Wisconsin Football Hosts Highly-Touted 2026 4-Star Athlete

The Wisconsin football team practiced outside on Saturday morning in some cooler April weather. In attendance were a handful of recruiting targets, including the impressive 2026 athlete, Cam Thomas.

Thomas is a 4-star ATH (athlete), according to the On3 composite industry rankings, out of West Chester, Ohio. He is the 299th overall prospect, 22nd ATH in the country, and 11th overall in Ohio.

Currently, the Wisconsin football target holds over 20 Division I offers, including offers from Wisconsin, Michigan, Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and more.

Saturday was the first visit Thomas had with the Wisconsin football team. Although the weather wasn’t overly welcoming, Thomas had a positive experience on Saturday.

“The practice was good,” Thomas told Badgernotes. “I had to adjust to the weather for a minute but after we got comfortable I was able to lock into the practice. They were really getting after it in team and individual sessions.”

“My first impressions were great. Coach Fick really focuses on building a great defense with great athletes, so that really fits my skill set. With all the construction going on you can tell they are invested in the future of Wisconsin Football”

As we have seen in previous cases since Luke Fickell has been hired, his many connections to Ohio are paying off.

“I just really wanted to get up there,” Thomas said. “Wisconsin has been one of the schools who have really been recruiting me hard. A lot of their Coaches have Cincinnati ties, so it’s been a great relationship.”

The Badgers view Thomas as an outside linebacker, so coach Matt Mitchell has been the lead recruiter.

“Coach Mitchell has been pretty open with me from the beginning, even since he came to Lakota West to offer me. He loves my skillset and versatility as an athlete to do a lot in their defense. Wisconsin football has developed some great pass-rushers over the years. Maybe I’m next in line if I were to choose Wisconsin.”

It’s early in the recruiting cycle for 2026 prospects, the Badgers have put themselves in a good position as of right now.

“Wisconsin is up there for sure. Being in the Big 10 and the coaching staff having ties to Cincinnati, I’d feel at home there even with it being so far.”

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