TRENDING: Wisconsin Badgers’ primary target at OLB, 2025 four-star Austin Alexander, update on recruiting.

This past weekend, the Wisconsin Badgers had their Junior Day, a two-day event that brought up to twenty recruits to campus for a full weekend of visits.

Twenty-five four-star outside linebacker Austin Alexander, who declared a list of the Top 12 schools with Wisconsin well in the mix, was one of those prospects.

Alexander, the top pick in the 2025 class by the Badgers, arrived on Sunday and spent the day mostly interacting with the coaching staff in addition to watching Wisconsin play Purdue basketball.

“I got to make it to Madison on Sunday,” Alexander shared to Bucky’s 5th Quarter. “The day started off with an overall meeting where we talked about academics and Wisconsin overall. Then, I had a defensive meeting with [defensive coordinator] Coach Tressel before attending the basketball game.”

“The game was a pretty fun atmosphere. The student section was insane. To end the day, I had some more meetings, looked around at more buildings, and talked with [head coach Luke] Fickell.”

Alexander met with Tressel and Fickell as well as outside linebackers coach Matt Mitchell, where they analyzed the recruit’s tape for about an hour. It became evident throughout the discussion that Mitchell was not the kind of coach who was into “be your buddy” or “rah-rah.”

Alexander understood that Mitchell’s main objective is “to be great,” which can’t happen if “someone isn’t willing to let you know that you’re wrong.” Instead, Mitchell wants to coach his athletes hard to help them reach the next level.

Alexander’s friendship with Max Stienecker, the director of player personnel in Cincinnati, is the source of his link to the coaching staff of the Wisconsin Badgers.

Alexander was quite complimentary of the staff member, Stienecker being the first one to ever get in touch with the outside linebacker.

“Max was the first person to reach out to me back at Cincinnati. He’s different than other guys,” Alexander said. “To me, he’s best in the game and the best I’ve ever seen. His attention to detail and energy, I haven’t seen matched.”

Although Brendan Anes, who committed following the final junior day, is now an outside linebacker for the Badgers, there is still a plan in place for both linebackers to play together at Wisconsin.

“Coach Mitchell and Max pointed out how Anes is more of a cover guy who is solid in space and hitting in air, while I’m more of an anchor-down, pass-rush, kill-the-quarterback guy. Our main skillsets kind of offset each other,” Alexander said.

Regarding trips, Alexander doesn’t currently have anything scheduled, but he hopes to take some shortly to Stanford, UNC, and Alabama.

Although a commitment date isn’t set in stone just yet, Alexander hopes to make a decision by March or April at the latest; if not, he’ll wait until after making official visits.