Luke Fickell has a chance to steal back four-star Illinois WR for Wisconsin Badgers

Back in 2022, the Illinois Fighting Illini stole a four-star wide receiver recruit from Luke Fickell. Now, he has a chance to steal him back for the Wisconsin Badgers.

Malik Elzy announced Sunday that he is leaving the Illinois program and redshirting the season. He is expected to enter the transfer portal after the season.

He was a four-star recruit coming out of high school in the class of 2023. He initially committed to Fickell and the Cincinnati Bearcats in the summer of 2022.

Before Fickell had left for Wisconsin, Elzy decommitted from Cincinnati and later took an official visit with the Badgers after Fickell was hired.

He committed to the Fighting Illini instead, and he was a backup in the receiver rotation for each of his first two seasons.

Now a junior, he was expected to play a big role in the offense but struggled to stand out in a receiver competition. He's seeking better opportunities elsewhere as a result.

#Illini Bret Bielema on Malik Elzy's departure from the program:

"We started this year with a roster that we felt really strong about, and if someone doesn't want to be a part of that and wants to redshirt, then I can't keep them."

"Love the kid to death." pic.twitter.com/JqePfL8xXd
— Tristan Thomas (@TristanThomasTV) September 27, 2025

"He's an incredible kid from the Chicagoland area that I [would recruit] 100 times over again, and I just want him to be successful," Illinois coach Bret Bielema said of Elzy. "Some of the conversations after he told me he wanted to do what he did, or what he was going to do, I said, 'Man, all I want is for you to have success, right? I don't care where it's at or where it's going to be, or what it's going to be and what it entails. I want you to be successful.'"

Elzy clearly had a strong connection with Fickell in the past, so Wisconsin should have a strong chance to land him if they're interested.

He's listed at 6-foot-2, 225 pounds with an impressive set of physical tools. He hasn't quite put it all together at the college level, but coaches will see plenty of untapped potential in him.

The Badgers have a deep receiver room with plenty of up-and-coming athletes they like, but you can never have too many weapons for your quarterback.

Plus, it's always nice to steal a highly recruited player from a Big Ten rival.

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