© Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Wisconsin football program did not have a player selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. It was the first time in nearly 50 years that no Badgers were picked.
The snub resulted in criticism of a coaching staff that refuses to recruit in-state talent. Luke Fickell’s seat is growing hotter ahead of his fourth season.
The head coach has gone 16-21 in three full seasons. He’s failed to match success seen at his previous stop, Cincinnati.
Calls for Fickell’s job were loud last year as the team went 4-8. He’s seen win totals decrease in each campaign after going 7-6 in his debut.
Administration showed support of the coach despite the fanbase’s disapproval. They did not fire him in 2025. That may not be the case in 2026 if results don’t improve.
Last season, Wisconsin had the worst offense in the country. It ranked 133rd (out of 134) in scoring and yardage. The turnover margin was 123rd thanks to a Big Ten leading 13 interceptions.
Injuries hurt the Badgers, particularly at quarterback. Lack of talent was also evident. That was proven at the most recent NFL Draft.
No Wisconsin football players were selected.
The Wisconsin #Badgers did not have a player selected in the NFL Draft for the first time since 1978.#OnWisconsin | #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/7EwitYg4CD
— ESPN Madison (@ESPNMadison) April 25, 2026
That hadn’t happened since 1978. Instead, 11 former Badgers signed undrafted free agent contracts.
Recruiting was an immediate storyline. Wisconsin’s most recent classes have ranked 41st, 25th, 26th, and 68th dating back to 2023.
An interesting trend has developed since Fickell took over the program. There are very few in-state players on the roster.
The Badgers have signed 74 high school players in the last four classes. Just ten are local. High school coaches have voiced their frustrations with the lack of attention in-state products receive.
Nick Kingeter of Sparta HS said the following in response to Wisconsin’s NFL Draft result:
Should have recruited Sparta, WI in 2019 then they would have
— Nick Kingeter (@coachkingeter) April 26, 2026
2019 would’ve been before Fickell’s tenure. It does not change the fact that his relationship with programs in the area is severed.
Luke Fickell was exposed by those coaches last season. He has had no contact with a number of local high schools.
The Badgers signed just one of Wisconsin’s top ten prospects in the 2026 class. Iowa signed the state’s top player. Minnesota and Indiana each snagged a pair of Wisconsinites.
The 2023, 2024, and 2025 classes were largely the same.
There are reasons for Fickell’s recruiting failures. Some are tied to losing. Others, though, are clearly a result of the decision to prioritize out of state prospects. That approach has not worked.
Regardless, the state has proven that it can produce pro talent.
6 players from Wisconsin were drafted.
One of those players, Riley Nowakowski, actually did begin his career with the Badgers before transferring to Indiana. The others went elsewhere. Just two held Wisconsin offers as high schoolers.
Evan Beerntsen (Appleton)Max Bredeson (Hartland)Skyler Gill-Howard (Greenfield)Riley Nowakowski (Milwaukee)Billy Schrauth (Fond du Lac)Cole Wisniewski (Sparta)
Those players were recruited before Fickell took over at Wisconsin. Based on the coach’s out of state approach, however, history will repeat itself.
Most of the state’s future NFL Draft picks will not have played for the flagship university. We’ll see if Fickell regrets his decision to snub local talent in the year to come.