After spending three seasons with the Wisconsin Badgers, safety Kamo’i Latu entered the transfer portal seeking a new beginning, and he seemingly took a swipe at the current coaching staff in the process.
Latu, who joined Wisconsin from Utah ahead of the 2022 season, expressed his gratitude on social media to former Badgers head coach Paul Chryst and defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard.
“Big thanks to Paul Chryst and Jim Leonard’s team for a wonderful experience at Wisconsin! This place will always hold a special spot in my heart! Mo’iBoy out,” Latu posted. He later sought to clarify his statement on social media after fans interpreted it as a jab at the current Wisconsin staff.
“No shots taken, just acknowledging the credit due! You wouldn’t be ready if I were to throw any jabs, but God taught me otherwise. Mahalo and aloha,” Latu explained. While he denied any negative intent, the tone of his message suggested he felt more closely tied to Chryst and Leonhard’s regime during his time at Madison.
Notably, Latu’s post did not reference the current Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell or his team, who have been at the helm for the past two seasons.
Latu’s most productive season with the Badgers was in 2022, when he assumed a significant role during a challenging year for the program. He tallied 55 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, and three pass deflections, demonstrating the hard-hitting ability that led to his recruitment out of high school.
Unfortunately, injuries restricted Latu to only three games and 11 total snaps in 2024, concluding a five-year college career in which the Honolulu native recorded 98 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, and 10 pass deflections. His difficulties, including a 20.3% missed tackle rate, also led to his diminished role with the Badgers.
Latu has now committed to UConn, where he plans to utilize his final year of eligibility.
This article first appeared on Athlon Sports.
