The Wisconsin football staff has worked hard to put together a successful recruiting weekend, and now walks away with multiple commitments.
Ben Wenzel, a three-star 2026 linebacker from Appleton, has announced his commitment to the Wisconsin Badgers football program. The in-state product rose on recruiting boards after this most recent season and seemed destined to stay close to home after visiting Madison. Wenzel is considered one of the top players in the state of Wisconsin and chose the Badgers over Oklahoma.
Wenzel is both a great story for Wisconsin with the recruit staying close to home and a successful landing for the Badgers staff. The Wisconsin football staff has had some recent struggles trying to keep top talent in the state, but the commitment of Wenzel could be a sign of a growing interest in players staying in the state.
The Wisconsin football staff may not be completely done, either, with multiple recruits such as McHale Blade and Zachary Washington walking away from Madison impressed. Wenzel posted on social media shortly after his visit recapping his excitement and enjoyment on campus before announcing his commitment. Both Blade and Washington have done the same, but have not yet followed through with commitments.
Wisconsin entered the weekend with big names and priority targets entering town with a mix of current commitments. Now, the Badgers will walk away from the weekend with a few extra spots filled out in multiple recruiting classes.
The Badgers began the weekend with a commitment to finalize the 2025 class from Mason Kelley, an in-state preferred walk-on. Wisconsin followed up the commitment from Kelley with an addition to the 2026 recruiting class from three-star defensive lineman Arthur Scott.
The Wisconsin football staff now gets their man in the linebacker room with the commitment of Wenzel. The linebacker is currently considered to be the 109th player positionally in the 2026 class. Wenzel held offers from Michigan State, Minnesota, Kansas, and Oklahoma before announcing his commitment to the Badgers.
While Wenzel might be an excellent commitment due to his ability on the field and his proximity to the school, the commitment also signifies a shift in recruiting for Wisconsin. Assistant linebackers coach Tuf Borland was given plenty of control over the defensive recruitment for the 2026 cycle, and has since landed commitments from Wenzel and Aden Reeder. Borland has also become a major figure in the Wisconsin recruiting scene, with other recruits noting that Borland adds to the knowledge of the staff defensively.
