Wisconsin landed a commitment from class of 2024 three-star safety Raphael Dunn on Sunday. It grew the Badgers’ 2024 group to 13 commits, five of which have come since the start of June.
The group has two four-star prospects: tight end Grant Stec and offensive tackle Kevin Haywood. With the Badgers in the running for several players after some big June official visit weekends, expect that number to grow in the coming weeks.
The addition of Dunn moved the program back up to No. 15 in 247Sports’ team ranking. Wisconsin has never finished a recruiting cycle ranked better than 15th in the online recruiting rankings era.
Recruiting rankings are tough to unpack this early in the cycle, though. For example, Wisconsin with 13 commits is ranked one spot ahead of Alabama’s eight-person class. Alabama has Wisconsin beaten handily in the average player rating, with its class boasting three five-stars and four four-stars to this point. In short: a lot will change before the bow is tied on the 2024 cycle.
Head coach Luke Fickell excelled after his hiring at completing the class of 2023 and bolstering the roster in the transfer portal. Much of that work will pay dividends this season and as he begins his tenure. But when the book on the Luke Fickell era at Wisconsin is written, the primary focus will be on his first few full recruiting cycles.
College football head coaches can win for a season with a great transfer class (see: Mel Tucker at Michigan State). But there is no better indicator of long-term success than results on the high school recruiting trail. Early returns on Fickell’s work in that department are quite promising.