This assistant key in securing 4-star visitors for busy Wisconsin recruiting weekend (2024)

Logan Powell will make his first trip to the University of Wisconsin football program this weekend, and first-year offensive line coach AJ Blazek is the main reason why.

Powell and Nolan Davenport are the two uncommitted offensive linemen in the 2025 class expected to take their official visits to Wisconsin from May 31-June 2, the first crucial recruiting weekend to kick off the summer. The program expects about 16 recruits on campus, and several like Powell are designated as four-star recruits by at least one outlet.

“I really felt like he's a great coach,” Powell said of Blazek. “And you know, if he's a good coach, I kind of want to check out the rest of the other coaches, the rest of the program and kind of see the campus.”

Powell is rated as the No. 232 player in the 2025 class, according to 247Sports, and On3 rates the Phoenix Brophy standout as the No. 23 interior offensive lineman in the country. Listed at 6 foot 5 and 280 pounds, Powell feels he could play either guard or tackle but is also willing to line up at center.

He announced an offer from Wisconsin in January 2023, but he’s built a relationship with Blazek since the assistant’s arrival this winter. Powell said he talks to Wisconsin “almost every day,” mainly to Blazek via text and calls. Powell described the Badgers’ offensive line coach as “very down to earth” and someone who doesn’t push recruits to commit.

“He seems like a very genuine guy,” Powell said. “He really cares for his players.”

Powell unveiled his top 5 schools last month that included Wisconsin, Alabama, Arizona State, Oklahoma and Tennessee. He’s also announced Power Four offers from Florida State, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Southern Cal and Washington, among many others.

Powell plans to take official visits to Wisconsin, where his mother and younger brother will join him, Arizona and Alabama. He hopes to make his decision potentially by the end of June.

The “relationship with the coaches, the culture of the team, the facilities and the academics” will be factors in where he commits to, according to Powell.

Here’s who else to watch for during this first weekend of Wisconsin official visits.

Three-time state wrestling champ among Wisconsin's defensive line targets

One of Wisconsin’s remaining top priorities in the 2025 class is Mason Posa, who plays for Albuquerque La Cueva in New Mexico. Posa, a four-star recruit by On3, 247Sports and ESPN, fits the mold of what Wisconsin wants at inside linebacker with his listed 6-3, 210-pound frame. The staff would like to pair him with another 2025 commit, Germantown’s Cooper Catalano, who’s expected to play one of the spots within the position group of defensive coordinator Mike Tressel.

Posa placed Wisconsin among his top 3 programs Wednesday, and the Badgers will have to fight off Texas A&M and Oregon. Posa, who also is a three-time state champion wrestler, has garnered plenty of interest from other Power Four programs, including Alabama and Southern Cal.

Defensive lineman Kade Pietrzak, a four-star recruit by On3 and 247Sports composite rankings, is expected to return to Madison for an official visit. Wisconsin does not have a defensive line commit for this class after the flip of Middleton’s Torin Pettawayto Minnesota in late March, and this is a key position the program hopes to address.

Pietrzak, a North Dakota native, previously took unofficial visits to Wisconsin in February and April. He listed the Badgers among his top 4 programs earlier this spring, which also included Kansas State, Oklahoma and Nebraska.

Wisconsin looks to add depth to several positions

Wisconsin holds offensive line commitments from Michael Roeske (Wautoma) and Cam Clark (Dexter, Michigan), but the program anticipates hosting Powell and Davenport (Massillon Washington, Ohio) this weekend and another two linemen from June 7-9.

Consensus four-star outside linebacker Jayden Woods took an unofficial visit to Wisconsin during the program’s Feb. 4 junior day event. The Shawnee Mill Valley (Kansas) standout released his list of top 5 schools in April, with Wisconsin alongside Florida, Purdue, Penn State and Tennessee. He’s also announced official visits to Penn State from June 7-9 and Purdue from June 14-16.

Wisconsin’s done well in the state of New Jersey in the 2025 class with Lateju and slot receiver Cameron Miller (Atco Winslow Township), and the staff hopes to make an impression on projected outside linebacker Jayden Loftin (Somerville, New Jersey). Loftin, a four-star recruit by 247Sports, is listed at 6-4 and 235 pounds – another ideal frame for an outside linebacker. He’s also tweeted that he will take official visits to Nebraska (June 14-16) and Penn State (June 21-23).

Jai’mier Scott, Remington Mossand Grant Dean are among commits projected to play in Wisconsin’s defensive backfield. Verona’s Tre Poteat and Tampa Bay Tech’s (Florida) Rukeem Stroud, who are both evaluated as four-star recruits by at least one outlet, are two of three projected cornerbacks who will visit. Poteat told BadgerExtra that he will also take an official visit to Tennessee the weekend of June 21.

Cornerback Zay Gentry (McKinney, Texas), who visited Wisconsin in April but committed to Southern Methodist earlier this month, also tweeted that he’s taking an official visit to Madison this weekend.

Miller’s the lone receiver in this class, and Wisconsin needs to address the outside receiver spots. That starts this weekend with Muizz Tounkara, a three-star recruit from League City Clear Springs, Texas. Tounkara, at a listed 6-4 and 195 pounds, possesses an ideal length and frame to play in that role.

Almost half of Wisconsin's 2025 commits will be in town

Five out of the 11 Wisconsin commits for the 2025 class are slated to visit this weekend, and one of them has already assumed honorary recruiter duties in hopes of persuading uncommitted players to join them.

Roeske, who is rated a four-star recruit by On3’s Industry rankings, tweeted at Posa to “join the family” after Posa’s announcement of his top schools. Fellow 2025 commit Luke Emmerich, who is scheduled to take an unofficial visit the weekend of June 14-16, also responded to Posa saying “you know the move."

The five commits scheduled to be in Madison this weekend include: