JUST IN: The Badgers lose another top defensive tackle to the Panthers, set to announce his departure after…

One of the defensive tackles the Badgers had from the previous campaign is leaving.

Another member of the Wisconsin Badgers’ 2023 defensive line has reportedly left the team, as sixth-year senior Gio Paez is reportedly logging onto the transfer portal.

Paez, who is 6’3 and 310 pounds, was the nose tackle for the Badgers last season and had 23 tackles in a rotational role.

But after his sixth season, Paez’s return was shocking because the senior had not participated in the offseason program before.

Paez’s future is starting to become more apparent as he chooses to use his final season of eligibility before deciding what to do with his career.

The defensive tackle is currently accessing the transfer site.
Last season, the Badgers had defensive line issues. failing to gain significant production from the unit, and set to revamp the group this offseason.

They landed Albany transfer Elijah Hills, while also bringing in three freshmen at the position:

 four-stars Ernest Willor Jr. and Dillan Johnson, and three-star Hank Weber.

With Paez gone, the Badgers will look to rely on some of their more inexperienced candidates,

 such as redshirt sophomore Curt Neal, redshirt freshman Jamel Howard, and the true freshmen, to potentially take on more of a role at nose tackle.

Paez marks the fifth departure at defensive line this offseason, joining Rodas Johnson (Texas A&M transfer), Isaiah Mullens (eligibility), Tommy Brunner (Western Illinois), and Darian Varner (Cincinnati).