The three-star 2025 defensive lineman and top overall recruit from North Dakota committed to Matt Rhule and the Nebraska Cornhuskers last weekend.
The Wisconsin Badgers were a finalist for three-star defensive lineman Kade Pietrzak. Pietrzak made an official visit to Wisconsin on May 31st, but also went to Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Kansas State in June. Pietrzak formally committed to the University of Nebraska last Sunday. According to 247Sports, defensive coordinator Tony White and defensive line assistant coach Terrance Knighton are responsible for recruiting Pietrzak to Lincoln.
Rivals also identified Huskers head coach Matt Rhule as a potential recruiter for Pietrzak.
Despite a visit to Madison, Pietrzak was not favored to join the Wisconsin Badgers. Throughout the summer, Piertzak was expected to pledge to the Oklahoma Sooners. Following his trips to Nebraska and Kansas State, the Sooners remained the front-runners for North Dakota’s top high school football talent until last weekend, when the Cornhuskers took over.
Pietrzak is Nebraska’s third defensive lineman recruit, following four-star prospect Malcolm Simpson of Hitchcock, Texas, and Tyson Terry of Omaha. The Cornhuskers’ 2025 recruiting class is ranked 10th in the new Big Ten Conference and 30th overall among all college football programs. If Pietrzak had committed to Wisconsin, he would have been the top defensive line recruit in the 2025 class, according to 247Sports’ ranking methodology.
Nonetheless, Wisconsin retains a strong recruiting class, ranking seventh in the new Big Ten and 22nd overall in college football. The Badgers’ two defensive line recruits are three-star prospects Torin Pettaway and Wilnerson Telemaque, with Nicholas Clayton labeled as an edge rusher.
Wisconsin remains a finalist for Fort Lauderdale running back Byron Louis, along with Florida State and Miami (FL). As of Tuesday, FSU was the odds-on favorite to land Louis. Wide receiver Kamren Flowers of West Bloomfield, Michigan, is presently considering the Badgers as his first option.
