Wisconsin bolsters secondary with addition of Ohio State's Bryce West

MADISON – You really gain an understanding of how much of a need Wisconsin had at cornerback when you consider the team’s activity in the transfer portal.

During the first five days of the portal, the Badgers have received commitments from four corners. The latest, Bryce West, comes to UW after spending two seasons at Ohio State.

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On3 reported his commitment then West reposted the report on his Instagram page.

West, who was listed as 5-foot-11 and 197 pounds this season, was a four-star recruit coming out of Glenville High School in Cleveland.

He comes to the Badgers with 18 games of experience that includes three College Football Playoff games last season when the Buckeyes won the national championship and one this year when they lost to Miami in the quarterfinals. He maintained his redshirt status in 2024, so he has three years of eligibility remaining.

West joins Cai Bates (Florida State) as a former four-star cornerbacks the Badgers picked up from the portal. Like Bates, West’s potential had yet to be tapped at his previous stop. He made 10 tackles and forced one fumble this season.

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According to Pro Football Focus, he made eight appearances on defense and played 91 snaps. Most of his action came on special teams where he played 114 snaps, mostly as part of the kickoff coverage unit. He played in the slot and on the outside, though according to PFF about 64% of his snaps came as a slot corner.

The Badgers have a need at that spot. Geimere Latimer, who started at the nickel corner, transferred to West Virginia and Owen Arnett, the No. 2 at that spot for most of the season, completed his eligibility.

West could also fit as an outside cover man. Rising redshirt sophomore Omillio Agard, who started three games in 2025, is the only returning corner who played a lot, though rising sophomore Cairo Skanes got a lot of work against Iowa and Ohio State.

The two other corners the Badgers picked up from the portal - Javan Robinson (Arizona State) and Eric Fletcher (Oklahoma State) - will be in the mix there, too.

UW football transfer portal tracker: Two cornerbacks commit on Day 4

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Ohio State cornerback Bryce West commits to Luke Fickell, Wisconsin