University of Wisconsin football coach Bret Bielema said Thursday morning that reserve defensive back Kim Royston is considering leaving the program.

After participating in the Badgers' first two practices of the spring, Royston was not at Thursday's practice.

``I had a discussion with him and his father and he's talking about transferring,'' Bielema said. ``I haven't had a final conversation with him yet, but that's where he's leaning.''

Bielema said he wasn't surprised by the news.

``He's had some trouble since he's been here,'' Bielema said. ``He wants to be a (starter) and he's not in that position at this point. Unfortunately, that's a decision that he's' got. It's something that will probably (be resolved) in the next 48 hours.''

Royston played as a true freshman in 2006 as a backup cornerback. He moved to safety last season and was a member of UW's nickel package as a sophomore, as well as a key performer on special teams. Royston entered the spring as the backup to returning starter Shane Carter at free safety.

Asked if he tried to talk Royston out of transferring, Bielema said, ``It comes to a point where if you don't want to be here, we don't want you in the program.

``You've got to do what's best for every kid individually. There's two kids on the field right now that have come in my office at one point during their career and said that they were going to leave, and now they're starting. So that's the point that you have to kind of make every kid understand.

``What I always try to share with (players is that) I've been at a good institution at the University of Iowa, a good institution at Kansas State University and now obviously a great institution here at Wisconsin. Anytime a kid has left our program and transferred to another school, it's never been anything like they thought it was going to be. They always end up, whether it's a year later, whether it's five years later, come back and saying. "˜I wish I would have stayed where I was at.' ''

On a related note "“ and speaking of transfers "“ junior Chris Maragos continues to impress on defense. Maragos began the spring at strong safety, but moved over to free safety on Thursday to fill Royston's slot behind Carter and had two interceptions.

Maragos, who was a wide receiver at Western Michigan before transferring prior to the 2007 season, was moved to defense during bowl preparations.

``Really, what we were trying to do with Chris is we really didn't know what he'd be best at, strong safety or free safety,'' Bielema said of Maragos, a Racine native. ``The one thing that's really apparent is he's got good ball skills. Part of the reason he was a good receiver and was good during the scout team work is he's got a good feel for ball flow.''