The Wisconsin Badgers are making an early move on one of the state’s rising 2028 prospects, lining up a game-day visit with Arrowhead defensive lineman Zachery Lavoe.
Lavoe’s recruitment is still in the early stages, but Wisconsin has already started to build a connection with the in-state lineman since the contact period opened in June. That relationship will get a chance to grow on September 19th, when Lavoe is expected to be in Madison for the Badgers’ game against Eastern Michigan.
At nearly 6-foot-4 and 285 pounds, Lavoe already has the kind of body Wisconsin tends to covet up front. He spent last season mostly at defensive tackle, where his strength and ability to shed blocks stood out. He can move out to end as well, but his size and ability to clog the middle have made him a natural fit inside for now.
Wisconsin is not alone in keeping tabs on him. Missouri, Minnesota, and Iowa State have also shown interest, though no offers have been made yet. That leaves an obvious question hanging over the recruitment: which program will be first to put a scholarship on the table?
That answer may depend in part on how Wisconsin sorts out its own defensive line board. The Badgers already have a few offers out along the front, and the role of fellow in-state lineman Hendrix Dawson could shape how Lavoe fits into the picture.
Dawson’s position remains unsettled, with Wisconsin weighing whether to develop him as an edge rusher and hybrid outside linebacker. If that’s the route they take, it could open the door for the staff to pursue another defensive lineman like Lavoe.
For now, Lavoe looks like a name to watch closely in Wisconsin’s 2028 class. He could be the next in-state prospect to land a scholarship from the Badgers, and the September visit gives both sides a chance to take the next step.
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