The Badgers are losing one of their in-state offensive lineman to a rival Big Ten team.
The Wisconsin Badgers have been busy on the recruiting front to begin the offseason, looking heavily into both the 2026 and 2027 classes as they begin to finalize their board of targets ahead of spring visits.
One of the more intriguing positions from a recruiting perspective is the offensive line, as Wisconsin isn’t expected to take as many linemen in their 2026 class after taking five in each of the previous two cycles.
That has created an intriguing dynamic on the recruiting front, as the Badgers have been pursuing a number of targets, but don’t necessarily have all the spots to take each of their priorities.
Well, the Badgers missed out on one of their targets, as in-state offensive lineman Samuel Simpson committed to the Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday, he announced.
Wisconsin native. https://t.co/YqjcxsnwIP
— Bucky’s 5th Quarter (@B5Q) February 1, 2025
Simpson, a native of River Falls, Wisconsin, had been to campus multiple times, and projected as an interior offensive lineman at the next level.
The Hoosiers have been on a roll with offensive line recruiting recently, having landed transfer center Pat Coogan from the Notre Dame Fighting Irish before also receiving a commitment from Simpson, who is the team’s first pickup in the 2026 class.
Wisconsin already has a commitment from 2026 three-star lineman Benjamin Novak, who could project to guard as well at the next level, so they’re still in pretty good shape when it comes to the offensive line.
With Simpson off the board, we’ll see who the Badgers covet in the spring as they look to likely add two more players at the position to their recruiting class.