Wisconsin top class of 2025 signee Jaylen Williams captured the tone of many when he took to X to react to Tuesday’s news that Badgers rising star general manager Max Stienecker was leaving for USC.
The news, which came as a shock to many, is significant as Wisconsin looks to reestablish its position within the Big Ten. Stienecker is one of the fastest-rising names in the industry, and now is set to spearhead recruiting efforts for a Big Ten rival.
Related: Six Wisconsin Badgers underclassmen we predict will break out in 2025
Wisconsin promoted Stienecker to general manager back in July 2024 after he spent one season as the program’s player personnel director. Previously, he was the director of on-campus recruiting under Luke Fickell at Cincinnati — he was one of many notable staffers to follow Fickell to Wisconsin in December of 2022.
Stienecker delivered strong results leading Wisconsin’s recruiting staff over the past two cycles. The Badgers finished the 2024 cycle with the nation’s 23rd-ranked class, headlined by the program’s first-ever blue-chip percentage of 50%. The program continued that momentum in 2025, finishing with the nation’s No. 27-ranked class and No. 9 in the Big Ten.
Williams is one of the group’s headliners. The four-star defensive lineman flipped his commitment from Michigan late in the cycle, a significant recruiting win for Fickell, Stienecker and the rest of the Badgers staff. Williams finished as the third-highest-ranked player in the class, slotted by 247Sports as the No. 262 player in the country and No. 27 defensive lineman.
His reaction, seen below, was likely shared by many when the news broke that Stienecker was leaving for a similar position at USC.
Wisconsin has yet to hire Stienecker’s replacement. The program is beginning to ramp up its efforts in the class of 2026, with the class of 2025 cycle now recently concluded. The Badgers would do extremely well to find a rising personnel director that matches Stienecker’s success during his limited time with the program.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Reaction to Wisconsin football recruiting Max Stienecker USC move
