PrepRedzoneWI Transfer Report
The transfer portal has changed college football as we know it. I’m sure this isn’t breaking news to most – as their favorite D1 college football team has almost certainly been impacted by the portal and the sometimes constant attrition…
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Continue ReadingThe transfer portal has changed college football as we know it. I’m sure this isn’t breaking news to most – as their favorite D1 college football team has almost certainly been impacted by the portal and the sometimes constant attrition of both under and upperclassmen – but the recruiting landscape as a whole has been significantly shifted. Although a lot of the attention gets placed on the Division 1 movement, there are and have been a ton of notable and important transfers occurring at the DII, DII, NAIA, and JUCOs levels of college football and PrepRedzoneWI has been trying to keep diligent track of all these bouncebacks from the great state of Wisconsin to present to our readers this new Transfer Report. Check out who has hit the portal in search of a new college football home below! Thanks for reading.
Thomas Brunner (Whitefish Bay) DE. 6’3, 250 lbs. Transferred from Northern Illinois to Wisconsin
It’s been a while since my last transfer report, so I’ve included some transfers that occurred prior to the 2021 season beginning and the Whitefish Bay alum Thomas Brunner. The eldest Brunner moved from the MAC to the B1G upon the news that his younger brother Joe was heading to Madison to play his college ball after redshirting in 2019 and not seeing any action in 2020. He accepted a walk-on to the Huskies after a distinguished prep career that included Conference LB of the Year, All-State, and All-Region selections and played the OLB/EDGE position with a lot of speed for a 6’4, 230 lb. senior in high school. As a sophomore for the Badgers he did not record any statistics in the 2021 season. Senior Season
Jaylen Carter (Germantown) RB. 6′, 215 lbs. Transferred from Southwest Minnesota State to UNC-Pembroke
Another prospect who found his new home prior to the fall of 2021, Carter announced on August 9th that he was committing to the University of North Carolina-Pembroke after entering his name in the portal last May. As a senior at Germantown he was a first team all-conference honoree as well as honorable mention all-state after he rushed for 1,210 yards and 14 touchdowns. This helped him rank second in the conference in both rushing yards and touchdowns in the 2017-18 season and earned offers from SMSU and Missouri Baptist. However, he was not listed on the UNCP Braves 2021 roster and may not be playing football anymore. Senior SZN
Keonte Schad (Madison East) DL. 6’2, 288 lbs. Transferred from Minnesota to Oregon State
This is now the third and final collegiate program for the Madison native Schad and he ended with a bang on the PAC12 Beavers of Oregon State. The former Purgolder finished his prep career with 46 tackles, 12 TFLs, three sacks, a FF, and a rushing TD while seeing action at QB, OL, and OLB. For his efforts he was named All-Region, All-Conference, and was twice named the captain of the Madison East team. Out of high school he took his talents to Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa where he was named ICCAC All-Conference and All-Region in 2017 after posting 48 tackles, 12 TFLs, two FRs and a sack as a freshman and followed it up with 23 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, and two FRs as a sophomore. He was rated in the Top-20 of JUCO recruits and the #2 ranked DT in his class and eventually committed to the Minnesota Golden Gophers, where he played in 17 games in two seasons. Due to the rotations on Minnesota’s DL, Schad left for greener pastures and more reps and landed in Corvallis where he played in all 13 games, making 12 starts, and tallied 46 tackles with 6.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and two pass deflections. He was named All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention and Phil Steele All-Pac-12 Fourth Team for his efforts and now looks towards the NFL. Sophomore JUCO highlights Career HS Highlights
Nathan Seward (Madison La Follette) DB. 6’1, 185 lbs. Transferred from Minnesota to Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Another well-traveled Wisconsin native who is on the third stop of his collegiate career, Seward was named All-Conference Second Team and All-City as a DB and committed to becoming a #JUCOPRODUCT out of high school and inked with North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, ND. His freshman season he recorded 31 tackles, five PBUs, one interception, and three FRs, one of which he recovered for a TD. As a sophomore, he posted 28 tackles, 12 PBUs, seven interceptions, one TFL, and a FF and was named All-MCAC Western Division Second Team. He committed to play B1G football for the Golden Gophers, but did not see any action and entered his name in the portal after the 2020 season. He signed with the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff and finished the 2021 season with 41 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, a sack, and six PBUs and has another year of eligibility remaining! JUCO Sophomore Highlights HS highlights
Hunter Marcom (Waupaca) TE. 6’7, 255 lbs. Transferring from Central Michigan
Another big-bodied TE from the Badger State looking for a new home, Marcom was a PrepRedzoneWI Preseason All-State pick and has the highest ceiling of any of the unsigned prospects on this list. Also a former standout basketball player, Marcom brings some noteworthy athleticism to the table and has all four years of eligibility remaining. highlights
Conner Wnek (Kimberly) WR. 6’4, 205 lbs. Transferring from the Air Force Academy
After a decorated prep at powerhouse Kimberly that included FVA WR of the Year, All-State, All-Region, All-Area, and All-Conference nods, and offers from North Dakota, Minnesota State-Mankato, Southwest Minnesota State, and Augustana as well as visits to Wyoming, Iowa State, and Wisconsin, Conner Wnek committed to the prestigious Air Force Academy. However, after a year in Colorado Springs the big-bodied wideout made the decision to transfer and announced the move on August 19th of 2021. He didn’t show up on any rosters for this past fall and due to the timing of his decision I’m assuming he’s either still in the process of deciding or is no longer playing football. I’ll keep an eye on him for any further developments! highlights
Jarrett Horst (Middleton) OL. 6’6, 305 lbs. Transferred from Arkansas State to Michigan State
Arguably the most impressive and beneficial product of the portal out of Wisconsin comes from Middleton 2018 graduate offensive lineman Jarrett Horst, who has had a busy collegiate experience that began in Iowa Falls at Ellsworth Community College and took him to Arkansas State and finally the Michigan State Spartans. The former #JUCOPRODUCT is coming off a 2021 season with the upstart Spartans that saw him selected to the All-B1G honorable mention team after starting in eight games at LT and missing the final four due to injury. His journey began on the fields of suburban Madison where he collected All-Conference and All-Area awards and eventually committed to Ellsworth CC where he balled out and earned offers from Murray State, UMass, Buffalo, Jacksonville State, Stephen F. Austin, and Arkansas State – where he eventually committed. He immediately stepped in at LT as a sophomore and was named Third Team All-Sun Belt and won the team’s lineman MVP while playing 941 snaps over the course of 13 starts. He entered the 2020 season as a preseason First Team All-Sun Belt pick as well as being named to the Outland Trophy watchlist and started all seven games for the Red Wolves in the COVID-ridden 2020 season. He then bet on himself and his dream of playing at the highest level possible, entered the portal, and ended up in East Lansing where the rest of history. He’ll get himself a great shot at playing football in the NFL next season in some capacity. JUCO SZN Senior HS highlights
Just the beginning. Year 1 ✅ pic.twitter.com/AaNQnd8hJu
— Jarrett Horst (@bmocj77) February 6, 2020
Skyler Gill-Howard (Greenfield) LB. 6’1, 240 lbs. Transferring from Upper Iowa University
With great size to play LB and a strong freshman season behind him, Gill-Howard is a promising ‘backer in the portal who was named All-State, All-Region twice, and All-Conference four times to go along with a very distinguished wrestling career in the state of Wisconsin. As a freshman at UIU the Greenfield product was named the Scout Team Defensive Player of the Week in preparation for three different games and appeared in four games for the Peacocks and registered three total tackles. We’ll see where he ends up in the coming year as the rising sophomore entered his name in the portal in late November. He has four years to play three. Junior Highlights
Ronald Sackett (River Falls) QB. 6’3, 200 lbs. Transferring from UW-Stout
The River Falls High School product has four years of eligibility remaining after announcing his transfer from the Blue Devils on November 23rd of this past fall. Sackett was impressive at our inaugural PrepRedzoneWI Showcase in the Wisconsin Dells and sports a big frame and some good mobility when escaping pressure in the pocket. He’ll stay in the DIII ranks and still has time to make a decision on where he wants to continue playing football. Senior Highlights
https://twitter.com/RonaldSackett1/status/1463220776648294410?s=20
Ethan Wittenburg (Franklin) WR. 6’2, 205 lbs. Transferring from Winona State
Put his name in the transfer portal as a Grad Transfer on November 30th after four years in Winona that included a redshirt season in 2017. He had his best season in 2021 as he led the team in receiving yards (624), receiving yards per game (56.73) and touchdowns (5) on only 34 catches with a 18.35 per catch average. In 2019 he appeared in 10 games and totaled six catches for 55 yards and two TDs after a one tackle 2018 campaign in five games. Since entering the portal the wideout has received offers from Minnesota State University-Moorhead, UMD, Saginaw Valley State, Augustana University, Northern State, and Sioux Falls and most likely be making a decision in the spring on where he is heading. Senior Season
— Ethan Wittenburg (@EthanWittenburg) November 30, 2021
Tanner Johnson (Kimberly) TE. 6’7, 260 lbs. Transferring from Minnesota State-Mankato
Johnson makes for another Papermaker hitting the portal in 2021 and brings a massive frame to a potential suitor as he is all of 6’7, 260 pounds and brings playing experience from one of Division II’s best programs. After a redshirt season in 2018 the TE played in 15 games for the Mavericks with seven starts. That season he caught five passes for 36 yards and served as a mauling blocker and a consistent pass-catcher who had to wait out 2020 due to COVID-19 and came back to play in all 10 games of 2021 and totaled six catches for 45 yards and a TD. He also returned a kick for three yards! In high school the big boy was a three-sport standout who went undefeated in all four seasons at Kimberly as the team went 14-0 each season and won the D1 state championship four times. He started as a junior and a senior where he earned back-to-back First Team all-conference honors. He caught six passes for 75 yards and three touchdowns as a junior and 12 passes for 188 yards and four touchdowns as a senior. I believe he has two years of eligibility remaining and he hasn’t reported any offers since entering the portal.
MY RECRUITMENT IS STILL OPEN ⏳ pic.twitter.com/kiCNF5IzdM
— Tanner Johnson (@_CoachTJohnson_) January 5, 2022
Jack Schmelzer (Sturgeon Bay) WR. 6’6, 225 lbs. Transferring from UW-Stout
A 2021 Clippers graduate sitting at an XL 6’6, 225 pounds, Schmelzer was named to the All-Conference teams on both offense and defense in high school and made the commitment to play football almost four hours west for the Blue Devils. He hasn’t reported any interest or offers since entering his name in the portal on December 29th. highlights
Liam Wrench (Sussex Hamilton) OL. 6’4, 315 lbs. Transferring from Minnesota State-Mankato
An OL prospect coming out of the always talented Sussex Hamilton program, Wrench was selected to the Second Team All-Conference team as a senior and was a two-year starter for the Chargers. He entered his name in the portal on January 5th and hasn’t reported any interest or offers since that time. He has four years of eligibility remaining! SR highlights
Makaio Harn (New London) RB. 5’8, 175 lbs. Transferred from Bemidji State to UW-Whitewater
Now this is a transfer that got me really excited, especially coming from the lower divisions of college football. The explosive New London playmaker is coming off a 2021 season with the Beavers that saw him earn All-NSIC Second Team honors after starting six of 13 games for the best team in the Northern Sun in ’21. He was second on BSU and ninth in the NSIC with 783 rushing yards, tied for second on BSU with three rushing touchdowns, and also caught 24 receptions for 178 yards. Despite the early success – which included him appearing in 11 games as a true freshman and totaling 98 rushing attempts for 298 yards and 2 touchdowns plus returning 9 kicks for 144 yards – Harn hit the portal on December 7th announced on January 12th that he was heading to DIII powerhouse UW-Whitewater! As a prep, the speedster was a 2x 1,000-yard rusher who was named All-Conference twice, his team’s Offensive MVP twice, and PostCrescent’s High School Elite 11 Team. He should come in immediately contribute to the Warhawks offensive backfield, and I am excited to see how he runs in purple and black. Senior SZN
True sophomore year pic.twitter.com/fk753rVWQw
— Makaio Harn (@Mharn31) December 8, 2021
Marquon Williams (Kenosha Bradford) WR. 6’2, 195 lbs. Transferring from Minnesota State-Mankato
The former two-sport Bradford athlete Marquon Williams spent four season in Mankato that included a redshirt season in 2018 and the COVID-afflicted 2020 season. He announced his transfer on January 4th and hasn’t reported any interest or offers since. Senior HS highlights
Daniel James (Madison Edgewood) DB. 5’11, 170 lbs. Transferred from Northern State to UW-Whitewater
James was a starter for the Crusaders, and as a senior he tallied 30 tackles and five passes defended, as well as 230 yards receiving with one touchdown. He spent a year in Aberdeen before making the decision to transfer closer to home and play DIII football for the Warhawks.
Connor Grohman (Muskego) QB. 6’2, 190 lbs. Transferred from Ball State to UW-La Crosse
An extremely accomplished prep quarterback who helped his Muskego team to a combined 28-0 record and two D1 state championships as an upperclassman. He was named All-Classic 8 Conference HM and the team’s overall MVP as a senior who led the conference in completion percentage at 63 percent while throwing for 10 touchdowns and rushing for four. He also played basketball and baseball and won a state title on the diamond as a junior. He accepted a PWO to play FBS football in the MAC for Ball State, and after a year in Muncie he announced his transfer last May. He bounced back to UW-La Crosse and was listed on their 2021 roster as a freshman gunslinger sitting at 6’2, 190. Be on the lookout for the future Eagle signal-caller! Senior highlights
Malachi Munoz (Sheboygan Falls) OL. 6’5, 280 lbs. Transferred from Valparaiso to Wisconsin-Whitewater
The Sheboygan native and one-time Winona State commit decided to play non-scholarship FCS football in the Pioneer League for Valparaiso University coming out of high school after being named All-Conference and All-Region as a senior mauler on the offensive line. However, he did not enjoy his time in Indiana and transferred prior to the 2021 season getting underway. He immediately got back to work on the recruiting trail and earned offers from UWW, Mount Union, and FCS scholarship program Western Illinois before committing to play in the WIAC for UW-Whitewater. I’m pumped to watch him in the DIII ranks next season! Senior football
Michael Jenson (Elk Mound) DB. 5’11, 165 lbs. Transferred to UW-River Falls from Upper Iowa
Unfortunately the Elk Mound 2021 graduate was not on the UWRF Falcons 2021 roster after transferring from UIU and I think he has hung up the cleats.