After losing to #4 Alabama Many Wisconsin football fans immediately felt the program was in ruins.
Although the Badgers didn’t look good on the field against the Crimson Tide, there’s a misconception that their losses will result in a decrease in recruiting success. However, after multiple Wisconsin recruits spoke with Sports Heroics in Wisconsin when it comes to the game, it’s clear that the stakes are much higher than success on the field. Recruits and families look far beyond what the team does in the game, in the game on the field, or rather, how the program operates beyond the surface level.
Wisconsin football recruiting looking for culture and integrity in program
After losing to the #4 Alabama Crimson Tide, Wisconsin football fans have been blowing up social media with concerns about the future of the program. Coach Luke Fickell, who is currently three games into his second season with the Badgers, is under intense scrutiny from some Badgers fans. Many fans believe Fickell is not achieving what he was brought to Wisconsin to do and as a result could be detrimental to the future of the program.
But the Wisconsin football program was never going to transform into an elite, top-tier team overnight. Fickell worked difficult to build what he has at Wisconsin, and it still needs time to secure a roster of his own talent. The players Fickell has carefully recruited have understood that and see it far beyond the field, even if fans feel otherwise.
Recruitment 2026 Daylen Sharper (four star WR), Marcello Vitti (four star ATH) and Korz Loken (Four-star TE) all gave feedback on the game. Vitti stated, “The loss doesn’t really change anything for me because I care about the development and growth that the staff provides.” Loken and Sharper also agreed, as the duo believes the Badgers have struggled but understand how to learn from their mistakes.
What are Wisconsin Badgers football recruiters looking for on the field?
While the loss didn’t hurt Wisconsin football’s recruiting success or its relationships with recruits, it does provide a chance for a gigantic rebound. All three recruits agreed that Wisconsin needs to improve, but correcting mistakes is key because that’s the only way to truly grow as a team. The Badgers may have had a bad run, but the staff understands what they did wrong and how to fix it, which is ultimately what recruits expect from the staff.
With the ugly performance on the field in mind, Loken put the loss in perspective, saying, “They had a big loss to a historically dominant program and the number four school in the country.” As bad as things might have been on the field at times, Wisconsin was not playing an “easy” team by any means. The Wisconsin football team made mistakes, and that simply can’t happen against teams the caliber of the Crimson Tide.
For other recruits, the play on the field is just another aspect of what motivates an athlete to come to campus and get to work. Sharper, a talented quarterback, said, “Losing just proves you really need me.” Players these days want to make an impact, and when Sharper watched the Crimson Tide game, the quarterback saw a lot of areas where he could improve for the Badgers.
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