The Wisconsin Badgers are making a push for one of the top players in the Class of 2028 and one of the Huskies top targets, edge rusher Jalanie George.
The Washington Huskies football team has enjoyed a healthy amount of success on the recruiting trail under head coach Jedd Fisch. The 2026 class has already seen many players contribute to the team as true freshmen through the first two weeks of the regular season.
The 2027 class could end up contributing a meaningful amount of players, as well. It currently ranks 24th according to 247Sports.
The Huskies are on a good start to the 2028 recruiting class. Washington has ramped up recruiting efforts for several blue-chip prospects, including Top 15 national player and offensive tackle Antijuan Wilkes Jr. and Top 25 recruit and edge rusher Jalanie George.
The Huskies have been considered the front-runners to land George for several weeks, but another Big Ten rival is making a push to land the Desert Edge High School student.
According to an article from Rivals.com reporter Brandon Huffman, the Wisconsin Badgers reportedly "gave it their best shot" in a recent official visit during the team's 36-9 win against Western Illinois on Sept. 12.
The Badgers weren't included in George's Top Six teams, but the five-star recruit described it was a "really great" visit and praised the coaching staff.
Wisconsin also has an advantage that Washington has over other programs looking to land George: several of his teammates are either committed or play for the team.
Junior linebacker Jon Jon Kamara is a junior linebacker currently playing for the Badgers and Class of 2027 players, linebacker Nathan Jones and defensive lineman Yahzeen Zion are both committed to Wisconsin.
The Huskies have Class of '27 recruits, four-star quarterback Blake Roskopf and three-star wide receiver Zerek Sidney, committed to the team.
George's Top Six currently is comprised of Washington, the Florida Gators, the Auburn Tigers, the Miami Hurricanes, the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Oklahoma Sooners.
George is currently ranked as the 21st-best player in the nation, fifth-best edge rusher and the second-best player in Arizona, per the 247Sports composite.
Rivals Industry Rankings has George ranked as the ninth-best player in the country, the second-best edge rusher in his class and the best player in Arizona.
On3 Sports prediction model currently has the Huskies still as the heavy favorites to land George. Washington's odds of learning a commitment from the blue chip prediction model are 94.2%, per the model. The only other team that has a percentage to land him, per the model, is Auburn at 1.2%.
