Wisconsin RB Cade Yacamelli to Enter the Transfer Portal
MADISON, Wis. — Cade Yacamelli was tempted to enter the transfer portal after the 2024 season. Promised a bigger role in the offense as well as his love for his teammates, Yacamelli opted to return to the Badgers in 2025. With one year of eligibility remaining and still seeing his reps at tailback few and far between, Yacamelli will now test the waters of free agency, according to On3’s Pete Nakos.
Yacamelli saw 38 carries for 128 yards as a junior. He did miss four games due to injury, but had not taken a carry since the Oct. 25 loss at Oregon. For his Wisconsin career, Yacamelli finished with 571 yards and two touchdowns on 107 attempts. Yacamelli ran for a team-best 8.3 yards per carry as a sophomore, but didn’t get a single carry in any of UW’s last five games.
In the spring, Yacamelli broke down his decision to return to the Badgers for the 2025 season.
“The relationships I’ve built with those guys, I can’t leave that behind,” Yacamelli told reporters Friday. “I’ve gotta give hats off to my teammates and Wisconsin. It’s really hard for me to leave this place with the memories and relationships I have with the guys in the locker room.
“I know it’s a cliche, but it’s really true. I love the guys. I’ve been here so long, because I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to say goodbye to those relationships I have here.”
Yacamelli also cited an off-season conversation with head coach Luke Fickell.
“I wanted to hear that they really value me for who I was,” Yacamelli explained. “It’s easy to say it, but actions, too, are another thing. This winter, I think they’ve really proven that to me.
“This year is gonna be different. I’ll have a higher role. Not only that, I’ll be trusted to lead these guys.”
Yacamelli appeared in 32 games over his Badger career.
How Does the Loss of Yacamelli Affect Wisconsin?
Impact of the Loss: Medium
Wisconsin had a tough year at tailback all-around, losing redshirt freshman Dilin Jones to a season-ending injury. Fellow redshirt freshman Gideon Ituka, who took over the starting job in November, also missed the final two games. Sophomore Darrion Dupree, the team’s leading returning rusher from 2024, sat out two games as well due to injury.
As of now, all three are slated to return in 2026. The Badgers have also signed Qwantavius Wiggins out of Langston Hughes High School in Fairburn, Ga.
Yacamelli was also a key performer on special teams and appeared on all four units. A team leader, Yacamelli was often credited for mentoring the younger trio of backs.
