Wide receiver Markus Allen decides to return to Wisconsin, but center Joe Tippmann is off to the NFL
MADISON – Thursday was another eventful day for the Wisconsin football program.
The unexpected:
Wide receiver Markus Allen announced on Twitter he plans to return to UW.
The expected:
Center Joe Tippmann announced he plans to enter the 2023 NFL draft. Tippmann will not play in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.
Tippmann, a redshirt junior, is the only member of the offensive line to start all 12 games this season. He has started 23 games and played in 26 at UW.
Tippmann's departure means UW will be without three linemen in the bowl game. Guard Michael Furtney plans to transfer and guard Tyler Beach is preparing for the draft.
Allen, a redshirt freshman, announced on Oct. 17 he planned to transfer.
He committed to Minnesota on Nov. 28 but de-committed from the Gophers earlier this week.
Allen withdrew his name from the transfer portal Thursday and subsequently tweeted a picture from a UW game in which he is celebrating with fellow wide receivers Skyler Bell and Keontez Lewis.
— Markus Allen☆ (@MarkusAllen19) December 8, 2022
Allen played in three games in 2021 and finished with three catches for 65 yards. He played in UW’s first six games this season and recorded seven catches for 91 yards and a touchdown. He did not play at Michigan State on Oct. 15 and announced two days later he planned to transfer.
Allen, from Northmont High School in Ohio, initially committed to Michigan but changed his mind and signed with UW.
In addition to UW and Michigan, other schools that offered included Cincinnati, Iowa State, Kansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan State and Purdue.
The return of Allen gives UW five wide receivers with at least nine games of college experience.
Allen's impending return was not embraced by Jack Cichy, who played linebacker for UW and is an offensive assistant this season.
Cichy on Twitter criticized Allen's route-running, inconsistency catching the ball and the fact he left UW and committed to rival Minnesota before changing his mind.
"Kids are so soft it's embarrassing," he wrote.
In a subsequent tweet, he wrote: "Should I have kept my mouth shut? Absolutely, but I care too much about this place to do that. If you think we’re gonna have any different results from the past two years by welcoming back people who jumped ship, think again."
Cornerback Jay Shaw, who transferred to UW from UCLA and started all 12 games this season, also declared he is entering the 2023 draft.
Shaw has recorded 32 tackles, one interception and has broken up a team-high six passes.
More:Five things to know about Oklahoma State, Wisconsin's foe in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Markus Allen will return to Wisconsin; Joe Tippmann leaves for NFL
