Big Ten Roundup (Oct. 11): Wisconsin Recruiting 6-Foot-8 Lineman; Rutgers Sold Out Home Games

Coach Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin Badgers have been heavily pursuing Bradyen Thompson, a 6-foot-8 offensive lineman in the class of 2025 from the state of Wisconsin. Meanwhile, coach Steve Pikiell announced on Tuesday that the Rutgers men’s basketball team has already sold out every single home game for the upcoming 2023-24 college basketball season.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The ideal Wisconsin football recruit is a very large offensive lineman from the same state. And that’s exactly what coach Luke Fickell and the Badgers could have in Brayden Thompson.

Thompson is a 6-foot-8, 315-pound offensive lineman in the class of 2025 who plays at Kettle Moraine High School in Wales, Wis. Thompson visited the Madison campus back in Week 3 for the Badgers’ win over Georgia Southern, and recently spoke with Bucky’s 5th Quarter on the connection he feels with the school being a “hometown kid.”

In basketball news, coach Steve Pikiell said on Tuesday that the Rutgers men’s basketball team has already sold out every home game for the 2023-24 college basketball season.

Here’s everything you need to know in today’s Big Ten Roundup:

Wisconsin Heavily Recruiting Brayden Thompson

Fickell and the Badgers only have two commits so far in the class of 2025. But that might soon change if they keep going after the 6-foot-8 Thompson. 

2025 in-state OL Brayden Thompson makes return trip to Wisconsin ⁦@travisWSN⁩ ⁦@MJ_NFLDraft⁩ ⁦@coach_mcdonnell⁩ ⁦@CoachBicknell⁩ ⁦@Rivals_Clint⁩ ⁦@kmlasersfb⁩ https://t.co/9KvkgayKpe

— Brayden “BT” Thompson (@BraydenT34) October 3, 2023

“I got to see the campus a little more and that was cool being a hometown kid getting to see more from the football standpoint of the team I’ve grown up watching,” Thompson told Bucky’s 5th Quarter on Tuesday. “I also got to feel a little more of the college town really coming together for the game.”

According to his X/Twitter bio, Thompson also has a 90-inch wingspan and 9.75-inch length hands in addition to his massive 6-foot-8 stature.

Thompson’s junior year highlights can be watched on his Hudl page. To find those highlights, CLICK HERE.

Rutgers Sold Out Every Home Game 

Clifford Omoruyi might be the only big name basketball player the Scarlet Knights are returning for the 2023-24 season. However, that won’t stop Rutgers’ basketball fanatics from packing Jersey Mike’s Arena each game and making it one of the toughest environments to play in in all of college basketball. 

Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said they've sold out every home game already. Jersey Mike's Arena will continue to be one of the toughest places to play.

— Jack Ankony (@ankony_jack) October 10, 2023

The 2022-23 season was not Pikiell’s best as compared to the rest of his tenure in Piscataway. Rutgers finished 19-15 and missed the NCAA Tournament. However, the Scarlet Knights did go 13-6 in 19 home games.

The Scarlet Knights play their first home game of the 2023-24 season on Nov. 10 when Boston University makes the trek down to New Jersey to the thunderdome that is Jersey Mike’s Arena.

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