The biggest difference between former Wisconsin football head coach Paul Chryst and current head coach Luke Fickell is recruiting.
While many may be nostalgic of Chryst’s run-game success that led the Badgers to the Rose Bowl in 2020, college football has greatly shifted since the inception of Name, Image Likeness (NIL).
Fickell became head coach in 2022 after Wisconsin fired Chryst. This came after Fickell’s rebuild of University of Cincinnati into a 13-1 team in 2021.
But it’s now two years into the “Fickell experiment,” and it hasn't been as beautiful as fans hoped. Wisconsin isn’t competing with top competition in the Big Ten conference — it saw a 7-6 record last season and currently sits at 5-4 so far this season (3-3 against Big Ten opponents).
Fickell’s early struggles may be because he inherited a malfunctioning program, and there is still a lot of mess to clean up, especially in regards to recruiting.
The two previous recruiting classes before Fickell’s arrival ranked 44th in the country in 2022 and 58th in 2023, according to 247 Sports. Fickell’s recruiting class this year ranked 23rd, and the Badgers currently sit at 28th for the 2025 recruit team rankings.
That is a big contrast. Fickell is able to land high-caliber out-of-state recruits. For example, Fickell recruited Dillin Jones (fourth best player in the state of Maryland), Xavier Lucas (Florida) and Darrion Dupree (Illinois) last year, and they have all known rather consistent snaps this season.
Here’s the incoming recruiting class that Fickell and his staff have assembled for the incoming freshman class, according to 247 Sports:
Mason Posa (LB) 4 star
Logan Powell (OT) 4 star
Hardy Watts (IOL) 4 star
Nicolas Clayton (Edge) 3 star
Cameron Miller (WR/CB) 3 star
Nolan Davenport (OT) 3 star
Michael Roeske (OT) 3 star
Eugene Hilton Jr (WR) 3 star
Cooper Catalano (LB) 3 star
Jaimier Scott (CB) 3 star
Remington Moss (S) 3 star
Emmett Bork (TE) 3 star
Jahmare Washington (CB) 3 star
Landyn Locke (QB) 3 star
Drayden Pavey (DL) 3 star
Nizyi Davis (TE) 3 star
Grant Dean (S) 3 star
Samuel Lateju (LB) 3 star
Xavier Ukponu (DL) 3 star
Luke Emmerich (ATH) 3 star
Erik Schmidt (K)
Here are some notable recruits that fit offensive coordinator Phil Longo’s “air-raid” offense.
Mason Posa
True freshman defensive back Xavier Lucas has been a large part of the defense getting more consistent snaps (80.7 PFF grade, one of the best freshmen in the country).
Linebacker Mason Posa hopes to deliver the same next year.
Posa is the Badger's biggest recruit and is a four-star linebacker from Albuquerque, New Mexico. At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, he’s the No. 15 linebacker in the country, according to 247 Sports. Posa chose the Badgers over offers from powerhouses such as Alabama, Oregon and Texas A&M. He is also a state champion in wrestling, translating well to football.
Posa is a great athlete who can cover a lot of ground and different positions on the field.
Throughout his high school career, Posa has put up great numbers every year, recording a total of 176 tackles, 16 sacks and six interceptions through his sophomore and junior years.
Cameron Miller
Cameron Miller plays wide receiver but played cornerback in high school and has starter potential at the college level in both positions. Miller had offers from some of the best programs in the country — Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State and Texas A&M — but he chose the Badgers. In his junior year of high school, Miller recorded 59 catches for 1342 yards, 15 touchdowns, 39 tackles and two interceptions.
Eugene Hilton, Jr.
Composite four-star recruit Eugene Hilton’s name might sound familiar — he’s the son of NFL wide receiver T.Y. Hilton.
In his junior season, Hilton recorded 46 receptions, 836 yards and 10 receiving touchdowns.
It’s been a while since Wisconsin last landed two high-caliber wide receiver recruits like Hilton and Miller.
Logan Powell and Hardy Watts
Current Badgers starter and senior Jake Renfro is set to graduate following the 2024 season, and his spot on the offensive line needs to be filled. Logan Powell and Hardy Watts are two four star offensive linemen who could step in.
Carter Smith
Recently, exciting rumors for all Badgers fans have been circulating: quarterback Carter Smith has decommitted from Michigan, and the Badgers are favored to land him. The Fort Myers, Florida native will visit Madison for the Badgers’ matchup against Oregon. Smith is currently ranked 155th on ESPN’s class of 2025 list and is the 20th-best quarterback in the nation, according to 247 Sports, and fourth per Rivals.
Through his first three years of high school, Smith recorded over 7,000 passing yards alongside over 70 passing touchdowns and 44 rushing touchdowns. With Smith, the Badgers could have a three-man race for the starting quarterback role next year between current starter Braedyn Locke, freshman Mabrey Mettauer and Smith.
