Wisconsin’s recruiting momentum keeps building, and the latest buzz points to a major win on the horizon.
The Badgers are now trending for five-star edge rusher Jalanie George, a Desert Edge High School standout who is set to announce his commitment on October 1. On3’s Brandon Huffman and Steve Wiltfong both shifted their crystal ball predictions from Washington to Wisconsin, a notable swing after Washington had been viewed as the favorite for much of the recent stretch.
George is one of the most coveted prospects in the country. ESPN has him ranked No. 15 in the class, the Rivals Composite slots him at No. 23, and the 247Sports Composite places him at No.
- He already holds 36 offers and previously narrowed things down to a top six in May.
That original group did not include Wisconsin. Auburn, Ohio State, Washington, Miami, Oklahoma and Florida made the cut instead. Since then, the picture has changed, and the Badgers have moved themselves into position to land one of the headliners of the cycle.
The connection between Wisconsin and Desert Edge has been growing for a while now. The Badgers have already pulled in three commitments from Arizona in their 2027 class, including two from Desert Edge: three-star defensive lineman Yahzeen Zion and linebacker Nathan Jones. Wisconsin also brought in Jon Jon Kamara through the transfer portal, and Kamara, now a junior, played at Desert Edge in high school.
George visited Wisconsin during Week 2, and if the crystal ball action holds, he would become the third addition to the Badgers’ 2028 class alongside linebacker Cale Britt and offensive lineman Brock Barrows.
Wisconsin’s broader recruiting run has been hard to miss. Even with on-field results that haven’t matched the program’s recruiting surge, the Badgers have built up one of the nation’s stronger classes. Their 2027 group now sits at 23 commitments and is rated as a top-25 class by 247Sports, a big leap after the 2026 class finished with fewer than 15 commitments.
Along the way, Wisconsin has also landed several of the best players from a loaded in-state pool and flipped prized four-star Florida defensive back Mekhi Williams from Florida State. The Badgers have won key battles throughout the summer, and George would be the latest sign that their recruiting reach is extending well beyond the Midwest.
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Wisconsin Suddenly Has A Chance At A Recruiting Stunner Under Fickell
A major recruiting opening has quietly surfaced for Wisconsin, and it centers on five-star edge rusher Jalanie George. The top 2028 prospect has trimmed his list to Wisconsin, Washington, Auburn and Miami, and several recruiting analysts now view the Badgers as one of the strongest contenders after Georges recent visit and the connections he has built with current players and staff.
For a program trying to keep raising its ceiling under Luke Fickell, getting into that kind of conversation matters almost as much as the final decision. Nothing is settled yet, and the picture can still shift in a hurry, but Wisconsin has put itself in position for a result that would stand out even in a strong recruiting cycle. [Read more 🡒]
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For a team trying to line up its best available group at the right time, that matters. Penn State, meanwhile, is still managing absences and uncertainty, with Koby Howard ruled out and Brock Riker still questionable, which gives Wisconsin a healthier look heading into a game where every available body can tilt the margin. [Read more 🡒]