Luke Fickell may be just getting started with the 2028 class, but Wisconsin is already on the board in a big way.
The Badgers have a crystal ball prediction in place for Hendrix Dawson, an in-state 3-star defensive lineman who is currently ranked as the No. 3 player in Wisconsin for 2028. Nick Osen, who is a perfect 134 out of 134 in predictions, logged the pick for Wisconsin, giving the Badgers an early edge with one of the state’s top young prospects.
That’s a notable development for Fickell, especially after he was criticized for his in-state recruiting a couple of seasons ago. He answered that by landing the big names and nearly all the top talent in Wisconsin for 2027, and now he’s trying to open 2028 the same way. Dawson would be another strong sign that the Badgers are keeping the best local players close to home.
Dawson, from Wisconsin Dells, is listed at 6-foot-4 and 285 pounds, which is a massive frame for someone heading into his junior year of high school. He still has room to add more size, and that fits the kind of interior defensive lineman Fickell tends to like. If Dawson keeps growing the way Wisconsin expects, he could be well over 300 pounds by the time he reaches college.
The interest between the two sides has been building for a while. Dawson has been around the program, attending camps and staying on Wisconsin’s radar, but he didn’t receive his Badger offer until December. By then, he already had offers from Minnesota and Maryland, and he now holds seven other offers overall, mostly from Big Ten schools.
For now, the 2028 class is still wide open. There isn’t much movement yet, and Dawson committing this early would be a major win for Wisconsin. It would also give Fickell a chance to keep building around another in-state name as the class develops.
At the moment, only four in-state players are ranked and rated by 24/7 Sports in the 2028 cycle. Dawson sits at No. 3 behind 4-star tight end Tre Oiler of Arrowhead, 3-star defensive lineman Azindo Takoro of Edgewood, and 3-star quarterback JJ Chapman of Oak Creek.
That list figures to grow once the season gets going and more sophomores turn into juniors with bigger roles. For Wisconsin, though, the early message is already clear: Fickell wants to start 2028 with another local prize, and Dawson is squarely in the mix.
In Other News...
Wisconsin Defense Has 3 Breakout Athletes Fans Need To Watch
Wisconsins defense is heading into the season with a few intriguing pieces who could change the feel of the unit, and the buzz starts with the kind of athletes this staff has been able to identify and develop. Sebastian Cheeks has already drawn attention for his range, while Clayton has been singled out as a player with the kind of physical tools that can tilt a front in a hurry. Add in the staffs belief in the overall athletic profile of this group, and theres a real sense that the Badgers may have more speed and disruption on that side of the ball than theyve shown in a while.
The most interesting part is how those traits could fit together once the games start. Jon Jon Kamara gives Wisconsin a different look at linebacker and could help them match up better in space, while Cai Bates brings size and length to a cornerback battle that is still very much alive. Even if Bates does not win the job outright, he looks positioned to be involved plenty, which is exactly the kind of depth chart wrinkle that can matter over the course of a long season. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Fans Hated The New Look Until One Detail Emerged
Wisconsins new look for Week 1 against Notre Dame has been one of those reveals that immediately split the fan base. The jersey drew most of the heat, especially for its silver and chrome touches, but the full uniform package at least gave Badgers supporters one part to latch onto: the all-red helmets with the motion W.
That helmet combination has a spotless history, which is enough to make even the skeptics pause before writing the whole thing off. Wisconsin also said the silver and chrome elements were meant to nod to the Lombardi Trophy, a detail that may help explain the design even if it has not exactly softened the initial reaction. [Read more 🡒]