Wisconsin football hosts in-state QB J.J. Chapman for Spring practice visit
The Wisconsin Badgers hosted 2028 in-state QB J.J. Chapman for a spring visit. He recaps his trip to Madison, recruitment, and recovery from injury.
The University of Wisconsin football team hosted one of its top in-state quarterback recruits for a spring practice visit.
Oak Creek's J.J. Chapman—who will be coached by former Badgers running back Brian Calhoun—made a return trip to Madison to check out the team’s new-look offense and continue building a relationship with the coaching staff.
“Had a great visit Badger football,” Chapman wrote on X. “I appreciated the time spent with coaches and staff. There is a lot to ❤️ about UW Madison. I look forward to continuing to build a relationship with Coach Guiton and look forward to throwing for him this spring.”
Chapman, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound signal-caller in the class of 2028, has already drawn early attention from several Power 4 programs, but there’s no denying the appeal of his home-state program.
His visit gave him a closer look at the Badgers’ offensive system, coaching staff, and overall culture under Luke Fickell.
“The day started with position meetings, followed by practice and a tour of the facilities. After lunch, we had individual meetings with coaches,” Chapman said.
“I was able to spend a lot of time with Coach Guiton going over film and just getting to know each other better.”
It was Chapman’s first time meeting Wisconsin’s new QBs coach, Kenny Guiton, but he came away impressed.
“This was my first time meeting Coach Guiton. I look forward to building a relationship with him,” Chapman said.
“What I love about Wisconsin is that it appears that the entire coaching staff and recruiting department is really invested in getting to know the recruit and making them each feel at home.”
Where J.J. Chapman’s recruitment stands
Chapman is still in the early stages of his recruiting process but has already started forming relationships with several schools.
“I am in the process of building relationships with a number of schools right now," Chapman shared.
"The schools at the top of my list right now are Toledo, Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue, and obviously Wisconsin."
Toledo has already extended a scholarship offer to Chapman, and he’s also taken visits to Michigan State and Miami.
He’s been drawing interest from several other programs, and with an entire season of varsity film coming as a sophomore, his recruitment is expected to pick up.
As an in-state recruit, there’s a natural connection to the Badgers, and Chapman isn’t shying away from that.
“I would love to play at Camp Randall someday, with the entire state rooting for a hometown kid,” Chapman explained. “In addition, my head coach, Brian Calhoun, played for Oak Creek High School and ended up playing for Wisconsin. It would be great to follow in his footsteps.”
Chapman didn’t waste any time carving out a role as a freshman. He split reps in Week 1, completing 3-for-5 passes for 68 yards with two touchdowns while helping lead his team to a win. By Week 3, Chapman earned the starting job, but adversity struck when he suffered a foot injury in the second quarter of his first varsity start. Instead of shutting it down, he played through the pain until the fourth quarter and helped secure another victory for Oak Creek High School.
Surgery ended his season early, but Chapman's expected to be fully healthy soon and will resume 7-on-7 play.
"Rehab is going extremely well," Chapman shared. "I am working with a highly qualified team of doctors, therapists, and sports performance specialists. I’m actually way ahead of the schedule.
“I was cleared from a surgical and medical standpoint. I’m just working on rebuilding strength and stability. I will be better than 100% by the start of the season.”
Chapman already looks the part of a high-level quarterback prospect. He’s got the size to stand tall in the pocket and see the entire field, but he’s also athletic enough to extend plays when needed. Chapman’s arm talent jumps off the screen—he can make every throw on the field, whether it’s a deep shot down the sideline or a well-placed pass over the middle.
What really stands out, though, is his poise. He’s comfortable in the pocket, works through his progressions, and consistently puts the ball where his receiver can make a play. With continued development, Chapman has all the tools to become a starting QB at the next level.
Chapman’s recruitment is still in its early stages, but his visit to Wisconsin further solidified his connection with his home-state program. As he continues to grow and refine his game, Chapman’s a name the Badgers coaching staff will be keeping a close eye on in the 2028 recruiting class.
His stock could rise even further once Jeff Grimes and Coach Guiton get the chance to see him throw in person and work him through drills—an opportunity that could put Chapman firmly on Wisconsin’s radar for a future scholarship offer.
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