On Wednesday, the Wisconsin Badgers missed out on two top high school recruits. Chicago defensive lineman King Liggins chose to stay in-state, committing to the Illinois Fighting Illini, while St. Louis linebacker Mason Marden committed to the Arizona State Sun Devils. The Badgers’ top two commitments in their 2026 class are both on the defensive front, but Luke Fickell and company might be looking at a rising in-state option.

Appleton North (WI) Linebacker Ben Wenzel will take an official visit to Wisconsin

A three-star linebacker listed at 6’ 3’’ and 215 pounds, Wenzel ranks as the fifth-best recruit in Wisconsin, according to 247Sports. In addition to his offer from the Badgers, Wenzel has offers from Kansas, Michigan State, and Oklahoma, among others. Mike Tressel is currently Wenzel’s primary recruiter and will host Wenzel on May 30th. It’s important to note that while the Badgers are the favorite, Wenzel will also take an official visit to Oklahoma on June 20th.

There’s much to like about Wenzel’s highlight tape via Hudl. Watching Wenzel, we see a linebacker who is able to read and react quickly and use his physicality to blow up the play. Perhaps what stands out the most is his high motor. His speed and athleticism are on full display as he’s able to track down the ball carriers.

Landing Wenzel would be a solid addition to a recruiting class that has disappointed in the state of Wisconsin. The top three prospects are off to Big Ten rivals, with Janesville Parker’s Gavin Meier, the top overall recruit from the Badger State, committing to Minnesota. It will be embarrassing for the Wisconsin Badger program if they fail to land a single top recruit from in-state.