Wisconsin Football Freshman Enrollees Participating in Spring Practice

Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin Badgers have some serious work to do if they’re going to assemble a markedly improved football team in 2024. 

Coach Fickell acknowledged as much in his press conference following the Badgers’ loss to LSU in the ReliaQuest Bowl. 

“We know darn well last year we didn’t finish well,” Fickell said. “This year, we didn’t finish well. We didn’t start well. There’s a lot of things. It gives us a hell of a lot of things that we’ve got to start work on here on Jan. 14 when our guys get back.”

When Wisconsin football returns to the field, they’ll welcome no less than 10 off-season transfer portal acquisitions, potentially more. The expectancy is that the Badgers will be more confident and gel within their new identities on both sides of the ball. 

But they’ll also have a crop of freshman signees from the 2024 recruiting class who will enroll early to get a head start and better position themselves to make a run at a spot in the Wisconsin Badgers two-deep. 

Wisconsin Football Set to Welcome 10 Freshman Early Enrollees

While you can never expect a true freshman to walk in and become a contributor at a Power 5 program, there’s no denying that getting a head start and enrolling early can give you a leg up come fall camp.

The Wisconsin Badgers will have 10 freshmen from the football team’s impressive 2024 recruiting class on the field, observing the veterans and taking live reps this spring.

Those players will be tight ends Grant Stec and Rob Booker, outside linebackers Thomas Heiberger and Anelu Lafaele, offensive linemen Kevin Heywood and Colin Cubberly, running back Gideo Ituka, wide receiver Kyan Berry-Johnson, inside backer Landon Gauthier, and highly regarded quarterback Mabrey Mettauer.

Luke Fickell already mentioned Heiberger and Gauthier as players he felt had a chance to see the field early. It’s also worth noting that there has been a ton of movement in the transfer portal, which could open the door to one or even multiple freshman offensive linemen pushing for spots in the two-deep. Tight end is also a spot with very little returning production and plenty of young, high-upside players.

Spring practice will be critical for Wisconsin football coaches to continue their evaluation of their roster. You might recall there was a decent amount of movement both in and out after spring ball — and I’d expect that to happen again once players have a better idea of where they stand.

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