The Wisconsin Badgers have secured an upcoming visit with a 2026 offensive lineman from Illinois who is beginning to prove himself on the field.
Zach Poole, a 6-foot-6-inch lineman who attends Lincoln High School in Lincoln, Illinois, has had a productive summer thus far with impressive camp performances and bigger programs closing in. Poole was in Madison weeks ago for a skills camp and had a strong performance in front of offensive line coach AJ Blazek.
Previously, Poole stated that the experience of meeting Blazek and getting to work with him for the day was “really good”. Poole also added that working with Blazek and the rest of the staff has led to “so much” development in a short period of time.
I’ll be back in Madison September 20th for my visit to @BadgerFootball!@CoachBlaz @CoachFick @CoachHeeman @CaseyRabach_61 @JarrettGuerrera @CoachSilkowski @RailersFootball @1PerformanceLab @AustinCurtis24 @EDGYTIM @DeepDishFB @NCSA_Football @coachjimvert @OLMafia @toby_lux pic.twitter.com/1WhOZpyzCV
— Zach Poole (@ZachPoole70) July 26, 2025
The recruit has loved Wisconsin and coach Blazek thus far, and will return to campus during the upcoming season after booking a visit for September 20th. Wisconsin will be hosting Maryland for a stripe out game while Poole visits campus once again which should make for a festive and memorable experience. The kickoff has not been announced yet but regardless of when the game starts, the talented offensive tackle will be there.
Wisconsin Badgers Keeping Close Contact With 2026 OL Zach Poole, Could Extend Offer in Near Future
The 2026 recruiting class has not been fully completed but the Wisconsin Badgers have decided to only pour plenty of effort into a select amount of players. One such player has been Poole, who also has become a potential target for both Illinois and Minnesota as well following strong camp performances.
While no offers are in hand from Wisconsin, Illinois, or Minnesota, the Badgers could be lining up an offer for the recruit during his game-day visit. The Badgers staff and coach Blazek have been impressed by the offensive lineman but often want recruits to put in the work or improve in certain areas before extending a scholarship offer.
Poole attends Lincoln High School, a smaller class 4A program that has struggled to keep a winning record in the past. The recruit has not played against the strongest of talent, but has excelled during camps against other likely college-bound players. Poole is arguably someone who deserves more offers on the table due to his consistency and steady improvement on areas that coaches have provided help with.
The Wisconsin Badgers extended a preferred walk-on offer to in-state standout Aiden Dirksen, a fellow 6-foot-6-inch offensive lineman who announced a commitment days after the offer. Poole could be another player the Badgers decide to extend a preferred walk-on offer to due to his performances in front of the staff as well as his clear fit within the offense. The lineman is versatile, powerful, and a quick learner which are all things the staff looks for out of the position.
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