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Wisconsin Football Getting Visit From Alabama Transfer in Portal

Originally posted on Badger Notes | By Dillon Graff | Last updated 5/6/24

Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin football program aren’t done adding to the Badgers defensive line room from the transfer portal.

Alabama defensive lineman Khurtiss Perry, who entered the transfer portal earlier this spring, confirmed to Badgernotes.com that the Badgers staff has been in contact and intends to visit Madison in the near future.

Position coach E.J. Whitlow has been working hard to develop a young, unproven group that lost a couple of depth pieces in TJ Bollers and Mike Jarvis earlier this spring. Perry’s upcoming visit signals that Wisconsin football coaches intend to use one of their open scholarship spots to replenish their depth and add some competition between now and fall camp.

Khurtiss Perry to Visit Wisconsin Football Program

Khurtiss Perry is an Alabama native and former blue-chip recruit from the 2022 class. According to the composite rankings, Perry was ranked as the No. 65 player in the country and the No. 11 defensive lineman.

Standing at 6 feet 2 inches and 265 pounds, Perry redshirted his freshman season at Alabama and appeared in just one game last season, where he played two snaps on special teams. Now a redshirt sophomore, he will have three years of eligibility remaining at his next stop.

“Stout, compact, but fairly broad front-line defender who lacks ideal height and length, but plays with electric functional athleticism and energy relative to size,” scouting analyst Gabe Brooks wrote.

“Plays varied defensive roles with high activity and violence, from standing rush end to multiple interior spots. Pursuit ability is terrific relative to size and projected position. White-hot closing burst with chase-down athleticism from the back side. Strong tackler with big-hit capability.”

Wisconsin Badgers Defensive Line Situation

Wisconsin football lost 46% of its defensive line snaps from last season. However, that group only produced 59 pressures and 4.5 sacks as a unit, leaving plenty of room for growth in year two of Mike Tressel’s system.

The Badgers brought back just one defensive lineman who registered more than a single sack last season for the Wisconsin football: James Thompson Jr., who had 3.5. According to Pro Football Focus, he was also the team’s second-highest-graded defensive lineman.

Behind him, Curt Neal spent all of spring practice running with the first team. Albany transfer Elijah Hills is still adapting but should be in the rotation, as should Ben Barten, who saw the field last season. That said, unless a younger player like Ernest Willor Jr. makes a big jump between now and fall camp, there’s a pressing need for another proven option.

Wisconsin football has already gotten transfer portal defensive linemen such as Grand Valley State’s Jay’Viar Suggs and Kent State’s CJ West on-campus for visits. But Perry brings multiple years of eligibility and more of a pass-rushing dynamic this room could use on defense. Regardless, fall camp is fixing to be a battle for snaps on the D-line once the Badgers find what they’re looking for in the transfer portal.

This article first appeared on Badger Notes and was syndicated with permission.

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