A former blue-chip recruit who found his footing after transferring from Wisconsin to California, T.J. Bollers signed with Jacksonville as an undrafted defensive tackle in 2026.
T.J. Bollers was a heavily recruited defensive lineman out of Iowa who spent three seasons buried on the depth chart at Wisconsin before a transfer to California gave him a real shot at playing time. He signed with the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent, hoping his size and pedigree can earn him a roster spot on the interior defensive line.
Path to the league
Bollers starred at Clear Creek Amana High School in Tiffin, Iowa, drawing offers from programs including Alabama, Iowa, Iowa State, Nebraska, Penn State, and Wisconsin, and ultimately signed with Wisconsin. After three seasons with limited playing time there, he transferred to California for his final two years of eligibility. He went undrafted in the 2026 NFL draft and signed a three-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent.
Career highlights
Bollers appeared in 17 games across three seasons at Wisconsin before entering the transfer portal. At California, he became a regular contributor on the defensive interior, recording 22 tackles in 2024 and 41 tackles in 2025 across his two seasons with the Golden Bears, totaling 64 tackles, five tackles for loss, and two sacks over his full California career.
2025 season recap
In his final college season at California, Bollers played in 12 games and recorded 41 tackles, along with 0.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks, serving as a steady presence on the Golden Bears' defensive line. The production helped him earn an undrafted free agent contract with the Jaguars following the 2026 draft.
Sources
- Wikipedia: T. J. Bollers
- ESPN: T.J. Bollers
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Defensive Tackle
- Group
- defense
- College
- California
- Hometown
- Tiffin, IA, USA
- Age
- 23
- Status
- active
