The Wisconsin Badgers have spent plenty of energy on the 2027 class, but the next wave is already coming into view. With most of the heavy lifting in that cycle done, attention is starting to swing toward 2028 - and a handful of in-state names are already standing out.
That matters in Madison. The Badgers have dealt with criticism in the past for not locking down enough of Wisconsin’s best talent, but the picture has changed.
Right now, Wisconsin sits at No. 26 in the 2027 class and already has 10 in-state commitments, including four of the top five recruits. With that class nearly wrapped up, the staff is trying to keep the same momentum going with the next group.
At the top of the 2028 in-state board is Arrowhead tight end Tre Oiler. Early on, he looks like the premier recruit in Wisconsin for that class and is already drawing major attention from Notre Dame, Michigan State, Florida, Texas A&M and Alabama. Wisconsin has made clear it’s interested, but a commitment is far from certain.
Oiler would not be walking into a blank runway in Madison. Korz Loken and Jack Sievers would be ahead of him on the depth chart, so a direct path to early playing time is not obvious.
Still, offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes uses tight ends in a variety of ways, and that could give Wisconsin a real selling point. The challenge is the competition.
Oiler is still developing, but another strong season would bring even more SEC and Big Ten programs into the mix. The Badgers have beaten bigger schools on the trail before, and they’re very much in that conversation here.
Another name Wisconsin has tracked for a while is Wisconsin Dells defensive lineman Hendrix Dawson. He was one of the first 2028 prospects to get on the staff’s radar, and his recruitment has taken off in a way that reminds people of 2027 in-state tight end Korz Loken, who also picked up national attention early.
Dawson has already drawn interest from Iowa, Iowa State, SMU, Minnesota and Missouri, so Wisconsin knows it has to move with purpose. The Badgers have hosted him multiple times, and he has become their top in-state target in the class.
Of the group, Dawson may be the most likely to end up in a Wisconsin uniform. His long relationship with the staff gives the Badgers a real edge, and right now they’re viewed as the clear favorite.
Franklin wide receiver Gavin Schiek is another 2028 prospect worth watching closely. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound receiver put together a strong season last year, finishing with 23 catches, four touchdowns and just over 500 receiving yards even though he missed three games.
Schiek brings a lot to the table. He’s fast, athletic and uses a strong catch radius to his advantage.
His speed and footwork help him create separation, and he plays with a gritty, technical edge that gives him a chance to grow into a high-level recruit if the development keeps coming. He’s also flying under the radar right now, which is a little surprising considering his talent.
He does not have a Division I offer yet, but that should change this season if he keeps building on what he already showed.
Wisconsin could also still be in the market for another 2028 tight end, and Kimberly’s Jake Mau is a name to know. At 6-foot-6, he brings the kind of size that jumps off the page, and there’s plenty of room for him to develop with the right coaching.
Mau already has early offers and interest from Toledo, Kent State, South Dakota State and New Mexico. Wisconsin has not offered him yet, but the staff reportedly showed interest after a skills camp last month.
That relationship is still in the early stages, and Mau has work to do before the Badgers make a move. If they do extend an offer, though, they would immediately become the biggest program on his board.
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