Emmett Bork arrived in Madison as the kind of tight end most programs hope they can uncover: lightly recruited, a little under the radar, and built like he was made for the position. Wisconsin got him with Nizyi Davis, and while Bork brought 13 offers - including five from the Big Ten - he still sat in the 1,300/1,400 range nationally and wasn’t a top-10 prospect in Wisconsin by either 247Sports or On3/Rivals.
Now, after a freshman season that included action in just one game - the Week 2 meeting with Middle Tennessee State - Bork is drawing real attention inside the program. The praise has come from everywhere, and it’s been loud.
“I don’t wanna get too far ahead of myself with Emmett, but he’s a guy we have high expectations for, even in his second year. A guy who competes his butt off.
He’s the size, the physicality, everything you want at the tight end position," head coach Luke Fickell said. "He’s a guy that has the ability to do it all."
Grant Stec, one of Bork’s fellow tight ends, was just as direct.
“He’s a meathead and he’s a goofball, but once the pads come on, he’s physical. Like, he’s a dominant player.
His body type, he’s everything you want in a tight end. He’s shown tremendous growth from last year, just understanding the playbook, going out there and playing free," his fellow tight end Grant Stec added.
At 6-foot-6 and 255 pounds, Bork is technically Wisconsin’s third-biggest tight end, just behind Stec at 6-foot-6, 260. But the number on the roster doesn’t fully capture how he looks after another year in Brady Collins’ strength program.
TE Jacob Harris, WR Eugene Hilton, RB Abu Sama, and TE Emmett Bork #Badgers pic.twitter.com/NUqQElY8A8
The best-case version of Bork is pretty easy to picture. He grows into one of Wisconsin’s best blocking tight ends by the end of fall camp, and once that happens, keeping him off the field becomes a real challenge.
Even if the receiving production never jumps off the page, his blocking could earn him plenty of snaps in Jeff Grimes’ 12 personnel looks. That’s where a tight end like Bork can matter: moving bodies, setting a tone, and doing the dirty work that keeps the offense rolling.
That kind of role would still leave room for some targets, and it would also set up a strong year for a redshirt freshman who could be laying the groundwork for a starting job down the line in Madison.
“You just look at his body type, he’s a well put-together kid. He’s done a great job of working incredibly hard.
That’s one of the things I’m most impressed about with Bork is, he has a really high work capacity. He rarely fatigues, gets tired or hits a wall, and that’s a skill.
That’s a gift," tight ends coach Nate Letton said during spring ball.
The other path is much quieter. If Bork doesn’t take the next step, it probably means he’s stuck behind Jacob Harris, Stec and FCS transfer Ryan Schwendeman in the tight end rotation. In that case, the snaps would be scarce and the season would look a lot like his first one.
Even then, it’s tough to imagine him only appearing in one game again, given how much buzz he’s generated this offseason. Still, if Harris, Stec and Schwendeman all seize their opportunities, Bork could end up watching from the sideline more than he’d like.
For now, TE3 feels like the most reasonable landing spot for him in year two. He’s got the size edge over Schwendeman, who brings more experience at the FCS level, and the coaching staff clearly likes what it sees in Bork’s ceiling. The numbers may not be eye-popping, but in Grimes’ tight end-heavy system, there should be chances for him to play, learn and get comfortable with the weekly grind of Big Ten football.
In Other News...
Wisconsins Notre Dame Uniform Debate Just Got Backing Badgers Fans Didnt Expect
Wisconsins Week 1 trip to Notre Dame already had plenty of built-in attention, and the reveal of the Badgers alternate look only added to it. The program rolled out red helmets with an all-red uniform set, a combination that immediately set off a wave of reaction online and gave fans something else to argue about before the season opener even arrives.
The debate has not been one-sided, either. Wisconsin players have clearly embraced the look, and the uniform talk has even drawn support from an unexpected corner, with some outside voices giving the Badgers design a nod over Notre Dames traditional style. For a game that was already going to carry plenty of weight, the uniform conversation has become one more layer of intrigue heading into Week 1. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Has Waited Long Enough For Kevin Heywood To Arrive
Kevin Heywood arrived in Madison with the kind of recruiting profile that usually comes with immediate expectations, and Wisconsin has spent the better part of a year waiting for the offensive tackle to get his turn. The Badgers believed they were adding a big-time piece in the 2024 class, but a lost 2025 season kept him on the sideline and pushed his debut back while the line around him kept moving.
Now the conversation has shifted from when Heywood might help to how quickly he can matter. Coaches have been encouraged by the way he has handled the setback, and he is already being talked about as a player who can anchor the right side while also carrying the kind of upside that NFL evaluators notice. For a Wisconsin program that always wants its offensive front to set the tone, Heywood's arrival feels less like a future storyline and more like one that is finally ready to start unfolding. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Is Pushing Early For Two Ohio Linemen Fans Will Want
Wisconsins early work in the 2028 recruiting cycle is already reaching into Ohio, where the Badgers are making a push on a pair of highly regarded offensive linemen. Both are three-star prospects with national attention and sit near the top of their states class, which gives Wisconsin a chance to get in front of the race before it turns into the kind of heavyweight battle that usually comes later.
The Badgers have built some traction with one lineman through repeated visits, while the other is still in the early stages of getting familiar with Madison after a recent recruiting trip. Each already has a growing list of major offers, and the next few months will be about keeping those relationships warm as bigger programs continue to circle. For Wisconsin, the appeal is obvious: if the staff can stay involved now, it may have a real shot before the recruiting board gets crowded. [Read more 🡒]