Wisconsin In-State Offensive Lineman Commits to Big Ten Rival
Class of 2026 offensive lineman Sam Simpson, a native of River Falls, Wisconsin, announced his commitment to Indiana on Saturday. He chose the Hoosiers over offers from Wisconsin, Kansas, Iowa State, Iowa, and Illinois.
According to 247Sports, Simpson is a three-star prospect, ranked as the No. 48 interior offensive lineman in the class and the second-best player in Wisconsin. His decision to join Indiana reunites him with offensive line coach Bob Bostad, who spent years as an assistant at Wisconsin. Bostad held various roles with the Badgers, including tight ends coach (2006-07), offensive line coach (2008-11, 2022), and inside linebackers coach (2017-21).
Bostad’s deep ties to Wisconsin have already benefited Indiana’s recruiting efforts. The Hoosiers, who finished the 2024 season with an 11-2 record and a College Football Playoff appearance against Notre Dame, relied heavily on strong offensive line play. Wisconsin transfers Trey Wedig (right tackle) and Drew Evans (left guard) were key contributors, helping Indiana rank 34th nationally in total offense (426.4 yards per game).
Simpson’s commitment is part of a larger trend of Wisconsin’s top in-state talent choosing to play elsewhere. In recent years, the Badgers have secured the state’s No. 4 and No. 5 prospects in 2025, No. 4 in 2024, and the top two players in 2023. However, Simpson becomes the first of Wisconsin’s top recruits to pick Indiana.
The state’s overall talent level in the 2026 class is lower than in previous years, which may have influenced Simpson’s recruitment. Wisconsin’s top-ranked player in the class, James Thomas, is also a three-star interior offensive lineman, and neither he nor Simpson is considered a blue-chip prospect.
Despite losing some in-state talent, Wisconsin has continued to recruit well nationally. The Badgers finished with the No. 23 recruiting class in 2024 and No. 25 in 2025. Head coach Luke Fickell has emphasized a strong recruiting presence within a 300-mile radius since his hiring in 2022. However, with Wisconsin’s talent pool thinning, the program has had to expand its recruiting reach. How this strategy unfolds in the 2026 cycle will be worth monitoring.
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