MADISON – The Wisconsin football program’s 2027 class is on track to deliver its largest in-state haul in 16 years.
The Badgers‘ eight state recruits are the most for the program in one class since it had 10 in 2011. This year’s class has been at the heart of what has been a well-received recruiting effort by Badgers coach Luke Fickell and his staff.
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As of May 7, the class is ranked 13th nationally by 247sports and 22nd by Rivals/On3. But in a testament to the depth of the Big Ten, UW ranks just seventh and ninth, respectively, in the league according to those sites.
Those eight in-state players were the first in the class. Since then the Badgers have added players from Delaware, Indiana, Connecticut and Illinois.
Here is a look at earch player in the class.
Defensive lineman David Hill
Committed: May 1.
Hometown: Chicago.
High school: Homewood-Flossmoor.
Height: 6-3.
Weight: 300 pounds.
Ratings: Hill is considered a consensus three-star recruit.
The lowdown: Hill added 30 pounds to his frame between his sophomore and junior seasons and has the potential to add even more size. He announced 21 scholarship offers on social media before committing to the Badgers. UW offered on July 31, 2025. Five other Big Ten rivals also made offers: Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and Purdue.
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Defensive lineman Will Zaccagnino
Committed: April 30.
Hometown: Shelton, Connecticut.
High school: St. Joseph.
Height: 6-5.
Weight: 270 pounds.
Ratings: Zaccagnino is considered a consensus three-star recruit.
The lowdown: Zaccagnino plays end in St. Joseph’s defense but projects as a tackle for UW. He posted more than 100 tackles the past two seasons and made 47 stops in 2025 that included eight tackles for a loss and four sacks. He also deflected nine passes and was a consensus first-team all-state selection. He announced 15 scholarship offers on X that included Big Ten rivals Illinois and Michigan State.
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More: A closer look at Wisconsin defensive line recruit Will Zaccagnino
Safety Daniel (DJ) Davis
Committed: April 27.
Hometown: Middletown, Delaware.
High school: Middletown.
Height: 6-2.
Weight: 175 pounds.
Ratings: 247sports and Rivals/On3 give him three stars. ESPN has not rated him.
The lowdown: Davis’ skills as a receiver generated some interest on the recruiting trail, but the Power Four programs that offered were interested in him as a safety. He scheduled official visits with Penn State, West Virginia and Syracuse before he announced his commitment.
Quarterback Jack Sorgi
Committed: April 24.
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Hometown: Pittsboro, Indiana.
High school: Tri-West Hendricks.
Height: 6-4.
Weight: 205 pounds.
Ratings: Rivals rates Sorgi as a four-star prospect. 247sports and ESPN give him three stars.
The lowdown: The legacy commit – he’s the son of former Badgers QB Jim Sorgi – came to UW after decommitting from Louisville on March 8. The Badgers, who weren’t in on his recruitment the first time around, quickly joined the fray the second time, extending Sorgi an offer March 9. He combines athleticism that comes from playing running back, receiver and safety growing up with burgeoning skills as a passer. Last season, his first year as the full-time starter, he completed 61% (178 of 291) of his passes for 2,911 yards, 31 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
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Running back Kingston Allen
Committed: April 3.
Hometown: Green Bay, Wisconsin.
High school: Notre Dame
Height: 6-0.
Weight: 195 pounds.
Ratings: Rivals/On3 and 247sports consider him a four-star recruit. ESPN gives him three stars.
The lowdown: Allen set single-season state records for rushing yards (3,436) and touchdowns (57) on the way to helping the Tritons reach the WIAA Division 2 final, but that didn’t create huge recruiting interest. He posted five offers on X. In addition to UW, the others were Northwestern, Eastern Michigan, North Dakota State and North Dakota. Wisconsin saw enough to make an offer after he gained 509 yards and scored seven touchdowns in a 56-42 playoff win over defending champion Slinger on Halloween.
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More: What 4-star running back recruit Kingston Allen can bring to Wisconsin
Offensive lineman Hunter Mallinger
Committed: April 1.
Hometown: Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.
High school: Sussex Hamilton.
Height: 6-5.
Weight: 275 pounds.
Ratings: Rivals/On3 gives Mallinger four stars. ESPN and 247sports give him three.
The lowdown: Mallinger flourished in his second year as a starter. He was a first-team all-state selection by the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association who helped the Chargers reach the third round of the WIAA playoffs. He put such good work on film that it led to 10 Power Four offers after the season that included defending national champion Indiana, North Carolina and Iowa State.
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Offensive lineman Reece Mallinger
Committed: April 1.
Hometown: Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.
High school: Sussex Hamilton.
Height: 6-6.
Weight: 285 pounds.
Ratings: Mallinger is a consensus three-star recruit.
The lowdown: Mallinger missed his sophomore season due to a torn labrum but made an impact in his comeback season. He was an all-region selection by the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association who netted 11 FBS offers after the season. Wisconsin’s offer came on Jan. 9.
More: Spring practice visit played key role in Mallingers’ commitment to Wisconsin
Tackle Cole Reiter
Committed: March 26
Hometown: Germantown, Wisconsin.
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High school: Germantown.
Height: 6-7.
Weight: 315 pounds.
Ratings: Reiter is a consensus four-star recruit. He is 157th overall in the class, according to 247sports, 172nd by Rivals/On3 and 252nd by ESPN.
The lowdown: Getting a commitment from Reiter meant winning recruiting battles with Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and reigning national champion Indiana. Reiter helped Germantown win a share of the Greater Metro Conference title and reach Level 2 of the WIAA playoffs. He was a first-team all-state selection by the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association.
More: How the Wisconsin football program is closing the state’s borders in recruiting
Outside linebacker Isaac Miller
Committed: March 5.
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Hometown: Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.
High school: Catholic Memorial.
Height: 6-5.
Weight: 250 pounds.
Ratings: 247sports and Rivals/On3 give Miller three stars. ESPN has not ranked him.
The lowdown: UW beat Kansas, Nebraska, Michigan State and North Carolina among others to get Miller, who received 25 Power Four scholarship offers. He played his junior season with a torn labrum, but still played the interior line as well as the edge for the Crusaders. He finished with 61 tackles, 23 solos, with 23 quarterback pressures. He was an all-region selection by the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association.
More: Catholic Memorial edge Isaac Miller breaks down commitment to Wisconsin
Safety Dustin Roach
Committed: Jan. 23.
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Hometown: Waukesha, Wisconsin.
High school: Catholic Memorial.
Height: 6-3.
Weight: 185 pounds.
Ratings: Roach is a consensus three-star recruit.
The lowdown: Roach is a two-way standout who received greater accolades last season as a receiver – he was honorable mention all-state on that side of the ball – but higher-profile offers on defense. He made 36 tackles last season, including 21 solo stops. He also intercepted five passes and returned two for touchdowns. He is currently recovering from an ACL injury he suffered early in basketball season.
More: Catholic Memorial’s Dustin Roach breaks down Wisconsin commitment, knee injury
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Tight end Korz Loken
Committed: Jan. 10
Hometown: Iola, Wisconsin.
High school: Iola-Scandinavia.
Height: 6-5.
Weight: 230 pounds.
Ratings: Loken is a consensus four-star recruit. Nationally he ranks overall 143rd (247sports), 201 (Rivals/On3) and 240th (ESPN).
The lowdown: Loken put a jolt into the Badgers’ offseason when he announced his commitment to the program on national television during halftime of the Navy All-American Bowl. He played just two games last season due to a wrist injury, but recovered in time to play basketball and appears on track to return to the field for his senior season. As a sophomore, he caught 28 passes for 425 yards and nine touchdowns.
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Tackle Ethan McIntosh
Committed: Nov. 12.
Hometown: Verona, Wisconsin.
High school: Verona.
Height: 6-7.
Weight: 250 pounds.
Ratings: McIntosh is a consensus three-star recruit.
The lowdown: The legacy recruit – he is the son for former UW athletic director Chris McIntosh, an All-American tackle in 1999 – was a unanimous all-Big Eight selection who was also an all-region selection by the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association. He received 10 other Division I offers before he committed: Colorado State, Duke, Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Northwestern and Washington State.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: How Wisconsin football’s 2027 recruiting class is shaping up
