With Wisconsin's 2024 recruiting class now in the books, BadgerBlitz.com takes a look at UW's hot spots on the recruiting front and examines the top targets in a handful of states across the country from the 2025 class.
Today, we continue with Texas, a state Wisconsin has recently been more active in.
RELATED: RELATED: STATE BY STATE: ILLINOIS | STATE BY STATE: OHIO | STATE BY STATE: MICHIGAN | STATE BY STATE: PENNSYLVANIA | STATE BY STATE: FLORIDA |
Primary recruiter(s) in the state: First-year wide receivers coach Kenny Guiton is expected to recruit more for the Badgers in Texas. The former Arkansas assistant worked inside the state during stops at Houston and Texas early in his coaching career.
Number of Texas athletes on the current roster (including the 2024 class): 6
Number of known offers extended in Texas in 2025 class: 20
Hotspot: DeSoto High School
Notable past recruits from Texas: Michael Turner, Jay Valai, Devin Smith, Shelton Johnson, Marcus Cromartie, Chris Orr, Caesar Williams, Travian Blaylock and Avyonne Jones, A.J. Tisdell and Mabrey Mettauer, among others.
TOP FIVE (REALISTIC) PRIORITIES IN TEXAS
Wisconsin offered Landyn Locke, 6-foot-4 and 185 pounds, in May. The junior visited Madison for a week in June and announced his commitment shortly after. Miami, SMU, Tulsa and Western Kentucky also extended scholarships during the course of his recruitment.
"Coach (Phil) Longo watched Landyn and offered him in the spring," Rockwall head coach Trey Brooks told BadgerBlitz.com. "He's had a ton of conversations with him over the phone and being familiar with the family doesn't hurt anything. But it doesn't take very long to see that ability on the field. It's really special when you watch him throw the ball. Having conversations and talking football with him, you can tell Landyn is as sharp as they come. Those things combined probably made him a top target for Coach Longo.
"Just talking to him after he visited, just the personal connection he made with Coach Longo and Coach (Luke) Fickell, those were huge. I asked him what the best part of the trip was and he said the time sitting down with those two and talking football with them. Having his brother in the room also didn't hurt, but that was his favorite part. Spending time with the coaches who are going to work with him and the connection he made put Wisconsin on top."
As a junior, Locke passed for over 1,700 yards with 19 touchdowns and just four interceptions.
