Despite his obvious lack of on-field success, Wisconsin football head coach Luke Fickell has attracted several remarkably touted candidates to Madison during his tenure with the Badgers.
Kevin Heywood, an offensive lineman (consensus top-60 national prospect), Dilin Jones, a running back (consensus top-140), and Mason Posa, a linebacker (consensus top-190), all spring to mind.
Then, of course, there’s the long list of highly sought-after transfers that Fickell and company have persuaded to relocate to Madison, with just a few making an on-field contribution.
However, the reality is that Fickell hasn’t missed a beat as a recruiter, despite the fact that his teams have produced some of the worst results on Saturdays that Badger supporters have witnessed this century.
Nonetheless, Cole Reiter, Germantown’s finest, made a verbal commitment on Thursday, which may be the most important commitment of the Fickell era to date.
A verbal agreement nowadays means little until it is written down and a national letter of intent is signed. However, Sun Reiter’s commitment to the Badgers seems unique; it was not a hasty choice, and he is already working on the recruiting trail for Wisconsin.
Certain recruits can transform a program’s impression even before they play a snap. And while a Big Ten institution signing an in-state four-star offensive lineman will not make national headlines, it is extremely important for Wisconsin.
In Fickell’s first full recruiting class at Wisconsin, he only recruited three players from within the Dairy State. He has already received five verbal commitments from students in the class of 2027, all of whom are from Wisconsin.
The In-State Recruiting Myth
I do not believe that in-state recruiting is a major contributor to Wisconsin’s success or failure. If the Badgers want a player from within the state, they should make him a top priority and have a decent to great chance of acquiring him. However, Wisconsin has experienced several challenges under Fickell, none of which are due to a failure to recruit the state’s greatest candidates.
Nonetheless, it has importance for perception. The talent in the Badger State’s graduating class of 2027 is not anything to dismiss. Between the three blue chippers (Reiter, Kingston Allen, and Korz Lorken, two of whom are Wisconsin commits) and the rest of the three-star candidates, there are some exceptionally talented juniors in Wisconsin right now.
By capturing Lorken and now Reiter — and projecting to capture the state’s top-ranked prospect on 247Sports, tailback Kingston Allen — Fickell and his staff are demonstrating their ability to keep the state’s top talent in Wisconsin. But, more significantly, O-Line U has persuaded a blue-chip offensive lineman from Wisconsin to stay home. They were 0-for-3 previously: Owen Strebig (Notre Dame), Garrett Sexton (Penn State), and Nathan Roy (Minnesota).
Reiter’s commitment should also have a domino effect. As previously stated, he has already begun recruiting, with in-state twins Hunter and Reece Mallinger being his top objectives.
However, perception is what matters most. Wisconsin has allowed rival Big Ten universities to stroll into the state and snatch away its greatest candidates for the most sacrosanct position. Reiter’s dedication indicates that things may be shifting.
