Wisconsin flips 3-star DL Dillan Johnson from Northwestern: What it means for Badgers

Wisconsin landed a commitment Wednesday from Dillan Johnson, a three-star defensive lineman from Joliet, Ill. Here’s what you need to know:

  • Johnson is rated as the No. 95 defensive lineman in the 2024 class in the 247Sports Composite.
  • He initially committed to Northwestern in May but flipped to Wisconsin following the firing of Wildcats coach Pat Fitzgerald amid the fallout from a hazing investigation involving the football program.
  • Johnson earned 17 scholarship offers and was one of Wisconsin’s top targets along the defensive line.

Heading North! @HilltoppersFB @JCAwrestling @rudysgymjoliet @BadgerWrestling @WisFBRecruiting pic.twitter.com/cUuM8Hmtay

— Dillan M Johnson (@DillanMJohnson1) July 12, 2023

The Athletic’s instant analysis:

What does this mean for Wisconsin?

The biggest positional question mark remaining for Wisconsin in its 2024 recruiting class was the defensive line. Johnson’s addition solves that need for the Badgers. He becomes the second defensive lineman committed in the class, joining three-star prospect Hank Weber (Brentwood, Tenn.). Johnson also is a standout high school wrestler — something he and Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell bonded over — and plans to play two sports in college.

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The Badgers had several other defensive linemen on campus but, other than Weber, had not broken through with a commitment. Dominic Nichols committed to Michigan, Benedict Umeh picked Stanford, Dominic Kirks committed to Washington, Joe Barna committed to Illinois and Liam Andrews was considered a Penn State lean.

Wisconsin now has 19 committed prospects in its 2024 class, which moved up to No. 17 in the 247Sports Composite. The Badgers have produced just one top-25 class in the online recruiting rankings era, at No. 16 in 2021.

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(Photo: Jamie Sabau / USA Today)

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