How Luke Fickell, Wisconsin football retain recruits who could flip

MADISON – The University of Wisconsin football team is currently experiencing a surge on the field and in the recruiting arena. The Badgers have started their 2027 season with a 4-1 record, marking their best five-game start since their first season under head coach Luke Fickell. Notably, Wisconsin's 2027 recruiting class is ranked 27th in 247 Sports' composite rankings and features eight of the 11 highest-rated prospects in the state.

As the early signing period approaches in December, Wisconsin finds itself at a crucial juncture in preserving its recruiting momentum. The team is also under scrutiny after high-profile recruit Kingston Allen announced an offer from Ohio State. Allen, a four-star rating and the seventh-best running back nationally in the 2027 class, has been committed to the Badgers since April.

The Green Bay Notre Dame star running back is expected to break the state record for games with 300-plus rushing yards, barring any corrections, according to the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

Speaking generally about retaining recruits who have verbally committed, Fickell stressed the significance of maintaining relationships. "If you stop having those conversations with guys and stop doing a really good job of building a relationship, even during the season, yeah, there’s going to be a lot of other opportunities out there for guys," he said.

Wisconsin has a reminder of how prospects' verbal commitments can change after last year's losses in the 2026 recruiting class. Notable examples include Amari Latimer, a four-star running back and the top-rated player in Wisconsin's 2026 class, who flipped his commitment from the Badgers to West Virginia in December; Aden Reeder, a linebacker from the Cincinnati area, who decommitted from UW in November and committed to Michigan a few days later; wide receiver Jayden Petit, who flipped from UW to Oklahoma; and tight end Jack Janda, who flipped from UW to Iowa and then switched positions to defensive line.

Despite these changes, UW has already matched its 2025 win total with its 4-1 start, including a significant road win over then-No. 14 Penn State. The Badgers need just two more victories to secure bowl eligibility and are enjoying a more favorable Big Ten schedule. Fickell emphasized that securing recruits becomes easier when the team enjoys success on the field.

"It can be a hell of a lot easier to retain them when you have greater success on Saturdays," he stated. "But it's still about continuing to build the relationships. It's not letting up. That doesn't ever change."