The transfer portal affords players the opportunity to realize pretty quickly when something isn’t exactly the best fit, and that obviously was the case with Tackett Curtis at USC.
While he got on the field early and often in ’23, playing in 12 games, totaling 40 tackles, four for loss and two sacks, along with one pass defensed, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries, he looked for a new home following the season.
The 6’2″, 225-pound linebacker from Many, Louisiana, found that in Camp Randall, where he will be a major piece of coach Luke Fickell’s rebuilding effort at Wisconsin.
Curtis should be a playmaker immediately, and as a big, athletic second-level defender, he provides an instant upgrade for a Badgers team needing to get back to a rugged style on that side of the ball.
It wasn’t that Wisconsin was awful defensively a season ago, but the program dipped to 39th in total defense after being no worse than 11th during the previous four seasons (and leading the nation in 2021).
Curtis is a do-it-all ‘backer who can be physical in the run game and even in coverage, and he has the skills to be an All-Conference performer right away. He is a former elite prospect who will make his mark on Wisconsin with a larger sample set. Look for him to be a starter, a leader and a major impact player.
