Wisconsin picked up a top-100 player in the country when it signed Fort Myers (Florida) Bishop Verot quarterback Carter Smith. Smith was a former Michigan commit who reopened his recruiting process in late October, and about a month later, he verbally committed to Wisconsin after some quick but extensive work by the Badger staff.

How did Wisconsin football transfers last year fare in their new homes? Some will be involved in the College Football Playoff.

The early signing period for the class of 2025 began on Wednesday. The period is the most active on the college football recruiting calendar, as the majority of committed recruits officially sign their National Letter of Intent with each respective program.

Blazek helped secure four of Wisconsin's five offensive line commits between mid-April and July 1, the last being Hardy Watts. Watts, who played for Brookline Dexter in Massachusetts, is one of the key pieces of the Badgers' 2025 class.

While some coaches praised Fickell's recruiting efforts when he first arrived, one coach said they felt like a "complete afterthought."