Wisconsin Football Lands Commitment From 3-Star Defensive Lineman

The Wisconsin football team is putting the finishing touches on its 2025 recruiting class by adding defensive lineman Xavier Ukponu out of Denton, Texas.

Ukponu announced his pledge to the Badgers on X (Twitter).

According to the 247Sports composite rankings, Ukponu is a 6-2, 288-pound 3-star defensive lineman and is the 119th-ranked player at his position and No. 172 in Texas.

Despite his lower rankings, he held 36 Division I scholarship offers, including from the likes of LSU, Oregon, USC, Tennessee, Texas, and other powerhouse Power 4 schools.

With his commitment, the Badgers have moved up one spot to No. 23, jumping Kentucky in the 247Sports Composite Team Rankings .

It's no secret that the defensive line room is one of the thinnest and weakest positions on the roster. Luke Fickell and his coaching staff have been aggressively trying to fill an empty cupboard they inherited with the program a year and a half ago.

Since the change in coaching staff, the Wisconsin football program has brought in some solid talent, including players like Ernest Willor Jr. and Dillan Johnson, a pair of 4-star defensive linemen in the 2024 class.

They've also brought in Brandon Lane and Elijah Hills via the transfer portal to bring some veteran depth to the position.

However, they continue to be aggressive in recruiting the defensive line position. Okuponu is the third committed defensive lineman for the Badgers in the 2025 class, joining Wilnerson Telemaque and Torin Pettaway.

As AJ Blazek has done with the offensive line, new defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow has stepped into his role and made his mark recruiting early on, helping the Badgers land Telemaque and re-flipping Pettaway back to Wisconsin from Minnesota.

Related: Wisconsin Football Coach Remains Tight-Lipped on Starting QB Decision

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You can also follow Staff Writer Christian Borman at @ChristianBorman on X.