Luke Fickell and the University of Wisconsin football program have landed another in-state product on the recruiting trail.
Neenah’s own Grant Dean, a three-star safety/athlete in the class of 2025, announced he was committing to the Wisconsin Badgers over offers from Wyoming, Army, North Dakota State, and Northern Illinois. He was also receiving interest from Minnesota and Iowa State.
“I wanna start off by thanking my parents for the amount they have sacrificed for me to get here today,” Dean wrote. … “After the conversations with Coach Fickell and Coach Grinch it became clear to me this is where I want to play.
“Going to countless Badger games as a kid I couldn’t be more blessed to announce my commitment to the University of Wisconsin.”
The 6-foot 180-pound safety, who ran the 100-meter dash in 10.8 seconds, took an unofficial visit to Madison on Tuesday to watch spring practice. Following the Wisconsin football team’s scholarship offer, Dean wasted no time publicly declaring his commitment to the Badgers.
According to 247Sports, Dean is the No. 97 athlete in the country and the No. 11 ranked prospect in the state of Wisconsin.
During his junior season at Neenah High School, Dean registered 59 tackles and had two INTs on defense. He added 1,991 yards rushing and 28 total touchdowns as a running back on offense.
Dean possesses some intriguing physical attributes, complemented by impressive speed and playmaking skills. His experience on offense has helped hone his ball skills, and he exhibits versatility in both deep coverage and run defense.
While not known for being a hard hitter, Dean’s aggressive yet controlled tackling style and ability to take precise angles could make him a reliable asset for the Badgers defense in the future.
While his tape reveals limited man coverage opportunities, it’s an area he could develop in college, especially if asked to cover slot receivers.
The Wisconsin football program now has eight commits in the 2025 recruiting cycle, which, per the composite, is the No. 22 ranked class.
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