Breaking: Wisconsin lands Highly Rated DL recruit
Highly rated star defensive lineman from Denton, Texas, might be somewhat underrated, but the Wisconsin Badgers have been actively pursuing him on the recruiting trail.
Standing at 6-foot-2 and 288 pounds, Ukponu has caught Wisconsin’s attention since January, with defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow leading the charge in recruiting him. Whitlow’s efforts to build a strong relationship with Ukponu have been pivotal for Wisconsin.
“They had always been on me since the start of the year. Coach Whitlow kept building that relationship,” Ukponu told 247Sports.
Although Ukponu is a bit stout for a defensive lineman, the Badgers see potential in him to play various roles along the defensive line and believe he can make an impact early in his career.
“He likes my size, my build. He thinks we can do a lot of great things together,” Ukponu said about Whitlow. “He told me if I want to play early, it’s in my hands.”
BREAKING: #Badgers swoop in and grab a commitment from three-star defensive lineman Xavier Ukponu.
Held other offers from LSU, USC, Oregon, Oklahoma, Florida, Texas, Tennessee, and more.
"I found what I've been looking for."
Story: https://t.co/d0ValAiT8U pic.twitter.com/ecDbPk4af2
— Evan Flood (@Evan_Flood) August 5, 2024
Ukponu has also been impressed by Wisconsin’s head coach, Luke Fickell.
“Everything coach Fickell stands for — he believes in developing men and he stands by it,” Ukponu said. “I also love the competition in the Big Ten.
They play the best teams every week. He’s always there with the players. He works out with the players. He’s just always there. I love that in a head coach. They’re building something special up there.”
For Ukponu to be a key part of what the Badgers are building, he will need to exceed expectations as a three-star recruit. According to the 247Sports Composite, he is ranked as the No. 119 defensive lineman in the 2025 class.