BREAKING NEWS:Marvin Jones Jr. Joins Wisconsin After Oklahoma Rejection, Chooses Badgers Over Alabama, Auburn, and Ohio State due to…
Marvin Jones Jr. Joins Wisconsin After Oklahoma Rejection, Chooses Badgers Over Alabama, Auburn, and Ohio State
In a surprising twist on the recruiting trail, former blue-chip defensive end Marvin Jones Jr. has committed to the Wisconsin Badgers after being turned away by the Oklahoma Sooners. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound pass rusher chose Wisconsin over other top programs including Alabama, Auburn, and Ohio State.
Jones, a former high four-star recruit out of Florida, entered the transfer portal after a quiet stint at Georgia. Though highly touted coming out of high school for his athleticism and explosiveness off the edge, Jones struggled with injuries and limited playing time early in his college career. After hitting the portal, many believed Oklahoma was the favorite to land the talented edge rusher, especially given their need for reinforcements on the defensive front. But sources close to the situation report that the Sooners’ coaching staff opted to go in a different direction, citing scheme fit and locker room chemistry.
That left the door wide open for Wisconsin, and head coach Luke Fickell wasted no time. The Badgers had been aggressively pursuing a defensive anchor with experience and potential upside to lead their new-look defense. After hosting Jones on a mid-summer visit, the Badgers sealed the deal with a strong pitch focused on development, immediate playing time, and the program’s rising national profile.
“I felt wanted at Wisconsin from the moment I stepped on campus,” Jones said in a statement. “Coach Fickell, Coach Tressel — they made it clear that they believe in me and have a plan for me to thrive here. It’s not about who passed on me. It’s about who believed.”
The commitment is a huge win for Wisconsin, who beat out not only the powerhouse SEC duo of Alabama and Auburn, but also perennial Big Ten rival Ohio State, where Jones’ father, Marvin Jones Sr., was a star linebacker and Butkus Award winner in the early 1990s.
Though many expected family legacy to play a role in Marvin Jr.’s decision, the younger Jones charted his own course, signaling a shift in Wisconsin’s appeal to top-tier talent. The Badgers have now added one of the most intriguing defensive prospects left in the portal, someone who — if healthy and fully unlocked — could be a game-changer in the Big Ten.
With the addition of Jones, Wisconsin continues to build one of its most talent-rich rosters in recent memory, combining gritty homegrown recruits with high-upside transfers from blue-blood programs. Jones is expected to compete for a starting role immediately this fall, bringing much-needed speed and length to the edge.
As for Oklahoma, their rejection of Jones will likely raise eyebrows among fans questioning whether passing on such a talented defender might come back to haunt them down the stretch.
But for now, the spotlight is on Madison, where Marvin Jones Jr. is ready to prove that one team’s loss is another’s biggest gain.
