The Wisconsin Badgers staff already has a 2026 quarterback commitment and two younger athletes on the roster, but a key 2028 target could emerge.
Matthew Lee , a 2028 quarterback from Illinois, camped with Wisconsin earlier in the off-season and received a scholarship from the staff to kick-start the recruiting process. Lee did not hold a Division-I scholarship previously, but had the opportunity to receive one from the Wisconsin Badgers after impressing the staff. Fellow 2028 class athlete and high school teammate of Lee, wide receiver Jordan McKinley, also received a scholarship from the Badgers along with Iowa State and Nebraska.
Tune up time with 2028 Loyola Academy (IL) QB Matthew Lee.
Had a tremendous offseason that culminated in a Wisconsin offer. On the verge of some big things!
Great hands by @Jordan1Mckinley! #QBX pic.twitter.com/hgHRx9QfnZ
— Brad Maendler (@BradMaendler) August 18, 2025
Lee had previously not earned a scholarship from another staff member, but had key programs such as Michigan, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Penn State, interested in his talents after various camps. The quarterback currently does not have another scholarship offers outside of the Badgers, but all of the mentioned schools are programs to watch moving forward as Lee is considered to be one of the top 2028 quarterbacks early.
The talented 2028 class quarterback has arguably been one of the more impressive younger recruits during the off-season. The 2027 class has been all the talk after the contact period officially opened, but Lee has quietly been putting together a great off-season that has seen camp success, individual success, and also a scholarship offer from the Badgers.
On the field, seeing exactly why the Wisconsin Badgers extended a scholarship offer early is clear as the quarterback possesses excellent physical talent that cannot be taught. Lee can place a football where he pleases and looks unfazed by opposing defenders crowding his space. The composure and awareness of the quarterback at such a young age is rare, and that type of development is also what Wisconsin has been pushing in the quarterback room.
Lee comes with a certain level of talent and skill that simply cannot be taught as easily to older quarterbacks such as his internal clock. The recruit also holds great physical tools that can allow for extra success at the position such as his 6-foot-4-inch frame and excellent footwork which creates a tough-to-tackle target.
The quarterback has only continued to develop this off-season as well, putting in time with Brad Maendler and QB Excelerate. Maendler notably has worked with Penn State quarterback Drew Allar and Georgia freshman quarterback Ryan Montgomery, who has silently been one of the most impressive quarterbacks in the Bulldogs camp.
For the Wisconsin Badgers, Kenny Guiton, Jeff Grimes, and the rest of the staff will need to stay locked-in with Lee as the 2028 recruit has loads of potential and plenty of time before a commitment decision is necessary. As mentioned previously, Lee has multiple programs interested that are still looking at the rest of the class before extending scholarships.
The Badgers are only the start for the quarterback who possesses immense skill early on. Lee will certainly begin to see more offers flood in after proving himself on the field during the upcoming season, which could completely alter the recruiting process for the quarterback. Wisconsin will need to keep close contact with the quarterback in order to stay relevant within his process moving forward.
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