MADISON – Eugene Hilton wanted to make sure he didn’t sign up for another season like 2025.
The promising sophomore receiver placed his name into the transfer portal in December and then waited for Wisconsin to make some moves. After the Badgers were especially active during the first week of the transfer portal, Hilton committed to Wisconsin for 2026.
It is where he wanted to be all along.
“For me it was kind of just making sure what happened last year doesn’t happen again, making sure because I didn’t want to waste another year,” he told reporters Monday, April 27, at Camp Randall Stadium. “I wanted to make sure that we were going to do things right here, we’re going to make big plays, we’re going to have the right guys. I’m not saying that we didn’t last year, but I just think that we needed to make bigger strides because obviously we weren’t good enough last year.”
Hilton’s return was one of the highlights of the offseason for the Badgers, who lost a handful of offensive starters or key players to the transfer portal after the team’s second straight losing season.
No one would have blamed Hilton if he left, too. The Badgers finished 4-8, primarily due to injuries and their struggles on offense. The lack of depth at quarterback was exposed and the play of its offensive line was not up to standards.
The results were historically bad. Wisconsin ranked 133rd out of 134 FBS teams in scoring (12.8 ppg) and total offense (253.1 ypg). The last time the Badgers averaged fewer points in a season was 1990 (12.1 ppg) and the last time they gained fewer yards was 1991 (241.3).
However, Wisconsin’s aggressiveness in the portal paid off. The program signed 11 offensive players, including quarterback Colton Joseph and running back Abu Sama, during the first week, touching almost every aspect of the offense.
“Honestly, knowing that Coach Fick’s [head coach Luke Fickell] always going to have the defense rocking. I knew I wasn’t really worried about that side of the ball, but knowing what [offensive coordinator Jeff] Grimes preaches and [quarterbacks] coach [Kenny] Guiton, I knew that we were going to have the right guys,” Hilton said.
Hilton returned to a receivers room that looks much different than ’25. Hilton and seniors Chris Brooks Jr. and Tyrell Henry are the only players back at the position in ’26.
The Badgers added eight newcomers, four freshmen and four transfers. The pecking order is far from finalized, but Hilton has worked with the first group throughout spring practice.
The strength of the 6-foot-2, 206-pound player has been his versatility and extended knowledge of the offense that allows him to work at different spots.
“He’s a guy that’s not only going to make the play down the field, but he’s also going to beat people underneath and separate,” receivers coach Ari Confesor said. “But now where you’ve seen him grow is how he’s blocking on the perimeter, right? So he’s a guy that’s not afraid to stick his face in there and compete and strike because he is a bigger kid in terms of strength.”
Last season Hilton played 158 snaps, the second most for a true freshman on offense behind quarterback Carter Smith and he saw action in every game.
Becoming a larger part of the passing game is a natural goal this season. Hilton caught eight passes for 91 yards last season. According to Pro Football Focus, he was targeted 11 times.
Will UW do a better job of getting the ball to Hilton this season?
Quarterback depth hurt the Badgers last season. Following Billy Edwards’ injury in Week 1, the drop off after him was distinct.
This year, Joseph, a redshirt junior, hasn’t disappointed as the QB1, and in redshirt sophomore Deuce Adams, freshman Ryan Hopkins and redshirt freshman Carter Smith, there is more depth at the position. Smith, who started the final three games and played in four, is fourth on the depth chart right now.
“Honestly, I just think it’s nice that we all have a bunch of aggressive quarterbacks,” Hilton said. “I think they’ve shown in spring that they can be aggressive, they can run the ball, they can throw it deep, they can read options and make plays when we get pressure and stuff like that.
“I think that’s what we love about all of them. They can all do the same thing. They’re all aggressive and they all have the killer mindset to let’s go win.”
This spring, Fickell has talked about a core of second-year players he hopes will play a key role in the Badgers plans this season. Hilton is one of the more pivotal pieces of that group.
With that expectation comes a challenge Hilton accepts.
“Just hearing that and knowing that I have a role and knowing that I have that pressure on me from him, why not show up every day and dominate?,” Hilton said. “It’s great knowing that I have that type of pressure and him looking at me like a leader as just a sophomore.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Why Wisconsin receiver Eugene Hilton is glad to be back after portal stint
Reporting by Mark Stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
