Wisconsin Linebacker Tackett Curtis to Enter Transfer Portal
MADISON, Wis. — With essentially three starting inside linebackers going into the 2025 season, Wisconsin will lose linebacker Tackett Curtis. The junior told On3 that he intends to enter the NCAA transfer portal and play his final year at another school.
Curtis began the 2025 season as a starter, but with true freshmen Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano emerging in November, he lost his job. Curtis finished the year with 25.0 tackles, 1.0 sack, and a pass breakup. In two seasons with the Badgers, Curtis posted 52.0 stops.
A former transfer from USC, Curtis came to Madison with a lot of hype. Per On3, Curtis was considered a four-star transfer prospect and the fifth-ranked linebacker in the portal. With the Trojans, Curtis played in 12 of 13 games, including eight starts. He posted 40.0 tackles, 4.0 for loss, and 2.0 sacks. However, Curtis battled injuries for much of his sophomore season at UW.
What Does the Loss of Curtis Mean?
Impact: Medium
As mentioned, Wisconsin’s future is set between Posa and Catalano. Junior Christian Alliegro is also currently slated to return in 2026. That group could be as good a trio as there is in the Big Ten at inside linebacker. Redshirt freshman Thomas Heiberger also started to emerge late in the 2025 season.
Still, Curtis was a good culture guy in the locker room, well-liked, and had value on special teams. Not necessarily a guy you wanted to see go, but it’s understandable from his perspective.
