MADISON – Sometimes the biggest victories a team scores during the transfer portal period are the players it retains.
Wisconsin scored one of those wins Wednesday. Trech Kekahuna, a redshirt freshman receiver, announced on social media that he will return next season.
Last week the 5-foot-10, 187-pound receiver from Hawaii announced his intention to enter the transfer portal. Monday, the portal officially opened and in just two days Kekahuna announced 15 offers on X. The list included Minnesota, Michigan State, Iowa State, Utah and Hawaii.
Kekahuna ranked third on the team in catches (25) and yards (339). He caught two touchdowns.
He is considered an potentially explosive playmaker who provided glimpses of that ability this season. The highlight was a six-catch, 134-yard performance against Purdue that was marked by touchdowns of 69 and 25 yards.
That performance came with starting slot receiver Will Pauling out for the entire second half due to injury. The staff’s inability to figure out how to use Pauling and Kekahuna together limited Kekahuna’s opportunities for much of the season, though later in the campaign the two players were on the field together more.
New offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes started his role this week and it makes sense that he probably had a conversation with Kekahuna about the role he would potentially have in the offense.
More: Quarterback Braedyn Locke enters transfer portal. What his departure means for Wisconsin.
More: The 2025 Wisconsin football schedule is revealed. Here is how it unfolds for the Badgers
Kekahuna announced his decision to return on Instagram.
Kekahuna is the fourth Badger player to announce that he’ll return in 2025. Offensive linemen Riley Mahlman and Jake Renfo and outside linebacker Darryl Peterson also declared that they will return.
More: A look at Wisconsin’s quarterback depth chart in wake of Braedyn Locke’s departure
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Trech Kekahuna changes mind, will return to Wisconsin football in 2025
