MADISON - Micheal Garner gets his shot at Big Ten football less than 2½ hours away from home.
Garner spent the past two seasons in Louisiana at Grambling State. After the 6-foot-6, 280-pound defensive lineman entered the transfer portal Dec. 9 the native of Chicago Heights, Illinois, received eight Division I offers.
Saturday evening he announced on X that he will play for Wisconsin.
Garner comes to the Badgers after posting 11 tackles, including 4½ tackles for a loss and two sacks in six games this season. He also played in five games in the 2023 season and finished with 10 tackles, but wrote in the post announcing his departure from Grambling that he has three years of eligibility remaining.
Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell wants to get bigger up front on defense and Garner fits that mold.
Garner is the third player from the FCS ranks the Badgers have added to the defense. He joins defensive lineman Charles Perkins (Tennessee Martin) and safety Matthew Traynor (Richmond) previously. UW also picked up safety Matt Jung from Division III Bethel.
The Badgers have added four players to their defensive front from the portal, including three linemen: Perkins, Parker Petersen (Tulane) and Corey Walker (Western Michigan).
Their addition compensates for the portal departures of James Thompson, Curt Neal, Hank Weber and, on Saturday, Jamel Howard.
As a high school senior Garner was considered a three-star prospect by 247sports and a two-star recruit by Rivals. Since then he has put on about 50 pounds.
After entering the portal, he announced offers from Coastal Carolina. Colorado, Georgia State and UAB. Three FCS programs also offered: Austin Peay, Bethune Cookman and Campbell.