Wisconsin Football Linebacker Possesses Ceiling That’s ‘To the Moon’

Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin Badgers football program landed an under-the-radar outside linebacker in the 2024 recruiting class that likely would have been at a blue-blood school had he not grown up in South Dakota. 

Newly minted four-star pass rusher Thomas Heiberger committed to the Badgers last April and enrolled early to get a jump start on learning Mike Tressel’s defensive system this spring.

According to the industry composite recruiting rankings, Heiberger was considered the No. 461 overall player and the No. 40 LB in the country. 

Known for his ridiculous athletic tools, Heiberger has already caught the eye of strength and conditioning coach Brady Collins, who recently appeared on an episode of Locked on Badgers. 

“To the moon,” Collins said regarding the upside Heiberger has athletically. “Man, he’s twitchy, he’s fast, he can bend, he’s strong, his bodies growing. He’s a big, long kid. He’s a great young man, and I’m very impressed with Tommy Turbo.” 

Wisconsin Football Freshman Linebacker Could Push for Snaps

On National Signing Day, Wisconsin Badgers head football coach Luke Fickell talked about a pair of true freshman he felt had a chance to see the field early, one of which was Thomas Heiberger.

“He’s got some length, he’s got some athleticism,” Fickell stated. “Now we just have to find the fit, the position, and continue to build.”

The Jefferson High School standout checks all of the boxes for the Badgers when drawing up the ideal measurables for a prototype edge rusher. Heiberger has a 39-inch vertical leap, can broad jump 10 feet, 7 inches, and runs a 4.6-second 40-yard dash–all of which you can’t teach.

He joins a rebuilt group of Wisconsin football outside linebackers that features returning starter Darryl Peterson and transfer portal additions John Pius and Leon Lowery to compete for snaps.

While it’s unlikely that the 6-foot-4 linebacker from South Dakota will push for many defensive reps in 2024, it’s hard to ignore the potential impact Heiberger could bring to the Badgers special team’s unit if given the chance.

Heiberger’s upside as a pass rusher is unlimited, even if it might take a year or two before he’s ready to see the field as a rotational outside backer for the Wisconsin football defense.

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