Luke Fickell has Wisconsin in the mix for a recruiting swing that would turn heads anywhere: a possible run at 5-star edge rusher Jalanie George in the 2028 class.
That alone is enough to make this one worth watching, but the setup is even more interesting. Wisconsin is coming off a strong push in the 2027 cycle, where Fickell has the Badgers sitting on a top-25 national class with several major names.
The momentum has carried into 2028, too, with four-star Florida linebacker Cale Britt already in the fold. Now the Badgers are showing up as one of the co-favorites for George, who On3 ranks as the No. 2 overall player and the No. 1 edge rusher in the class.
There’s a little variation in the rankings, but not enough to change the point. 247Sports has George at No. 9 overall and No. 2 among edge rushers. Either way, Wisconsin is operating in a recruiting lane it doesn’t usually occupy.
George’s recruitment has been a little unusual, and that may be part of why Wisconsin has a real shot. He’s only heading into his junior year, so there’s still a long runway ahead.
He already has 35 offers from major programs, and at one point trimmed things to six schools: Auburn, Ohio State, Washington, Miami, Oklahoma and Florida. Even after that, he kept the door open to other programs.
Wisconsin has stayed in the picture by working the same school for other targets, including Yahzeen Zion and Nathan Jones. That overlap brought Matt Mitchell into the mix, and Mitchell got George on campus for an unofficial visit in June.
That trip could matter a lot. It also doesn’t hurt that George has seen two edge rushers in the class above him at his high school end up at Wisconsin.
For now, On3 gives the Badgers a 12% chance on George’s recruiting page, which isn’t a huge number. But it is the highest percentage listed alongside Ole Miss, and that alone says Wisconsin is more than just a placeholder here.
The next moves will tell the story. An official visit to Wisconsin would be a strong sign the Badgers are becoming a real final-school contender.
A return trip for a game, especially if George gets to take part in Jump Around, would say plenty too. So would any change to his list as the recruitment tightens up.
Zion and Jones may end up being part of the pitch as well. Both are entering their senior year, both are expected to be in the rotation with George, and there’s already a push to get all three to Wisconsin together. At the very least, Zion and Jones will be working toward that outcome.
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