Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell will have a familiar face around next year in the form of linebacker Jaheim Thomas.

Thomas played for Fickell at Cincinnati from 2020-2022. He was a part of the team that had Cincinnati’s 1st College Football Playoff appearance in program history in the 2022 Cotton Bowl.

Thomas was a former 3-star recruit in the 2020 class. The 247Sports Composite ranked him as the No. 22 OLB and No. 6 prospect in the state of Ohio. Wisconsin offered him as a recruit as well as Ohio State, Purdue, Rutgers, Nebraska, Michigan, Maryland, Michigan State, Iowa, Indiana, and Minnesota.

After a few seasons with the Bearcats, Thomas transferred to Arkansas. Thomas accounted for 95 total tackles, 7 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks while with the Bearcats. He led the Razorbacks with a career-high 90 total tackles this season.

Thomas is the 2nd transfer LB to commit to Wisconsin. The Badgers added former North Carolina linebacker Sebastian Cheeks to their ranks recently. Northern Iowa LB transfer Jahsiah Galvan is also committed to Wisconsin as well as former Syracuse player Leon Lowery.

Wisconsin ended the year with 35-31 loss to LSU in the ReliaQuest Bowl as year 1 of the Fickell era finished at 7-6.