Wisconsin Football: A Look at the 5 Incoming Transfers
By Paul Bretl
The transfer portal has changed the college football landscape and allows teams, including the Wisconsin Football program, to fill gaps on the roster or a way to find potential roster upgrades.
This offseason, the Badgers have had five transfers commit to their program—three cornerbacks, which was needed, a receiver, and a kicker. Here is what you need to know about each player.
Wisconsin Football program’s incoming transfers
Cedrick Dort, CB
Dort spent his first four college seasons at Kentucky, taking a majority of his snaps over the last three—averaging 334 snaps per year. Lining up primarily on the boundary, the 5’11” Dort allowed a completion rate of 55.8 percent on 52 targets and only 9.8 yards per catch. He also recorded six pass breakups and a passer rating of 90.5, according to PFF ($$).
Jay Shaw, CB
The 5’11” – 190 pounds Shaw played at UCLA the last four seasons, including at least 426 snaps in each of the last three. He’s a boundary corner who has been targeted 139 times with a completion rate of 58.3 percent. Shaw has surrendered 11.5 yards per catch, with an average of 14.1 yards this season, along with six career interceptions and eight pass breakups.
Take it as you wish, I know grades aren’t the be all end all, but Shaw was PFF’s 19th highest-graded cornerback in football this past season.
Keontez Lewis, WR
Lewis appeared in 11 games as a true freshman with UCLA; however, he would finish the year with only two targets and no receptions. Standing 6’3” and weighing 197 pounds, Lewis took 62 of his snaps on the boundary and 17 from the slot per PFF.
Lewis was the 54th ranked wide receiver in the 2021 class and a three-star recruit, according to 247Sports. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
Justin Clark, CB
Clark is a very experienced college corner with five years of experience at Toledo and over 1,700 snaps under his belt. Opposing quarterbacks have targeted Clark 132 times over his career, and he’s allowed a completion rate of 57.6 percent and 14.7 yards per catch. Clark allowed 17.3 yards per catch in 2020 on 16 receptions, and 12.8 yards in 2021 on 15 catches given up.
In terms of ball production, Clark logged 10 pass breakups and four interceptions with a passer rating of 63.3 when targeted. At 5’11” – 185, Clark has taken most of his snaps on the boundary, but he does have some slot experience.
Vito Calvaruso, K
Calvaruso is a kickoff specialist who is transferring to Wisconsin from Arkansas. This past season, Calvaruso was PFF’s top-graded kicker, and 63 of his 74 kickoff attempts resulted in touchbacks.