Let’s hand out grades for the Badgers 2025 class, starting with a few key positions.
With Early Signing Day for the Wisconsin Badgers now behind us, it’s a perfect time to do some preliminary grades by position group.
This class is ranked at No. 19 in the country by Rivals and features a number of four-star recruits and several others who should have been four-stars and/or have intriguing upside.
One robust caveat is that this is just a fun, best-guess exercise. Every recruiting grade from any source, in reality, should be an Incomplete this soon as there’s a wide range of potential outcomes for them, including elite classes like Ohio State’s.
But, for our purposes, I feel comfortable making a few best guesses right now.
Let’s get to it, starting with Offensive Line, Defensive Line, Linebacker, and Tight End.
Offensive Line
For a second straight cycle, this was my top position group—a five-man wrecking crew of girth and meanness spanning all three offensive line positions.
Rivals rates three of the guys—Cam Clark, Hardy Watts, and Logan Powell as four-stars, while the other two, Michael Roeske and Nolan Davenport, come in as three-stars.
But the reality is, any of the five could end up the best of the bunch after some time with offensive line coach AJ Blazek, and there will likely be good fits at tackle, guard, and center in this class.
Preliminary Grade: A
Defensive Line
Although it came together late, this room has tremendous upside in a position group that needs as much help as any on the squad outside of quarterback heading into the future.
The top dog is Michigan flip, Jaylen Williams, who was brought in as an outside linebacker, but could line up as a defensive end too. Just a fast, massive, toolsy kid perfect for the Big Ten.
In the interior, both Purdue flip Drayden Pavey and massive Texan Xavier Okponu could fight for snaps immediately, while Middleton’s Torin Pettaway has intriguing upside, and not just because he flipped back to Luke Fickell from the Big Ten’s most okayest coach PJ Fleck this past summer.
Four-star edge guy Nicolas Clayton out of Florida looks to have both the twitch and bend to become the kind of pass-rush force that the last few Badger defenses have lacked. Overall, this feels like a productive class likely to have standouts.
Preliminary Grade: A-
Linebackers
I’m lumping in outside linebackers with inside linebackers here, partially because a couple of these guys could be playing more than one position. This is a smallish (in numbers) but potentially outstanding group, with a solid blend of Wisconsin and out-of-state talent.
Consensus four-star Mason Posa from Albuquerque leads the way, but don’t sleep on potential tackling machine Cooper Catalano out of Germantown or Samuel Lateju from New Jersey. Both could be high-impact players.
It would be nice to see the Badger coaches maximize the talent at this important position to make Wisconsin #LBU again.
Preliminary Grade: B+
Tight End
Although Wisconsin has had some talent in the group since Jake Ferguson left, the reality is that the on-field performance at tight end, especially as a part of the passing game, has lagged, underscoring the importance of adding skill to the room via recruiting and potentially, the portal.
In-state prospect Emmett Bork (who the Badgers flipped late from Michigan State), a tall, sturdy kid out of Neenah, has an ideal tight end frame at 6’6, 240 pounds, and good hands.
Indiana’s Nizyi Davis boasts good height and impressive athleticism. Both will join the Badgers with the hopes of improving the position.
While Bork and Davis lack four-star pedigree, both are intriguing prospects.
Preliminary Grade: B-
Stay tuned for Part 2!