Wisconsin flips in-state OL who proved to Luke Fickell he deserved to be a Badger

Imagine dreaming of being a Wisconsin Badger, playing high school football, along the offensive line. Hoping that you can someday do enough to prove that you can play for O-Line University. Yet, as you play high school football at Pewaukee High School, you aren't getting enough attention from Wisconsin. The only offers that are coming in are not from high-majors. This is the story of Jack Tabbert.

That's not where it ends, though. Tabbert continued to work until the new Wisconsin offensive line coach, Eric Mateos, noticed. Then an offer came, and the decision to flip from North Dakota State became instant and immediate. The lifelong dream for an in-state kid became a reality. However, it took a "big man camp" to make it happen.

In-state OL recruit Jack Tabbert has flipped from North Dakota State to Wisconsin

Related: Why Luke Fickell’s major recruiting wins could be too little, too late at Wisconsin

Tabbert showed up for Wisconsin's "big man camp," which is a showcase and coaching clinic for high school offensive and defensive linemen. This was his big chance to perform in front of Wisconsin coaches, particularly Mateos, and Tabbert wasn't going to miss his chance. He worked so hard and proved he has both the chops and the work ethic to be a Wisconsin Badger, and Mateos was impressed.

Tabbert left the "big man camp" with an offer, and the decision to flip from North Dakota State didn't take long at all. He told Nick Osen, "The opportunity to be a badger has been a lifelong goal and achievement that I’m just insanely fired up about." From a kid growing up rooting for the Badgers to a scholarship offer and now going to put on the red and white and run out before a sea of Badger fans at Camp Randall is a childhood dream come true.

Tabbert has flown a bit under the radar, but at 6'5 and 270 pounds, he has the frame and makeup to be a good interior lineman for Wisconsin. He simply may have been a late bloomer. While other high school recruits are getting attention their sophomore year or at least their junior year, Tabbert's first offer didn't come until January. That first offer was from North Dakota State.

Read also: 2 rising prospects earned Wisconsin offers after strong camp showings

Wisconsin and Mateos didn't lose contact with him and even had him around a few times, but Mateos waited to see his skills up close. He was run through drills and put up against some of the other top players in the region. It was then that Mateos could see with his own eyes that Tabbert had the moxy to do what it takes to be a Wisconsin Badger offensive lineman.

Wisconsin was Tabbert's first Power 4 offer and also the only one that mattered to him. Wisconsin just landed a player who will work his tail off to prove he belongs at OL-U. It's a big pickup for Wisconsin and overly meaningful to Tabbert.

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