Badgers Football - Transfer SZN

[MVP2110]

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[ReasonablySober]

ESPN on the top ten QBs in the 2025 recruiting class:

Carter Smith, Wisconsin | 2025 ESPN 300 No. 155

Smith can be unorthodox in his passing traits, but he's very productive and will be a more serious running threat than the Badgers have had in years. He has a cool, poised demeanor with a quiet swagger.

When things break down, Smith becomes dangerous. New offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, who was the line coach at Auburn with Cam Newton and the offensive coordinator at BYU with Zach Wilson, will find ways to employ Smith's athletic ability.

[MVP2110]

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[MVP2110]

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[ReasonablySober]

It sucks that he was asked back and was quickly moved to 4th string, but I don't know what Wisconsin was supposed to do once he fell off. Sounds like they were upfront with him about the demotion.

[MVP2110]

Yep, and did it early enough where he could keep eligibility for another season if he wanted to keep playing

[MikeIsGood]

Great article, thanks for sharing it. I often miss the Athletic pieces.

I think it was pretty obvious watching him that he didn't have it, and the staff made the right call to prioritize getting other backs reps. Glad he was able to step away in a way that was respectful to him, even if he didn't agree with the decision. Seems like a good guy and glad we had him here.

[MVP2110]

In state kid choosing the Gophers over us. Brutal

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[ReasonablySober]

In state kid choosing the Gophers over us. Brutal

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Eh, it's notable that Wisconsin has a million offensive lineman commits and underclassmen, and Minnesota has relatively few.

[Kerb Hohl]

Yeah, it could retroactively be a reason that Fickell has "destroyed the program" 2 years from now or whatever, but when something like this happens, you can generally find out why. I think RS has it that the Badgers have a supposedly pretty stocked cupboard of them and there are tons of OL recruits of similar caliber in state right now.

[MVP2110]

Yeah, it could retroactively be a reason that Fickell has "destroyed the program" 2 years from now or whatever, but when something like this happens, you can generally find out why. I think RS has it that the Badgers have a supposedly pretty stocked cupboard of them and there are tons of OL recruits of similar caliber in state right now.

I generally get that concept. But how many times pre Fickell did Wisconsin lose a player from in state that they wanted to Minnesota of all places? It's happened twice now under Fickell and I think it's shows a clear degrading of where the program stands in Wisconsin

[Kerb Hohl]

Yeah, it could retroactively be a reason that Fickell has "destroyed the program" 2 years from now or whatever, but when something like this happens, you can generally find out why. I think RS has it that the Badgers have a supposedly pretty stocked cupboard of them and there are tons of OL recruits of similar caliber in state right now.

I generally get that concept. But how many times pre Fickell did Wisconsin lose a player from in state that they wanted to Minnesota of all places? It's happened twice now under Fickell and I think it's shows a clear degrading of where the program stands in Wisconsin

Yes, that's new...but every "pre-Fickell" thing is essentially also discussing a different sport.

Fickell took over basically as the sport literally became different. That's where I don't know...he may not have been interested, we may have had other guys in tow, may just want to fill most of this with the portal, etc.

I will say that I'm not sure if it is unfortunately out of our control or something that a great coach can bring back, but if you ignore Fleck's illustrious "year 0" - he's basically had the same results as Wisconsin has the past 6 or 7 years or whatever.

From my dumb brain and the memories it somehow holds, I think recently they lost another OL that was "in-state" to Fleck, but had only moved to WI for the end of HS. Also, Gaelin Elmore (?) was the huge sign like a decade ago that Minnesota was taking over because they got a guy that Wisconsin offered from the far western part of WI...but I don't think UW really wanted him and he ended up being irrelevant. Those are the big ones.

[MikeIsGood]

Though acknowledging he is the top in-state player as currently ranked in the class, it looks like it's a brutal year for WI recruits. He's like a mid-level 3-star guy.

I may be coping for sure, but not super worked up.

[MVP2110]

So in general losing a single 3 star recruit isn't a big deal. I think it's more just how the program is viewed by in state kids. This was a kid who grew up a Badger fan and that the staff wanted. And he didn't commit to Notre Dame or Ohio St, he went to Minnesota of all places

[ReasonablySober]

So in general losing a single 3 star recruit isn't a big deal. I think it's more just how the program is viewed by in state kids. This was a kid who grew up a Badger fan and that the staff wanted. And he didn't commit to Notre Dame or Ohio St, he went to Minnesota of all places

In 2025 they signed four top ten in-state recruits. Ten years ago in 2015...they signed four top ten in-state recruits.

It's fine.

[MVP2110]

So in general losing a single 3 star recruit isn't a big deal. I think it's more just how the program is viewed by in state kids. This was a kid who grew up a Badger fan and that the staff wanted. And he didn't commit to Notre Dame or Ohio St, he went to Minnesota of all places

In 2025 they signed four top ten in-state recruits. Ten years ago in 2015...they signed four top ten in-state recruits.

It's fine.

Per the 247 composite in 2015 Wisconsin signed the top in state recruit and only 1 player signed with a P5 program that wasn't Wisconsin. In 2025 the highest ranked in state recruit they got was 4th and 8 players signed with non Wisconsin power conference programs. That's a significant step back in state.

Again, losing Meier isn't the end of the world but it's a general microcosm of how Wisconsin is now viewed in the state. And i find it hard to be optimistic with what Fickell has done with the program

[ReasonablySober]

So in general losing a single 3 star recruit isn't a big deal. I think it's more just how the program is viewed by in state kids. This was a kid who grew up a Badger fan and that the staff wanted. And he didn't commit to Notre Dame or Ohio St, he went to Minnesota of all places

In 2025 they signed four top ten in-state recruits. Ten years ago in 2015...they signed four top ten in-state recruits.

It's fine.

Per the 247 composite in 2015 Wisconsin signed the top in state recruit and only 1 player signed with a P5 program that wasn't Wisconsin. In 2025 the highest ranked in state recruit they got was 4th and 8 players signed with non Wisconsin power conference programs. That's a significant step back in state.

Again, losing Meier isn't the end of the world but it's a general microcosm of how Wisconsin is now viewed in the state. And i find it hard to be optimistic with what Fickell has done with the program

I know you've been banging this drum for the last year, but it's one year. Last year they got the #2, #5, and #6. They also got the #2 guy from Minnesota, a four star. There really isn't any evidence that there's been any in-state drop off, much less that it's a trend.

[MVP2110]

In 2025 they signed four top ten in-state recruits. Ten years ago in 2015...they signed four top ten in-state recruits.

It's fine.

Per the 247 composite in 2015 Wisconsin signed the top in state recruit and only 1 player signed with a P5 program that wasn't Wisconsin. In 2025 the highest ranked in state recruit they got was 4th and 8 players signed with non Wisconsin power conference programs. That's a significant step back in state.

Again, losing Meier isn't the end of the world but it's a general microcosm of how Wisconsin is now viewed in the state. And i find it hard to be optimistic with what Fickell has done with the program

I know you've been banging this drum for the last year, but it's one year. Last year they got the #2, #5, and #6. They also got the #2 guy from Minnesota, a four star. There really isn't any evidence that there's been any in-state drop off, much less that it's a trend.

There is significant evidence that in state recruiting has fallen off

You have to go all the way back to 2016 to find the last time Pre-Fickell that Wisconsin didn't land the top in state recruit per the 247 composite score. Meanwhile Fickell is now 0/3 in landing the top in state guy and has already missed on the top 3 in state guys this year, just like he missed on the top 3 in state last year, and the year before. He literally hasn't landed a top 3 in state recruit during his entire tenure and is 0/6 on in state 4 star guys

[Kerb Hohl]

Per the 247 composite in 2015 Wisconsin signed the top in state recruit and only 1 player signed with a P5 program that wasn't Wisconsin. In 2025 the highest ranked in state recruit they got was 4th and 8 players signed with non Wisconsin power conference programs. That's a significant step back in state.

Again, losing Meier isn't the end of the world but it's a general microcosm of how Wisconsin is now viewed in the state. And i find it hard to be optimistic with what Fickell has done with the program

I know you've been banging this drum for the last year, but it's one year. Last year they got the #2, #5, and #6. They also got the #2 guy from Minnesota, a four star. There really isn't any evidence that there's been any in-state drop off, much less that it's a trend.

There is significant evidence that in state recruiting has fallen off

You have to go all the way back to 2016 to find the last time Pre-Fickell that Wisconsin didn't land the top in state recruit per the 247 composite score. Meanwhile Fickell is now 0/3 in landing the top in state guy and has already missed on the top 3 in state guys this year, just like he missed on the top 3 in state last year, and the year before. He literally hasn't landed a top 3 in state recruit during his entire tenure and is 0/6 on in state 4 star guys

That's a bit disingenuous as Chryst lost Schrauth/Hinzman/Cross to ND/PSU in 2022 but kept Brunner who was slightly better. 2023 the talent was so bad who cares. Sexton/Smith in 2024, Flanagan/Strebig to ND in 2025 are similar losses to bluebloods.

We might just not be able to get the 4+ star guys anymore.

As for this 2026 guy to Minnesota, there are 6 OL currently ranked in the 2026 class, with barely a difference in rating (3 have gone elsewhere). I guess I'd care if they lose all 6 if they planned to keep them.

Outside of Allen/Wohler, the past 5 years the talent has ended up being really bad (so far) outside of the 2-3 hits that got lured away by better/bigger programs like ND/PSU/OSU which I think is just the new norm.

[MVP2110]

I know you've been banging this drum for the last year, but it's one year. Last year they got the #2, #5, and #6. They also got the #2 guy from Minnesota, a four star. There really isn't any evidence that there's been any in-state drop off, much less that it's a trend.

There is significant evidence that in state recruiting has fallen off

You have to go all the way back to 2016 to find the last time Pre-Fickell that Wisconsin didn't land the top in state recruit per the 247 composite score. Meanwhile Fickell is now 0/3 in landing the top in state guy and has already missed on the top 3 in state guys this year, just like he missed on the top 3 in state last year, and the year before. He literally hasn't landed a top 3 in state recruit during his entire tenure and is 0/6 on in state 4 star guys

That's a bit disingenuous as Chryst lost Schrauth/Hinzman/Cross to ND/PSU in 2022 but kept Brunner who was slightly better. 2023 the talent was so bad who cares. Sexton/Smith in 2024, Flanagan/Strebig to ND in 2025 are similar losses to bluebloods.

We might just not be able to get the 4+ star guys anymore.

As for this 2026 guy to Minnesota, there are 6 OL currently ranked in the 2026 class, with barely a difference in rating (3 have gone elsewhere). I guess I'd care if they lose all 6 if they planned to keep them.

Outside of Allen/Wohler, the past 5 years the talent has ended up being really bad (so far) outside of the 2-3 hits that got lured away by better/bigger programs like ND/PSU/OSU which I think is just the new norm.

I mean losing every in state 4 star guy shouldn't be considered understandable imo. This year the top 3 recruits have commited to Indiana, Minnesota, & Iowa, all 3 of which we wanted. That's just flat out not good