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Wisconsin Football Adds to 2025 Recruiting Class, Plus More Badgers News

Here’s a roundup of the latest Wisconsin football news you may have missed.

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Sep 17, 2016; Madison, WI, USA; General view of Camp Randall Stadium during the game between the Georgia State Panthers and Wisconsin Badgers. Wisconsin won 23-17. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

In case you missed any of the latest Wisconsin Badgers football news, Badgernotes.com has you covered with a roundup of the top storylines.

Wisconsin Football Lands Commitment From 3-Star LB Samuel Lateju

The Badgers added their eighth commitment in the 2025 recruiting class on Monday, as Samuel Lateju took to social media to make things official. 


According to the 247Sports rankings, the three-star linebacker is the No. 71 EDGE in the 2025 cycle and the No. 26 player in New Jersey.

Wisconsin beat out offers from Maryland, Syracuse, Duke, Pitt, Wake Forest, West Virginia, and Boston College, among others. Badgers’ outside linebackers coach Matt Mitchell acted as the primary recruiter for Lateju, and UW was able to close down this recruitment in short order following a junior day visit. 

Lateju has only played football for two seasons, but standing at 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, he already possesses the frame the Badgers staff is looking for in their outside linebackers. The three-star linebacker also has the burst and strength to be a potential impact player once he gains more experience on the field. 

With Lateju’s commitment, Wisconsin now holds the No. 9 recruiting class in the country, per the composite rankings.

Badgers Senior Defensive Lineman Enters the Transfer Portal

Wisconsin’s defensive line got even thinner on Monday as Gio Paez announced he would enter the transfer portal after five seasons with the Badgers.


Paez initially joined the Badgers as part of the 2019 recruiting class. He appeared in 33 games over his five years in Madison, posting career marks of 35 tackles and 1.5 TFLs.

Wisconsin’s defensive line room has seen many changes since the end of the 2023 season. Former coach Greg Scruggs left the program for a job at Michigan, and former Air Force defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow has taken over the group. UW has now lost four defensive linemen to the transfer portal, with Darian Varner, Rodas Johnson, Tommy Brunner, and Gio Paez leaving the Wisconsin Badgers. 

Wisconsin will look to returning players James Thompson Jr., Curt Neal, Ben Barten, Cade McDonald, and Jamel Howard, as well as newcomers, including Albany transfer Elijah Hills, Dillan Johnson, Ernest Willor Jr., and Hank Weber, to carry the load in 2024. 

Wisconsin Football Adds New Running Back Target in 2025 Class

After missing out on a commitment from priority running back target Isaiah West, Wisconsin has begun to add other tailbacks to their big board. 

Running backs coach Devon Spalding extended an offer to Shekai Mills-Knight on Tuesday. The three-star RB took to social media to announce the offer. 


Mills-Knight currently holds 15 offers, with notable schools including Ole Miss, Oregon, Florida, Miami, South Carolina, Missouri, Mississippi State, and several others throwing their hat in the ring. 

The Chattanooga, Tennessee native confirmed to Badgernotes.com that he is planning to make a visit to Madison, but nothing is set in stone yet. 

The Wisconsin football program can be a bit more decisive with their running back targets after bringing in three tailbacks in the 2024 recruiting cycle. UW is still after other targets, such as Jace Clarizio, Byron Louis, John Forster, and Chase Garnett.

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Jake Maier is the managing editor and publisher at BadgerNotes.com. He has provided coaching and editorial support to numerous writers in his role, contributing significantly to the platform's growth. His expertise extends to Wisconsin Badgers football, basketball, and recruiting coverage. Jake's previous bylines can be found at Fansided and Wisconsin Sports Heroics.

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