Badgers’ Receiver Commits to Gophers Out of Transfer Portal

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Photo: L.E. Baskow - Associated Press

Former Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver, Markus Allen, — who received an offer from PJ Fleck & Co after his visit to Dinkytown earlier this month — has committed to the Minnesota Gophers. The former 4-star high school recruit announced his decision Monday, on Twitter.

Markus Allen Enters Transfer Portal Early

Allen comes in at 6-2, 190 lbs, according to 247Sports. The transfer portal doesn’t officially open for business until December 5. Markus was able to enter early because of a clause in portal rules allowing players whose coach has been fired mid-season to enter the portal immediately. Wisconsin head coach, Paul Chryst, was fired on October 2.

There’s no coincidence in the timing of this commitment. Clearly, Markus Allen wanted to make his commitment before the portal opened for everyone else. You can guarantee he saw PJ Fleck change his best offensively over the weekend when the Gophers rode QB Athan Kaliakmanis (319 yards, 2 TD) to a victory over Allen’s former teammates on national TV.

Who knows what will happen when the opening bell rings on the transfer portal next week but, as of now, the Gophers look like they’ll have some decent depth at wide receiver next season. Allen becomes the 2nd-highest recruit to enter the fold.

Gophers Wide Receiver Weapons

Dylan Wright is a former high-end 4-star and top-75 national recruit who transferred from Texas A&M. He and Daniel Jackson showed their potential vs Wisconsin. Both made phenomenal catches up, over and around defenders.

But the biggest boost to this passing attack could be the return of Chris Autman-Bell, who has already committed to returning for a 6th year, after being lost for the season with a leg injury in week 3 vs Colorado. Brevyn Spann-Ford appears more likely to stay, than not, as well.

We’ll see where Markus Allen slots into this receiving equation but he’ll clearly get every opportunity to contribute or he wouldn’t have committed to playing his college career out here. PJ had to convince him that he’d get target as well, meaning Athan will have to throw it around on a much more regular basis than what we’ve become accustomed to.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

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