Luke Fickell is wasting zero time carrying the momentum from the 2027 recruiting class over to 2028. Wisconsin already has a 2028 prediction in the crystal ball chat for 24/7 Sports. Nick Osen, who is a perfect 134 out of 134 in predictions, says the next Badger commit is Hendrix Dawson, an in-state 3-star defensive lineman. Dawson is currently listed as the No. 3 player for 2028 in Wisconsin.
This is already a really big sign for Fickell, who was chastised for his poor in-state recruiting just a couple of seasons ago. He then flipped the script and landed all the big names and pretty much all the talent in the entire state for 2027. He's now trying to start 2028 with a bang by getting another top player in Wisconsin with Dawson. It's a good sign that Dawson is already dreaming about being a Badger while he holds seven other offers (mostly from Big Ten schools).
2028 DL Hendrix Dawson projected to commit to Wisconsin 👀 pic.twitter.com/YdwgoHk7ep
— Dr. Marte (@Badgers_44) July 9, 2026
2028 DL Hendrix Dawson is predicted to commit to Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin Badgers
Related: Touted Wisconsin DL Yahzeen Zion sends passionate, unmistakable message to fans
Dawson is a big defensive line recruit from Wisconsin Dells. He's listed at 6'4 and 285 pounds, which is huge for a player that's headed into his junior year of high school. He even has more room to grow and get bigger with his frame and size. Fickell has a tendency to love 300+ pound interior defensive linemen. Dawson could easily be there by his freshman season of college.
Fickell has had his eyes on Dawson for a while, and he's a player who's been hanging around the program and attending camps. He didn't get his Badger offer, though, until December. At that point, he already held offers from the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Maryland Terrapins. However, Dawson wants to be a Badger, and the momentum of in-state recruiting may help Fickell land Dawson.
This class is still very young, and there's not a lot of movement or commitments yet. Dawson committing this early would be a major steal, and then the momentum would be for keeping Dawson throughout as he continues to get bigger, stronger, and rise up recruiting boards.
The 2028 recruiting class is still taking shape; there are only four players in-state who are currently ranked and rated by 24/7 Sports. Dawson is listed at No. 3 with 3 stars ahead of him is 4-star tight end Tre Oiler from Arrowhead, there's 3-star defensive lineman Azindo Takoro from Edgewood, and 3-star QB JJ Chapman from Oak Creek. It's a decent start to the class, and it's becoming evident that there are more players who will jump on this list as football starts in the fall. The sophomores will turn to juniors and get more playing time and explode onto the scene.
Fickell would love to start the class with Dawson, both because he's a good player and also because he's another in-state kid. Building that wall around the state. He will then work to fill it in with other great players, both in and out of state.
Add us as a preferred source on Google