Wisconsin Football OT Derek Jensen Signs National Letter of Intent

The Wisconsin football program was involved in recruiting several in-state offensive linemen in the 2024 cycle, and Derek Jensen, from Hartland, was the one the Badgers earned a commitment from. 

Jensen was a player the previous staff never offered but became a priority under head coach Luke Fickell. He wound up committing a few months after earning his offer before he even took an official visit. 

Now, things are official on Wednesday because he signed his letter of intent to join the Wisconsin Badgers as part of the early signing period on National Signing Day. 

pic.twitter.com/ZnOfFMmqSw

— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) December 20, 2023

Wisconsin Football Signee: Derek Jensen

Position: Offensive tackle

Height: 6-foot-6

Weight: 315 pounds

School: Arrowhead (Heartland, Wisconsin)

Recruiting Rankings

247Sports Composite: 3-star – Grade: 0.8867 – No. 509 player in the nation; No. 32 OT; No. 5 in Wisconsin. 

247Sports: 3-star – Grade: 89 – No. 24 IOL; No. 4 in Wisconsin.

On3: 3-star – Grade: 87 – No. 54 OT; No. 6 in Wisconsin. 

Rivals: 4-star – Grade: 5.8 – No. 27 OT; No. 3 in Wisconsin

ESPN: 3-star – Grade: 78 – No. 69 OT; No. 5 in Wisconsin

Here are Brandon Cooper’s (BadgerNotes offensive line recruiting expert) thoughts on the four-star offensive tackle:  

He’s very physical and will significantly benefit from a college strength and conditioning program. Jensen has solid hands, although his first punch could be quicker. The Wisconsin native excels at finishing blocks if he can get his hands inside. 

The 6-foot-6 tackle rarely takes a false step but needs to improve his technique and pad level; Jensen sometimes comes out of his stance very high. Sometimes he relies on being bigger and stronger than everyone to compensate for his lack of quickness. Jensen’s a multi-year project at tackle with a high upside if he hits.

Commitment to the Wisconsin Football Program 

Derek Jensen committed to the Wisconsin football team on April 2, 2023, before he even took his official visit to Madison in June. Simply put, this is where Jensen wanted to be, and he was an in-state recruit who needed to stay home.

Jensen held 13 Division 1 offers but chose the Wisconsin Badgers over Duke, Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Michigan State, Nebraska, Purdue, and a handful of other schools.

The Badgers have a big offensive line recruiting class coming in. In my opinion, Jensen isn’t someone who will factor into the mix early on. He may need a couple of years to develop for Wisconsin football, but Jensen could wind up beginning a nice recruiting win as a pass protector at tackle if he hits down the road.

Staying home!!! 🟥⬜️🦡 @CoachFick @CoachBicknell @CoachPhilLongo @BadgerFootball @WisFBRecruiting @CoachHarris28 @CoachLinares #committed #OnWisconsin #Badgernation pic.twitter.com/R1kCSEg5zR

— Derek Jensen (@DerekJensen2024) April 2, 2023

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to read our work at BadgerNotes.com. For more Wisconsin Badgers Athletics and Big Ten content, follow us on Twitter & Facebook. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Publisher @DillonGraff at Dillon.T.Graff@gmail.com. 

Also, be sure to check out our shop, subscribe to our newsletter, and the BadgerNotes After Dark podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms. Because of your support, we have become one of the fastest-growing independent media outlets focused on giving a voice to the fans!