.5 tackles for loss, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

The year before that, Burks notched 66 tackles, an interception and two pass breakups.

He immediately steps in as the most experienced safety on Wisconsin's roster, and he figures to share the back end with Matt Jung in 2026, who stepped in after Zachman's injury.

Wisconsin was in dire need of an experienced safety, after losing Zachman and other starting safety Austin Brown.

Before Burks' commitment, Wisconsin was left with Jung, Matthew Traynor coming off a torn ACL, a trio of freshmen and a pair of rising sophomores, including incoming Iowa State transfer Carson Van Dinter.

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Cam Wilhorn
CAM WILHORN

Cam Wilhorn is a University of Wisconsin School of Journalism Graduate and Wisconsin native. He's been covering Wisconsin sports since 2023 for outlets like BadgerBlitz.com, Badger of Honor and The Badger Herald.

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