Tue Feb 04 08:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Indiana Hoosiers Land Top Wisconsin Offensive Lineman, Poaching Recruit from Badgers
**BLOOMINGTON, IN** – Indiana University’s football program received a significant boost to its 2026 recruiting class with the commitment of three-star offensive lineman Sam Simpson from River Falls, Wisconsin. The commitment marks a noteworthy win for the Hoosiers, as Simpson chose Indiana over offers from in-state rival Wisconsin, as well as Kansas, Iowa State, Iowa, and Illinois.
Simpson, ranked 48th among interior offensive linemen nationally and second in Wisconsin by 247Sports, will join the Hoosiers under the tutelage of offensive line coach Bob Bostad. Bostad’s extensive history with the Wisconsin Badgers program – including prior roles as tight ends coach, offensive line coach, and inside linebackers coach – has clearly played a role in attracting Wisconsin talent to Indiana. This is exemplified by the success of Wisconsin transfers Trey Wedig and Drew Evans, key contributors to Indiana’s strong 2024 offensive line that helped propel the team to an 11-2 record and a College Football Playoff appearance.
Simpson’s commitment highlights a broader trend of top Wisconsin recruits choosing to play elsewhere. While the Badgers have had success nationally in recent recruiting cycles (ranking #23 and #25 in 2024 and 2025 respectively), they are facing increasing competition for top in-state talent. This situation is forcing the Badgers to expand their recruiting reach beyond their traditional 300-mile radius, as emphasized by head coach Luke Fickell. The relatively low ranking of the top in-state prospects in the 2026 class further underscores this challenge. Simpson is the first of these top recruits to commit to Indiana.
The ongoing battle for top Wisconsin talent will be a key storyline to follow as the 2026 recruiting cycle progresses.
First Piper 