Wisconsin football recruiting legacy in-state OT Ethan McIntosh in 2027 class

Wisconsin football is in strong pursuit of 2027 OT Ethan McIntosh, a legacy recruit and the son of Badgers athletic director Chris McIntosh.

Sometimes it’s not what happens during the workout — it’s what happens right afterward that tells you everything you need to know. For 2027 offensive tackle Ethan McIntosh out of Verona, that moment came after a strong showing at the Wisconsin football summer camp.

There wasn’t a single moment during drills that gave it away, but when camp wrapped up on June 17 and Badgers offensive line coach AJ Blazek pulled the Verona High School product aside and then told him to grab his parents, he started to connect the highly-anticipated dots.

“When Coach Blazek told me to go grab my parents from the sidelines after camp, I started to think I was going to get offered,” McIntosh said.

Shortly after, McIntosh had a scholarship offer from Wisconsin in hand, this one from Luke Fickell. And while he’s seen plenty of big moments inside Camp Randall Stadium over the years, this one hit different. He’s been a name to know, having visited for the program’s Bucky’s BBQ, but it was his camp performance that ultimately sealed the deal.

"After a great camp and talk with Coach Fickell and Coach Blazek, I’m extremely blessed to announce that I have received an offer from the University of Wisconsin!" McIntosh wrote on social media.

What stood out to McIntosh in the aftermath wasn’t just the offer, it was the message that came with it. The Badgers' coaching staff made it clear they see him as the kind of player who fits their long-standing reputation in the trenches. The emphasis was simple: Wisconsin is, and has always been, an offensive line-driven program. That tradition still carries a ton of weight, especially for a recruit who’s grown up watching it firsthand.

There’s no escaping the family legacy. Ethan’s father is Chris McIntosh, Wisconsin’s current athletic director and one of the most decorated offensive linemen ever to wear a Badgers uniform. The elder McIntosh was a consensus All-American who started at tackle on back-to-back Rose Bowl-winning teams in 1998 and 1999, then spent several years in the NFL before returning to Madison to lead the athletic department.

That name carries weight, both in the state and the sport. But what’s become clear in recent months is this: Ethan is carving out his own path.

The younger McIntosh has quietly become one of the Midwest’s most intriguing offensive tackle prospects in the 2027 class. At 6-foot-7 and around 240 pounds, he blends quick feet with a lineman’s mentality. That frame and athleticism have turned heads throughout the summer, landing him scholarship offers from Kansas, Iowa, Washington State, Iowa State, Northwestern, North Dakota, and several other programs in the region.

But make no mistake, this Wisconsin offer carries a different weight.

McIntosh grew up a Badgers fan. He’s been around the program his whole life. And while the name on the back of the jersey may be familiar, the offer came because of what he showed the coaching staff on the field, not because of who his father is. Fickell and Blazek made that clear.

According to the 247Sports Composite, McIntosh is rated as the No. 509 overall player in the 2027 recruiting cycle, the No. 43 offensive tackle nationally, and the No. 6 player in what’s shaping up to be a loaded in-state class, one that the Badgers staff absolutely needs to capitalize on.

McIntosh says he tries to model his game after his dad’s and has leaned on him heavily as he learns the nuances of offensive line play.

"It’s truly been a blessing to be able to break down film with him and ask him all sorts of questions about what I can be doing better and how I can improve," McIntosh told Badgernotes.

Despite being early in his recruitment, McIntosh already envisions playing offensive tackle at the next level, though he’s not married to a particular side of the line. What’s more important to him is the fit and the culture.

"I envision playing tackle [at the next level], but I don’t mind what side of the ball I play,” McIntosh said. “I’m very excited to see the atmosphere at every campus and see how everybody does things differently. The culture I’m looking for is truly just a second family that will forever be a big part of my life."

That doesn't mean he’s rushing the process. McIntosh says he’s doing everything he can to approach the process with an open mind.

“I don’t think it’s been challenging because I’m keeping every option open,” McIntosh added. “Because I know that I want to be sure I make the right choice at the end of the day.”

That vision for culture and connection is driving his process and helping guide what comes next. That said, being a legacy recruit doesn’t come without its fair share of challenges. McIntosh is quick to point out that the expectations he feels aren’t external, they’re predominantly his own.

"I think the biggest challenge has been living up to my own expectations," he shared. "Whether it be in the gym, on the field, or off the field, I always want to be doing everything to my absolute best ability."

That mindset is why the offer felt so validating. While it might seem like there’s added pressure to carry the torch and keep the family name alive at the University of Wisconsin, given his last name and everything that comes with it, McIntosh says that’s not something he has experienced.

"I really feel like I don’t have a lot of pressure on me from other people as much as I thought that I would," McIntosh said. "Mostly everybody is just excited for me and the exciting things that are happening for me."

The Badgers are in a strong spot with McIntosh, and while there’s still a long way to go in his recruitment, don’t be surprised if this one wraps up a little sooner than most. For a kid who’s grown up around the program and worn the cardinal and white his whole life as a fan, Wisconsin was always going to be a tough school to beat if they jumped into the mix. And with the NCAA House settlement coming into effect, recruiting may finally begin to shift back toward fit and relationships in a way we haven’t seen.

The stage is set for a really cool story, one where the son of one of the best offensive linemen in Wisconsin history, who just so happens to be the current athletic director, gets the chance to follow in his father’s footsteps. But now the question becomes: will it get its storybook ending?

---

We appreciate you taking the time to read our work at BadgerNotes.com. Your support means the world to us and has helped us become a leading independent source for Wisconsin Badgers coverage.

You can also follow Site Publisher Dillon Graff at @DillonGraff on X.