On Senior Night, the celebration for Wisconsin’s final home game against Illinois was notably missing two significant players: Billy Edwards Jr. and Preston Zachman. Both athletes had been key contributors to the team but chose not to participate in the festivities as they weigh their futures in college football.
Edwards Jr. has made the decision to pursue opportunities elsewhere, securing a medical redshirt that allows him to continue playing next season. Meanwhile, Zachman has opted to enter the transfer portal after attaining a unique opportunity for an additional season. He will be entering his seventh year of college football, a rarity in the sport. This extended eligibility is attributed to a combination of a regular redshirt, a COVID bonus year, and now a medical redshirt after his recent injury.
Zachman’s journey has been unconventional. He redshirted as a true freshman in 2020, a season that was ultimately considered a free year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After sitting out his sophomore year on a traditional redshirt, he played from 2022 to 2024. Unfortunately, after just three games this season, an injury cut his year short, but he was granted a medical redshirt for his remaining eligibility.
Despite the NCAA’s approval for Zachman’s seventh year and the potential to contribute to the team in 2026, he has decided to transition to the transfer portal when it opens on January 2nd. This decision has raised eyebrows, especially given the recent comments from head coach Luke Fickell, who indicated plans to retain Zachman’s services to bolster Wisconsin’s roster during this rebuilding phase.
With the graduations of safeties Austin Brown and Owen Arnett, replacing both will be a challenge for Fickell, as he aims to revitalize the team’s lineup. The circumstances surrounding Edwards and Zachman highlight the evolving landscape of college football and the complexities players face in navigating their careers. Each decision reflects not just personal aspirations but also the broader dynamics of team strategy and player retention in collegiate athletics.