Wisconsin wide receiver Aron Cruickshank has entered the NCAA transfer portal, a source confirmed to 247Sports.

Cruickshank, exiting his sophomore year with the Badgers, had just three receptions for a total of 29 yards during the regular season.

Cruickshank, who hails from Brooklyn, New York, came to Wisconsin as three-star prospect and ranked as the No. 6 overall player from the state of New York in the Class of 2018, per the 247Sports Composite. Cruickshank singed with the Badgers in December 2017 during the early signing period and enrolled at the university in January 2018.

Although Cruickshank was one of Wisconsin's fastest players and most dynamic athlete with the ball in his hands, head coach Paul Chryst and offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph both admitted earlier in the season that it was a challenge to find ways to get Cruickshank involved in the Badgers' offense.

"There's no doubt that he's got ability," Chryst told reporters in November. "Explosive is a good word for him. We use him on offense and there's times where we'd like to use him more. When he does get his chances, he tries to make the most of them. There's a good energy about him."

Running back Jonathan Taylor, who rushed for 2,003 yards and 21 touchdowns for the Badgers this past season before declaring early for the NFL Draft, was also among those to praise Cruickshank for his potential during the course of the 2019 campaign.

"He doesn't get a bunch of touches, but we know how explosive he is. When he does get those touches, everyone on the sidelines is watching him because they know, he can take to the house at any time," Taylor said in November. "We're all on the edge of our seats, because we know what type of playmaker he is."

Cruickshank's explosiveness was on full display during Wisconsin's loss to Oregon in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day. Early in the first quarter, Cruickshank recorded a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown to put the Badgers on the board.

The NCAA introduced the portal on Oct. 15, 2018, providing athletes a path to explore their options. Players do not need to ask permission from their coaching staff in order to transfer.

They merely need to request that compliance enter their name. Usually, it takes 24-48 hours for a player to appear following their request.



Schools are free to contact a player without restriction once their name appears in the portal.



While a player entering their name in the transfer portal means they intend to explore their options, it does not necessarily mean they will leave. A player is free to withdraw his name at any time. However, schools are under no obligation to keep a player on scholarship once they enter the portal.