Wisconsin Football Hosts Rising 2026 Linebacker on Recruiting Visit

The Wisconsin football program held its sixth spring practice on Thursday, and a 2026 recruiting target was in attendance.

Brady Ballart, an Indiana native, made a stop in Madison to get a closer look at what UW has to offer.

Great time building true relationships @BadgerFootball today with amazing people!!@CoachFick @CoachMikeTress @Coach_Mitch_ @CoachGrinch @CoachWhit_UW @uwgrantand @ZachZilmJr @NateLetton @SWiltfong_ @AllenTrieu @TomLoy247 @LemmingReport @Evan_Flood @DillonGraff @JakeJMaier pic.twitter.com/B0sy7MpPXV

— Brady Ballart (@BradyBallart) April 11, 2024

“My visit was amazing and felt very personal,” Ballart told Badgernotes. “I felt it was a step in the right direction for both sides.”

Brady Ballart Recaps Wisconsin Football Recruiting Visit

Thursday marked Ballart’s first trip to Madison, and he came away from it with a good impression of the facilities, campus, and the city.

“The campus is beautiful. I was impressed with everything about it. The scenery with the lakes and the capital is really cool and something I enjoyed,” Ballart said.

The Wisconsin football staff has kept in touch with the South Dearborn High School standout for some time now, but Ballart’s trip served as an opportunity for him and the Badgers staff to begin forging a relationship.

“First off, I want to thank Grant Anderson for his time and all of the hospitality! I got to eat lunch with Coach Tressel and share some storied, but the main thing that stood out to me was my meeting with Coach Mitchell. We clicked instantly. He wanted to really get to know me, and I got to know him a little bit too. He also went over some of the expectations and philosophies of the defense with me.”

Ballart is coming off of a strong season at South Dearborn in Aurora, Indiana. The 6-foot-2, 213-pound athlete took reps at inside linebacker and running back in his sophomore campaign, tallying 64 tackles, 7.0 TFLs, two fumble recoveries, and an interception on defense. On the flip side, he registered 105 carries for 525 yards and eight touchdowns while tacking on three receptions for 94 yards.

UW is getting some looks at Ballart as an inside linebacker, and so far, the Badgers staff likes what they see.

“Coach Mitchell sees me playing at the inside linebacker position, which I feel most comfortable playing too,” Ballart told Badgernotes. “They love how physical I am at the point of attack and were very impressed with my film.”

The Indiana native has yet to pick up an offer from Wisconsin football, but he currently holds offers from Eastern Michigan, Ball State, Miami (OH), and Toledo. He’s had a busy visit slate, making stops at Louisville, Toledo, Indiana, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Minnesota, and Wake Forest.

It’s still early in the process for Ballart, and there is a long road ahead, but he noted what would be the most important thing for him when he is narrowing down his list of options.

“I want to be developed as not only a football player but also a man, so having that trust with my coaches on and off the field. I want to find out which college will be best for me and my goals, and that’s what I’m going to look for throughout this process.”

The Wisconsin football program has yet to add a commitment in the 2026 recruiting cycle.

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