Wisconsin football adds 2026 in-state offensive lineman as preferred walk-on
Wisconsin football continues building its 2026 class with in-state OL Aiden Dirksen, who committed as a preferred walk-on after team camp in Madison.
The University of Wisconsin football program just added another big-bodied, in-state presence to its 2026 recruiting class.
This time, it’s Bay Port offensive lineman Aiden Dirksen, who announced his verbal commitment to Wisconsin after accepting a preferred walk-on opportunity following his camp performance in Madison last weekend.
The 6-foot-6, 285-pound in-state product represents the latest addition under offensive line coach AJ Blazek. Dirksen expressed gratitude to those who helped him reach this point in a statement on social media.
“First off I would like to Thank God for blessing me with these opportunities that he has put in front of me. I also want to thank my family for supporting me on this long journey," Dirksen wrote.
"I want to thank Coach Steven Jorgensen and the rest of the coaching staff at Bay Port football for pushing me to my limit and preparing me for this opportunity while molding me into the player I am today.
"I also want to give a thank you to all of my teammates who have been a huge role in preparing me on my football journey. With that being said, I am extremely blessed to announce that I have committed to the University Of Wisconsin ‼️🤍❤️.”
Dirksen had quietly been building momentum on the camp circuit this summer, checking in at Wisconsin, Northwestern, and UW-Oshkosh while racking up offers from FCS Illinois State, Jamestown, Washburn, and Minnesota State, among other programs. But after working out in front of the Badgers staff and returning for a follow-up visit last week, the door to Madison cracked open—and he didn’t hesitate to walk through it.
Growing up in Wisconsin, it’s hard not to dream about wearing the Motion W, and for Dirksen, that dream just became reality. He grew up watching the Badgers and now gets a shot to suit up for the team he’s long admired. And while it won’t come with a scholarship out of the gate, it’s clear he sees the opportunity for what it is: something bigger.
“I love Madison and the atmosphere of Camp Randall with all of the people who come with it,” Dirksen said.
Dirksen isn’t just a big frame. He’s got some natural tools that show up on film. He flashes good hand usage, balance through contact, and a knack for anchoring when he gets locked in, especially in pass protection. That said, he’s still a walk-on, and there’s a developmental runway ahead before we find out how his game translates to the Power 4 level.
He also brings an element of versatility, having started at center and played as an interior lineman, but plans to kick out to tackle this fall.
The Badgers already hold commitments from two scholarship offensive linemen in the 2026 class: guard Benjamin Novak and offensive tackle Maddox Cochrane. Adding someone like Dirksen as a developmental piece behind them speaks to Blazek's approach: find players with the right frame and mentality, then mold them into Big Ten linemen.
And in an era where roster turnover is commonplace and long-term deals are nonexistent, building real depth has become harder than ever. That’s where high end in-state walk-ons can be so valuable—guys who are willing to stick it out, develop, and wait for their shot.
Look no further than Kerry Kodanko, a former West De Pere standout who’s now battling for a starting job on the interior. At worst, he’ll be on the two-deep this fall. And if you look back through Wisconsin’s history, there’s a long line of Badgers offensive linemen who started as relative unknowns and ended up making a real impact. At Wisconsin, the best five play.
That’s the type of outcome you’re hoping for from a preferred walk-on, and Dirksen has the tools to fit that bill. More than that, he gives you a chance. A chance to develop a talented in-state kid who wants to be part of the program and might stick around long enough to make an impact.
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