BREAKING NEWS: Wisconsin Badgers Football: 3-Star Cornerback Carsen Eloms, Jahmare Washington, Ben Wenze Shocked by UW Offer; Says Team is ‘Up There’ Amidst Great Competition when they never…see more

The Wisconsin Badgers football program just made waves on the recruiting trail, sending a clear message that under head coach Luke Fickell, they’re thinking big—and thinking fast. Three rising 3-star prospects—CB Carsen Eloms, S Jahmare Washington, and OL Ben Wenze—were all caught off guard this week when they received scholarship offers from the Badgers, a program they say is now “way up there” in their recruiting rankings.

The twist? None of the three had ever visited Madison, spoken extensively with the staff before this spring, or even had Wisconsin on their radar until recently.

“It came out of nowhere,” Eloms told local reporters. “But when a school like Wisconsin calls, you listen. They’re Big Ten, they’re building something, and it’s a serious opportunity.”

Fickell’s Staff Turning Heads Nationwide

Under the leadership of Fickell and his revamped recruiting staff, Wisconsin has pivoted from the slow-and-steady approach to a more aggressive, national strategy. By targeting untapped talent and offering players before some bigger programs pull the trigger, the Badgers are hoping to build relationships early and steal a march on their competitors.

“I wasn’t expecting it,” said Washington, a hard-hitting safety from Maryland. “They see something in me, and that makes me take a closer look at them.”

Wenze, a physical interior lineman from Pennsylvania, echoed the surprise:

“They offered before some of the other big schools I’ve been hearing from. That meant something. It shows they’re watching film and they move quick.”

What This Means for Wisconsin

While none of the three recruits have committed yet, the Badgers are firmly in the conversation—and they’ve opened doors with three players who could be foundational depth pieces in future classes. More importantly, this marks a shift in perception: players from coast to coast are now realizing that Wisconsin is not just looking within the Midwest anymore.

Up Next

All three athletes have stated their intention to visit Madison this summer, with Eloms saying,

“I’ve got to get up there. They made the first move, and now it’s my turn.”

Stay tuned as the Wisconsin Badgers continue to reshape their recruiting footprint and chase top talent from across the country. Could one of these 3-star surprises become a breakout star in Camp Randall Stadium? Only time will tell.