The Wisconsin Badgers are making it clear: the homegrown talent pipeline is back in full swing. With the 2027 recruiting cycle just starting to take shape, the Badgers have already landed their third commitment-and for the third time, it’s a local product. Catholic Memorial safety Dustin Roach is the latest to pledge to the program, continuing a trend that’s putting Wisconsin high school football back at the center of the Badgers’ recruiting strategy.
Roach, a rangy 6’3", 185-pound safety, received his offer from the Badgers in November and chose Wisconsin over offers from Eastern Michigan and Northern Illinois. He also drew interest from Iowa-where he took in a gameday visit-and Minnesota, but ultimately decided to stay close to home.
This commitment marks a shift in how the Badgers are approaching in-state recruiting. In recent cycles, Wisconsin had looked elsewhere for talent, pulling fewer players from its own backyard.
The 2026 class, for example, included just one in-state signee: linebacker Ben Wenzel. Two years prior, the 2024 class featured only two: linebacker Landon Gauthier and tight end Rob Booker.
But the 2025 class hinted at a change in philosophy. That group included five Wisconsin natives-linebacker Cooper Catalano, offensive lineman Michael Roeske, tight end Emmett Bork, safety Grant Dean, and defensive lineman Torin Pettaway.
The Badgers also went after some of the state’s top-tier prospects, including four-star tight end James Flanigan, four-star offensive lineman Owen Strebig, and four-star cornerback Tre Poteat. The message was clear: Wisconsin was back to prioritizing its own.
Now, with the 2027 class, that momentum is only building. Roach joins four-star tight end Korz Loken-ranked as one of the top five tight ends in the country and the No. 1 player in Wisconsin-as early commits.
And the Badgers are far from done. They’re firmly in the race for four-star offensive lineman Cole Reiter, a top-200 national recruit and the No. 2 player in the state, per 247Sports.
Beyond that, Wisconsin is actively recruiting several other top in-state names: three-star running back Kingston Allen (No. 4 in Wisconsin), three-star edge rusher Isaac Miller (No. 5), and offensive line brothers Hunter (No. 6) and Reece Mallinger (No. 8). It’s shaping up to be a deep, talented class-and the Badgers are positioning themselves to capitalize.
There’s still a long road ahead before the ink dries on the 2027 class, but the early returns are promising. With Dustin Roach now in the fold, Wisconsin is not just keeping top talent home-they’re building a foundation that could define the program’s future.