Fond du Lac High School's Max Mengel (1) pulls down a first down reception against Appleton North High School's Ben Wenzel (50) and Bobby Salm (4) during their football game Thursday, August 31, 2023, in Fond du Lac, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK

Wisconsin Badgers land commitment of 2026 in-state linebacker with SEC interest

Originally posted on Wisconsin Badgers on SI
By Jake Kocorowski | Last updated Jun 1, 2025 3:21 PM ET

Luke Fickell and the University of Wisconsin football program keeps home an in-state standout.

Ben Wenzel, who plays at Appleton North, announced Sunday via On3 his commitment to the Badgers.

Wenzel is a three-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals. He’s been to Madison multiple times, watching a Wisconsin spring practice in April and most recently took an official visit this weekend.

He recorded 83 tackles, one tackle for loss and two forced fumbles as a junior, according to wissports.net.

Here are three takeaways from commitment of Wenzel.

BREAKING: Class of 2026 LB Ben Wenzel has Committed to Wisconsin, he tells me for @on3recruits

The 6’3 220 LB from Appleton, WI chose the Badgers over Michigan State & Oklahoma

“I am staying home. Roll Badgers!”https://t.co/cVHlwgx23s pic.twitter.com/o8JW4rnzaY
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 1, 2025

Wisconsin keeps an in-state recruit home

The Badgers staff missed out on Janesville Parker offensive lineman Gavin Meier, who announced this spring his commitment to archrival Minnesota. You can consider that a miss after the Wisconsin staff recruited Meier hard starting this past winter.

Wisconsin wasn't the first Power Four school to offer Wenzel, however. He has announced offers from Kansas, Michigan State and Oklahoma since March.

Another athletic, lengthy linebacker in the middle of the Wisconsin defense

Wenzel is the second projected inside linebacker, joining Cincinnati St. Xavier standout Aden Reeder.

Wenzel’s listed at 6-foot-3 and 217 pounds on Hudl, which lines up with the length the Badgers have looked for recently. Christian Alliegro (6-4, 245), Landon Gauthier (6-3, 235) and incoming four-star freshman Mason Posa (a listed 6-3 on Hudl) all are similar in build.

'26 Linebacker ~ 6'3.5", 212 lbs
⚡️Updated Junior Season Highlights ++⚡️
-4 Forced Fumb (4th in State D1)
-3 Blocked FG (1st in State D1)
-10 Tkl/Game (2nd in Conference)
-1st Team All-Conference (FVA)
-1st Team All-Region (Large School) pic.twitter.com/0fDOZJbsJ6
— (@wenzel_ben7) January 30, 2025

Another summer official visit commit

The Badgers now hold nine commits for the 2026 class, and Wenzel’s the second to announce his commitment on Sunday. Defensive lineman Arthur Scott (Streetsboro, Ohio) declared his verbal pledge to Wisconsin earlier in the day.

These summer official visits have been absolutely critical for the program since the NCAA began allowing them for the class of 2019. That especially holds true during Fickell’s first two summers at Wisconsin.

I'M STAYING HOME ❤️ #commited #badgers @CoachFick @TufBorland @CoachMikeTress @PatLambert13 @Wi_Recruiting @ANLightningFB @AllenTrieu @Hayesfawcett3 pic.twitter.com/5AKpNyCZYn
— (@wenzel_ben7) June 1, 2025