MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin’s traditional run of success from official visits in June has continued this month, with the Badgers snagging commitments from five prospects in the 2025 class. Offensive linemen Logan Powell (Phoenix) and Nolan Davenport (Massillon, Ohio), as well as cornerback Rukeem Stroud (Tampa, Fla.) and tight end Nizyi Davis (Indianapolis) pledged to Wisconsin after taking official visits two weeks ago. Cornerback Jahmare Washington (Chicago) committed coming off an official visit last weekend.
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As it stands, Wisconsin has 16 committed prospects in the class, which represents the third most among Big Ten programs behind Rutgers (20) and Minnesota (18) and the sixth most in the country. Of those 16 commits, three are rated as four-star prospects in the 247Sports Composite: Powell and safeties Jaimier Scott and Remington Moss.
Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell has said the goal each year is to sign anywhere from 18 to 22 high school prospects, which means there is more work to be done to round out the class. And there are quality options remaining who could elevate the group.
Here is an evaluation of Wisconsin’s big board and the top prospects the Badgers are seeking based on talent level, fit and positions of need.
1. Defensive line
Wisconsin doesn’t yet have a defensive lineman committed in the 2025 class, which makes this position the most important on the board. Two uncommitted defensive linemen already have taken official visits to Wisconsin. Four-star prospect Kade Pietrzak (West Fargo, N.D.) visited the first weekend in June and Wilnerson Telemaque (Opa Locka, Fla.) visited the second weekend. Wisconsin has two more defensive linemen slated to visit this weekend with Drayden Pavey (Cincinnati) and Kyler Garcia (Nashville, Tenn.).
It’s clear Wisconsin won’t stop until it generates a commitment at the position. The question is: Who will it be? Pietrzak is coming off an official visit to Oklahoma, which has been considered the front-runner. Nebraska and Kansas State also have been in the mix. Telemaque’s final four are Wisconsin, West Virginia, Florida and Georgia Tech. He is scheduled to announce his college decision June 18. Garcia already has visited Louisville and Purdue, with a visit slated for Indiana after his trip to Wisconsin. Pavey is considering Purdue, Wisconsin and Indiana. Wisconsin also likely won’t go away quietly for Torin Pettaway, the in-state prospect who initially committed to Wisconsin but flipped to rival Minnesota in March. The Badgers have four defensive linemen on the roster this season who are seniors, and they will need plenty of reinforcements at the position as they search for playmakers.
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2. Wide receiver
Wisconsin’s staff has done quite well recruiting slot receivers. There was Will Pauling from the transfer portal, Trech Kekahuna in the 2023 class, Kyan Berry-Johnson in the 2024 class, and now Cameron Miller has committed in the 2025 class. The challenge is finding a dynamic, bigger-bodied receiving threat on the outside — something Wisconsin does not yet have for 2025.
The two receivers at the top of the list are Muizz Tounkara (League City, Texas) and Eugene Hilton Jr. (Zionsville, Ind.). Tounkara came to Madison on the first weekend of official visits and Hilton visited on the second weekend. Tounkara, who is 6 feet 4, was a late-blooming prospect whose offer list didn’t explode until the spring. He has taken official visits to Wisconsin and Kansas, with visits scheduled for Arizona and Arkansas. He is expected to make his decision in July. Hilton, a four-star receiver, is 6-2 and a highly coveted player with 28 offers. Wisconsin made a substantial move over the weekend and appears to be in excellent position to land him. Hilton caught 46 passes for 836 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior.
Had a great time in Madison for my first OV!!@PatLambert13 @CoachFick @CoachGuiton @EwaldTaylor @TheRealNickOsen @Evan_Flood @CoachOBrantley @CoachBChavez @coach_renfro pic.twitter.com/6Obqwh944O
— Muizz Tounkara☪️ (@TounkaraMuizz) June 2, 2024
3. Running back
Does Wisconsin absolutely need a running back in the 2025 class? Considering the Badgers just signed three in the 2024 class, including four-star tailbacks Dilin Jones and Darrion Dupree, the answer is not necessarily. But Wisconsin would be ecstatic to land four-star running back Byron Louis (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), who took an official visit to Madison over the weekend.
Wisconsin has put all of its eggs in the Louis basket, essentially recruiting only him at the position right now. The Badgers were slated to have tailback John Forster (Montvale, N.J.) take an official this weekend but have since canceled that visit. Louis finished his junior season at American Heritage with 1,224 yards rushing on 7.7 yards per carry and 18 touchdowns. Louis previously visited Wisconsin for a junior day in March, but the Badgers have stiff competition for him, with Miami and Florida State in the mix.
4. Inside linebacker
The Badgers have a commitment from in-state product Cooper Catalano (Germantown, Wis.), so they’re not desperate to add at the position. Tackett Curtis, Sebastian Cheeks and Christian Alliegro will all be juniors during the 2025 season, with Tyler Jansey a redshirt sophomore and Landon Gauthier likely a redshirt freshman. Still, if Wisconsin can find a way to win on inside linebacker Mason Posa (Albuquerque, N.M.), it would represent one of the most significant additions for 2025.
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Posa visited Wisconsin the first weekend in June, and the Badgers made a strong impression on him. Wisconsin is battling Oregon and Texas A&M in this recruitment. Posa, a three-time state wrestling champion in New Mexico, finished with 99 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and seven sacks as a junior last season.
5. Outside linebacker
Wisconsin has commitments from outside linebackers Brendan Anes and Samuel Lateju but would take a third scholarship player off the edge from the group of players who have visited. The two top targets at this point appear to be Jayden Woods (Shawnee, Kan.) and Nicolas Clayton (Gainesville, Fla.). Outside linebacker Jayden Loftin visited Wisconsin two weekends ago but is coming off a Tennessee visit and is considered a lean to the Volunteers.
Woods is down to Wisconsin, Penn State, Purdue, Tennessee and Florida and tallied 71 tackles with 10 tackles for loss, seven sacks and eight pass breakups last season. Wisconsin views him as a “jack” linebacker, playing on the boundary side of the field. Clayton has visited UCF and Wisconsin, with Nebraska, Tulane, Florida State and Illinois also in the mix. He recorded 51 tackles and eight tackles for loss last season.
6. Offensive line
Wisconsin has commitments from four offensive linemen in the 2025 class — Powell, Davenport, Michael Roeske and Cam Clark — on the heels of signing five players in 2024. So this isn’t a huge area of need, but the Badgers would add another prospect if they can land a commitment from four-star interior lineman Hardy Watts (Brookline, Mass.). Watts has taken official visits to Clemson and Wisconsin. He canceled an official visit to Duke and has a trip set up for Michigan on June 21.
7. Cornerback
The secondary is pretty full with recent commitments from cornerbacks Stroud and Washington, as well as four other players with potential as defensive backs. Scott and Grant Dean are committed as safeties, Moss is being recruited as a defensive back, and Luke Emmerich is an athlete who could play defensive back or even receiver. Still, Wisconsin wouldn’t likely turn down a cornerback commitment from either Zay Gentry (McKinney, Texas) or Tre Poteat (Verona, Wis.).
Gentry, who committed to SMU in May, visited Wisconsin two weekends ago and is also considering Baylor in addition to the Mustangs. Poteat visited Wisconsin the same weekend as Gentry but has an official visit lined up for Tennessee, which is considered to be his leader.
(Photo: Jeff Hanisch / USA Today)