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Why Wisconsin Football Will Survive Misses on 2024 In-State Recruits

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Wisconsin football head coach Luke Fickell
Dec 27, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the second half of the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bowl at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Why Wisconsin Football Will Survive Misses on 2024 In-State Recruits

Madison, Wis. — Wisconsin football has traditionally done an excellent job of keeping the recruiting “wall” around the state in terms of turning in-state kids into Badgers.

It helps that they’re the only FBS school in the state, but I digress.

The program has signed the No. 1 player in Wisconsin every season dating back to 2017 — every season until now, that is. It’s also worth mentioning that the Badgers secured seven of the 10 four-star recruits during that stretch, according to the 247Sports composite.

That said, recent events regarding in-state recruiting in the 2024 cycle have people in an uproar and upset with Luke Fickell for all the wrong reasons.

Let’s get you up to speed if you don’t know what I’m talking about.

Wisconsin’s Top In-State Recruits in 2024 Recruiting Class 

In Wisconsin, 247Sports has 16 players rated as three-star prospects or better who have received division one offers. Of that group, roughly 10 of them are high-major talents. 

As it stands, Wisconsin football has commitments from three players from the 2024 in-state class: Rob Booker (No. 5), Derek Jensen (No. 6), and Landon Gauthier (No. 10). They’re also in deep with four-star, top 200 prospect Nathan Roy, who plays offensive tackle for Mukwonago. 

But it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows (we’ll get to context in a moment). 

From a pure in-state recruiting standpoint, there’s no denying that it stung when a talented four-star kid like Donovan Harbour left for another Big Ten school like Penn State. 

And on the surface, it stings a little more when the No. 2 player, a dynamic running back, Corey Smith, appears to be headed there to join Harbour and new Nittany Lion commit Garrett Sexton, who Wisconsin didn’t offer until a week ago (if UW had legitimate interest they botched this recruitment, IMO).

Even Sam Pilof, Wisconsin’s No. 4 in-state player, committed to Rutgers, but we won’t even discuss the logistics of why that might have happened.

While this news may be disappointing for fans, it’s important to remember that the Badgers survived similar situations in the past and are well-positioned to continue their success on the field moving forward.

The Wisconsin Football Recruiting Process Deserves Some Context…

I can’t sit here and tell you that the Wisconsin football program would have landed all the aforementioned players if they had been more involved in their recruitment.

However, it’s worth mentioning that multiple outlets reported Luke Fickell and his staff, at least in the case of Harbour and Smith, invited them to Madison for a closer look during their junior day in January and decided after that to go a different direction.

It’s not like coach Fickell and his staff lost these players in some grind-it-out recruitment battle. Instead, they came in, did their own evaluations, and decided which kids they intended to prioritize on their board.

It’s not like these top talents took one look at what the Badgers new regime had to offer and headed for the hills. These blue-chip types of prospects are getting offers from other nationally recognized brands, and unless they had their heart set on wearing cardinal and white, it’s not unusual for them to see if the grass is greener.

Why Wisconsin Football Will Survive Without These In-State Recruits

One of the main reasons why it’s not the end of the world for the Badgers to miss out on some top 2024 in-state talents is that this staff has a proven track record of recruiting well outside Wisconsin.

“Within a 300-mile radius, that will be the core of what we do here,” Fickell said in his introductory press conference.

Over the years, Luke Fickell has built a reputation as a program builder that can identify and develop talent from all over the country, including different parts of the Midwest. He’s also assembled an impressive coaching staff that has already opened doors in recruitments UW typically would never have a prayer in–look no further than the quarterback room.

Finally, it’s worth noting that the Badgers have a strong culture and a nationally recognized brand that’s growing and attracting top talent.

Wisconsin football is known for its blue-collar work ethic and emphasis on team success over individual accolades. Even if UW misses out on some of the top in-state prospects, the Badgers will still be able to attract talented players who buy into this culture.

Final Thoughts 

All I ask is that fans understand the sky isn’t falling. Luke Fickell and his coaching staff came in, evaluated the 2024 in-state class, and decided where they fell on their respective boards.

That’s not to say the new regime will dismiss in-state prospects moving forward because we all know that isn’t true. But given Fickell’s track record of success, which includes a College Football Playoff appearance, he and his staff have earned the benefit of the doubt.

At Cincinnati, a school I’d argue has less talent at its disposal than Wisconsin; Fickell had a player selected in the NFL draft every season since taking over the program in 2017. Last April, the Bearcats had nine players selected in the 2022 NFL draft, trailing only LSU and Georgia. He has a decent eye for talent.

Also, consider how good of a job they’ve done constructing the 2024 recruiting class, which currently ranks No. 21 in the country.

No matter what you do, sometimes a kid just doesn’t want to play for the Wisconsin football program. And sometimes, the coaching staff will prefer players outside of the state more, have better relationships, or deem them a better fit.

It’s okay–no need to overreact–the Badgers will be just fine.


Contact/Follow us @Badger_Notes on Twitter, Subscribe to the BadgerNotes Newsletter here, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, opinion, and analysis. You can also follow Dillon Graff on Twitter @DillonGraff.

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Breaking Down the Wisconsin Badgers Newest 2024 Defensive Line Commit

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Wisconsin Football defensive line commit Hank Weber

Wisconsin Football Lands Commitment From 2024 DL Hank Weber

Madison, Wis. — In need of a serious revamping of the defensive line, the Wisconsin football coaching staff knew these next couple of weekends would be huge for the future of the defense. 

The first domino of that DL revamp fell on Monday when the Badgers received a verbal commitment from 2024 three-star defensive lineman Hank Weber out of Brentwood, Tennesee, following an official visit to Madison this past weekend. 

According to 247Sports, Weber is the No. 99 DL in the country and the No. 37 player in Tennessee. The three-star recruit chose Wisconsin over offers from North Carolina, Michigan State, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Purdue, Virginia Tech, and several others. 

“Wisconsin had everything that I was looking for in a college and program,” Weber said. “The defense that coach Mike Tressel runs was appealing because of how aggressive it is. And I’ve been told that coach Fickell sometimes likes to lead the defensive line meetings. That was a huge deal for me.”

The 6-foot-4, 250-pound defensive prospect is Greg Scruggs’ first commit in the 2024 recruiting cycle. 

Scouting Report

Hank Weber is, by my evaluation, a solid but unspectacular prospect. That’s not to say I’m writing him off, though. 

Although his pad level and ability to get off the ball were underwhelming, his pursuit and technique after the snap stood out. There is an undeniable blend of length and power as a pass-rusher that you love to see, and he strikes me as the type of assignment-sound player that could develop into a reliable starter with some time to fill out his frame. 

One thing I love about Weber is that he also plays offensive line, so he’s got a tenacity and motor about him that is a must-have in a defensive line prospect. 

Overall, I think Weber was a solid get, and for a re-tooling defensive line, he’s a solid start to what should be a large class of recruits at the position. I’ll like this commit even better if he’s paired with someone that has more pass-rushing upside.

The Impact of Hank Weber Joining the Wisconsin Football Program 

Vernon Woodward is commitment No. 10 for the Wisconsin football program in the 2024 recruiting cycle, joining Mabrey Mettauer, Grant Stec, Robert Booker, Derek Jensen, Thomas Heiberger, Landon Gauthier, Kyan Berry-Johnson, Kahmir Prescott, and Vernon Woodward.

With his addition, UW now has the No. 21 recruiting class in the country, per 247Sports.


Contact/Follow us @Badger_Notes on Twitter, Subscribe to the BadgerNotes Newsletter here, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, opinion, and analysis. You can also follow Dillon Graff on Twitter @DillonGraff.

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Wisconsin Football Adds Australian Punter, New 2024 Commit, More

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Wisconsin Badgers Football Stadium
Sep 3, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; General view of Camp Randall Stadium prior to the game between the Illinois State Redbirds and Wisconsin Badgers. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

It’s been a busy couple of days for the Wisconsin football program, ladies and gents, but fear not because BadgerNotes can help get you back up to speed with a roundup of some important Badgers news you may have missed.

Wisconsin Badgers Address Their Special Teams Need

Exiting spring practice, Wisconsin football head coach Luke Fickell voiced his concern about the Badgers’ punting situation.

“I’m a little bit concerned we’ve got to figure some things out probably in the punting situation,” Fickell said after the final spring practice. “I know it’s a tougher time, but we don’t get outside nearly as much to see those guys have an opportunity to punt the ball and for us to return it as well.”

Thankfully, that issue was addressed with Wisconsin landing a commitment from Atticus Bertrams, a native of Melbourne, Australia, who will be on scholarship in 2023.

Bertrams had previously committed to USC in 2021 but didn’t enroll. Instead, he spent his time training at Prokick, an academy in Australia that has produced six Ray Guy Award-winning punters.

He immediately slots in as Wisconsin’s top punter ahead of Jack Van Dyke and Gavin Meyers, who left something to be desired during spring practice. Bertrams has some big shoes to fill following the departure of Andy Vujnovich.

Wisconsin Football Lands Commitment From 3-Star Florida CB 

Following an official visit to Madison, the Wisconsin football coaching staff added their first cornerback prospect of the 2024 cycle in three-star cornerback Vernon Woodward, out of Winter Park, Florida.

According to the industry-generated composite rankings, he is the No. 74 cornerback in the 2024 recruiting class and the No. 128 player in Florida.

Woodward chose UW over scholarship offers from Ole Miss, Illinois, Cincinnati, Missouri, Purdue, UCF, Virginia, West Virginia, Louisville, Georgia Tech, and several others.

As a junior, the 6-foot-2 cornerback registered 57 tackles, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. But perhaps the most telling stat from Woodward’s junior season is that he was targeted only twice all year, which speaks volumes about his ability to blanket WRs at that level. 

You can watch his HUDL film here.

Vernon Woodward is commitment No. 9 for the Wisconsin football program in the 2024 recruiting cycle, joining Mabrey Mettauer, Grant Stec, Robert Booker, Derek Jensen, Thomas Heiberger, Landon Gauthier, Kyan Berry-Johnson, and Kahmir Prescott. 

Other Wisconsin Football News

According to a report from Bruce Feldman of The Athletic, the Wisconsin football team is adding a senior defensive analyst to the coaching staff. 

UW is adding Rhode Island defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Jack Cooper as a senior defensive analyst next season after serving in his previous role since 2020. He also served as a quality control coach for Nebraska for two seasons. 

Coach Cooper helped lead Rhode Island to a top-50 defensive unit in 2021 and a 7-4 record overall, their highest win total in two decades. 

This addition is precisely the kind of coaching hire top-tier programs are making nowadays because they don’t count against the allowed amount of paid assistants. The beauty in adding an experienced coach like Jack Cooper is that you have an internal candidate you’re comfortable with should someone on your staff move on. 


Contact/Follow us @Badger_Notes on Twitter, Subscribe to the BadgerNotes Newsletter here, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, opinion, and analysis. You can also follow Dillon Graff on Twitter @DillonGraff.

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Wisconsin Football Lands Commitment from 2024 Three-Star Defensive Lineman

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Wisconsin Football
Sep 17, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; A Wisconsin Badgers cheerleader carries the Wisconsin flag during the game against the New Mexico State Aggies at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Madison, Wis. – The Wisconsin football program picked up another commitment from a loaded June 2nd recruiting weekend.

Three-star defensive lineman Hank Weber took to Twitter to announce his commitment to Wisconsin.

UW beat out offers from North Carolina, Vanderbilt, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Purdue, and others. 

According to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite rankings, Weber is the No. 1070 player in the nation, the No. 99 defensive lineman, and the No. 37 player in Tennessee. 

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound defensive lineman originally planned to commit in August. Instead, Weber opted to stay in Madison following his official visit. He will forgo his officials to Vanderbilt and North Carolina with his commitment.

Scouting report

Weber is a prototypical Wisconsin defensive lineman. The 6-foot-4, 260-pound DL has a quick burst off the line of scrimmage to pair with excellent anticipation and vision to blow up plays. 

The three-star prospect is a tenacious lineman who is often the aggressor when met with contact. He thrives as a bull rusher, but the Tennesee native’s technique is sound when using rip and swim moves. 

Weber also brings some versatility to Wisconsin. Although he typically lines up on the edge, his frame allows him to play on the interior defensive line. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly where he’ll line up with Wisconsin, but Weber has the tools to be an all-around impactful lineman.

You can watch his full HUDL highlights here.

The Wisconsin football program has started June off with a bang. Three-star cornerback Vernon Woodward committed yesterday, and now Weber is on board. There’s more on the way, so be sure to stay tuned to Badger Notes.

Wisconsin now has ten commitments in the 2024 recruiting cycle.


Contact/Follow us @Badger_Notes on Twitter, Subscribe to the BadgerNotes Newsletter here, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, opinion, and analysis. You can also follow Jake Maier on Twitter @JakeJMaier.

Use promo code: BadgerNotes for 25% off your next True Classic order.

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