1/4/2024 football Edit

Wisconsin lands Arkansas transfer linebacker Jaheim Thomas

Jon McNamara • BadgerBlitz

Editor

Jon McNamara is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has covered UW athletics since 2002 and has worked at Rivals.com since 2006.

Wisconsin's work to rebuild its inside linebacker room continued on Thursday with a commitment from Jaheim Thomas.

A 6-foot-4, 245-pound junior who played at Arkansas this past season, Thomas was a mainstay for the Hogs in 2023. In 12 games, he recorded 90 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Thomas finished fifth in the SEC in total tackles.

Portal linebacker Jaheim Thomas announced his commitment to Wisconsin on Thursday. (Nick Wenger)

A former four-star prospect coming out of Princeton High School in Ohio, Thomas committed to Luke Fickell at Cincinnati as part of the 2020 recruiting class. In total, he played three seasons with the Bearcats.

In 2022, Thomas was third on roster with 70 total tackles and second with 6.5 tackles for loss to go along with two sacks. Thomas entered the transfer portal shortly after Fickell left for Wisconsin last offseason.

This fall at Arkansas, Thomas finished with an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 68.8, a run defense grade of 71.7, a tackling grade of 62.3, a pass rush grade of 80.1 and a coverage grade of 52.3 in 528 snaps.

Thomas, who is expected to have one year of eligibility remaining with the Badgers, should be able to compete for a starting job right away. Jake Chaney and Christian Alliegro will likely be penciled in as starters this spring, but they'll be pushed by fellow portal additions Jashiah Galvan and Sebastian Cheeks, in addition to Thomas.

Wisconsin is also looking at inside linebacker target Tackett Curtis in the transfer portal.

The Badgers currently have nine commitments via the portal this winter. Thomas is the fifth linebacker, along with Galvan, Cheeks, Leon Lowery and John Pius.

Wisconsin's Inside Linebackers on Projected 2024 Fall Roster

Inside Linebacker	Eligibility
Jaheim Thomas	Fifth year
Jake Chaney	Fourth year
Bryan Sanborn	Fourth year
*Garrison Solliday	Fourth year
Aidan Vaughan	Third year
Jahsiah Galvan	Third year
Sebastian Cheeks	Third year
Christian Alliegro	Second year
Tyler Jansey	Second year
Landon Gauthier	First year
*Drew Bramm	First year

*Indicates a preferred walk-on

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