Nov 23, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas linebacker Jon Jon Kamara (33) during warms up during pregame prior to the game between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Colorado Buffaloes at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Nick Tre. Smith-Imagn Images

Wisconsin Badgers lands rising Big 12 linebacker in the transfer portal

Originally posted on Wisconsin Badgers on SI
By Benjamin Worgull | Last updated Jan 4, 2026 9:56 PM ET

MADISON, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin spent all Sunday morning retooling, reloading, and rebuilding its offense. The Badgers spent the evening restocking the middle of their defense.

Hours after Wisconsin received a transfer portal commit from Arkansas graduate senior edge rusher Justus Boone, the Badgers received a commitment from Kansas freshman linebacker Jon Jon Kamara, one of the young talents of the Jayhawks' 2025 defense.

Let’s do it! pic.twitter.com/47I4Ndx2dB
— Jon Jon Kamara (@JKamara_28) January 5, 2026

Kamara is a young, moldable linebacker who has only been playing football since his freshman year of high school. He was a natural, totaling 50 tackles, six tackles for loss, and three sacks his senior year at Desert Edge in Arizona. He chose Kansas over offers from Arizona State, Kansas State, Texas, Washington and others.

He played four games as a true freshman in his 2024 season, retaining his redshirt, and played in all 12 games in 2025. He made three starts and totaled 13 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and an assisted sack.

Listed at 6-4 and 235 pounds, Kamara boasts a 40-inch vertical and a 390-pound bench press and joins a young Wisconsin linebacker room that features returning starters Cooper Catalano and Mason Posa. UW also returns redshirt sophomore Thomas Heiberger and previously added Iowa Central linebacker Taylor Schaefer in the fall.

Kamara is also well traveled, as he was born in Liberia and grew up in Arizona, Philadelphia and Florida.

Wisconsin has landed nine transfers since the transfer portal window opened on January 2.

I will be entering the transfer portal with 3 years of eligibility remaining. Thank you to the entire Kansas Jayhawks organization for everything during my time in Lawrence.

6’4 236
22+ MPH
40 Inch Vertical Jump
10’10 Broad Jump
390 Bench Press pic.twitter.com/nz0kyhawGc
— Jon Jon Kamara (@JKamara_28) December 12, 2025