The Wisconsin Badgers are going through a lot of changes in the transfer portal this season. With Luke Fickell looking to overhaul his entire squad after a few disappointing seasons, there has also been a mass exodus from the Badgers. After testing the waters of the transfer portal, it appears the Badgers will be losing a piece to their defense. According to Justin Thind of 247Sports, EDGE Anelu Lafaele has committed to play for Big Ten rival Michigan State.
BEATING: #Michigan former lands #Wisconsin EDGE transfer by Anelu Lafaele.
He was a four-star recruit for 2024 and will have four years of playing time in East Lansing. He was originally recruited by this staff from Oregon State in Hawaii, but chose UW.
History: https://t.co/S64CP2UeV2 pic.twitter.com/mQpOLBUKQu
— Justin Think (@JustinThind) December 23, 2024
The Wisconsin Badgers are missing potential from Anelu Lafaele
Lafaele was a highly touted member of the 2024 recruiting class and leaves the program with four years of eligibility remaining.
As a senior at Farrington High School in Honolulu, Lafaele recorded 7.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 30 total tackles, showing the potential of the defense.
Lafaele ended up redshirting the 2024 season despite having a huge lead. He was able to take time to develop while veterans Leon Lowery, John Pius, Darryl Peterson and Aaron Witt maintained their top spots. Now he wants to fulfill that potential at Michigan State.
A memorable recruitment for Luke Fickell
Getting Lafaele to commit to the Wisconsin Badgers was a huge win for both Luke Fickell and the program, which remained unchanged after Paul Chryst’s departure.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound edge rusher was recruited from Kalihi, Hawaii. He was originally a four-star recruit and was a standout in head coach Luke Fickell’s first full recruiting class. According to On3 industry rankings, Lafaele was ranked the No. 3 ranked Hawaii player and the No. 51 Edge Rush player in the country. He initially chose Wisconsin over Arizona State, Washington and Hawaii. His quick first step and quick passing potential made him a great addition to the program.
He joined fellow four-star recruit Thomas Heiberger at the outside linebacker position. The duo was expected to facilitate lay the foundation for a modern era of defensive success under Fickell. However, Lafaele’s departure, along with many other gigantic names, leaves the Badgers with work to do.
Competition plays a role in Lafaele’s decision
Part of Lafaele’s decision to transfer could be the intense competition for his position at Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Badgers’ edge group was led by experienced players like Peterson, Witt, Lowery and Pius, as mentioned earlier. Rising junior Sebastian Cheeks also made progress last season, and Louisville transfer Mason Reiger was brought in for depth.
Wisconsin attracts a lot of experienced players and develops talent, so there won’t be a lot of snaps to see, especially for the teenage faces on the NCAA field. While Lafaele’s potential is undeniable, his path to playing for the Wisconsin Badgers likely would not have been possible.
Where are the Wisconsin Badgers now?
The Badgers still have plenty of talent at outside linebacker. They are expected to return Peterson, Witt and Cheeks, while Heiberger and Willor Jr. they represent the future.
The addition of Reiger from Louisville gives the Badgers experienced depth. As Wisconsin continues to build its roster under Fickell, attention will shift to developing teenage players while bringing in strategic veterans through the transfer portal to facilitate the Wisconsin Badgers return to winning ways.
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