MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin’s 2021 regular season concluded with a disappointing loss to Minnesota, which eliminated the Badgers from contention for the Big Ten title game. The defeat didn’t leave much time for the coaching staff to dwell on the disappointment, as the in-person contact period for high school recruiting began the following day. For outside linebackers coach Bobby April, this meant shifting his focus to a particular prospect – Tackett Curtis.
Curtis, a highly rated four-star linebacker from Many, Louisiana, had been a priority target for April. However, Wisconsin had little history of recruiting in Louisiana, and the program had never signed a high school prospect from the state during the recruiting rankings era. Nevertheless, April, a Louisiana native, was determined to secure Curtis due to the game-changing potential he possessed.
Over the next six months, April made six trips to Louisiana to recruit Curtis. He attended Curtis’ state semifinal and championship games in December, took defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard and head coach Paul Chryst on separate visits in January, and returned during a later evaluation period. Despite Curtis including Wisconsin in his final top three choices along with Ohio State and USC, he ultimately committed to USC, leaving Wisconsin with a missed recruiting opportunity.
However, the effort put into recruiting Curtis was not in vain. Throughout April’s visits and Curtis’ three trips to Madison, he gained a thorough understanding of Wisconsin. When Curtis entered the transfer portal after his freshman season at USC, the Badgers became a viable option, despite April having already been hired by Stanford as their defensive coordinator.
Wisconsin’s director of scouting, Casey Rabach, and head coach Luke Fickell were quick to reach out to Curtis, emphasizing the team’s need for help at the inside linebacker position. They assured him that Wisconsin’s culture remained unchanged despite the coaching turnover. The Badgers made a strong impression on Curtis and his family during his earlier visits and were soon rewarded when he publicly announced his commitment to Wisconsin.
Curtis brings a valuable combination of physicality and athleticism to Wisconsin’s linebacker corps. Defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach Mike Tressel had been actively seeking such qualities in his search for new additions to the unit. In his senior year at Many High, Curtis recorded impressive statistics, including 112 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, six sacks, and three interceptions. He also excelled as a quarterback, rushing for 1,115 yards and scoring 11 touchdowns. His exceptional performance earned him the title of Louisiana Player of the Year.
During his freshman season at USC, Curtis played in 12 games, starting eight of them. He finished with 40 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, two fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble. His standout performance against Arizona State, where he recorded seven tackles and two sacks, earned him Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors. Despite his success, Curtis entered the transfer portal after USC underwent changes to its defensive staff.
Wisconsin has been strategically leveraging the transfer portal to revamp its linebacker corps. In addition to Curtis, the Badgers have acquired edge rushers John Pius and Leon Lowery, along with inside linebackers Jaheim Thomas, Jahsiah Galvan, and Sebastian Cheeks. Thomas, who led Arkansas with 90 tackles last season, is expected to bring pass-rush potential to the team. Wisconsin also retains Jake Chaney, who finished second in tackles for the Badgers last season.
With three years of eligibility remaining, Curtis is likely to make an immediate impact as the starting Mike linebacker for the team. His commitment to Wisconsin was influenced by conversations with former Badgers players Nick Herbig and Keeanu Benton, both of whom had positive experiences with the program. Curtis was impressed by the culture and fan base at Wisconsin and expressed excitement about joining a team that shares his passion for physical, hard-nosed football.
In conclusion, Wisconsin successfully reeled in Tackett Curtis as a transfer from USC. The coaching staff’s tireless efforts, particularly those of Bobby April, played a significant role in securing Curtis’ commitment. His addition provides the Badgers with a talented and versatile linebacker who brings a wealth of experience and potential. This recruitment success reflects Wisconsin’s commitment to bolstering its roster through the transfer portal and further solidifies the team’s aspirations for the future.