Wisconsin football adds in-state athlete Mason Kelley as preferred walk-on
Wisconsin football has landed a preferred walk-on commitment from 2025 in-state athlete Mason Kelley out of Mukwonago.
Another under the radar in-state addition is heading to Madison as the Wisconsin football program continues reshaping the back end of its roster with players who fit the Badgers developmental blueprint.
Mukwonago athlete Mason Kelley has announced his commitment to the Badgers as a preferred walk-on, and it’s the kind of addition that says a lot about how this staff is building the roster.
“HOMETOWN HERO🔴⚪️,” Kelley wrote.
Kelley profiles as a developmental piece. He picked up offers from FCS programs like South Dakota State and North Dakota State after some strong camp showings, flashing speed (sub-4.5 40), and above-average athletic traits. He’s still pretty raw at receiver and is more athlete than technician at this stage, but for Wisconsin, this type of in-state swing makes sense and could pay off down the road.
“It was a long road,” Kelley told BadgerNotes. “I started freshman year playing football and loved it immediately. After a few years, I moved to wide receiver. It was a huge adjustment. But it all came full circle when I received the offer. And when I got it, there was never a doubt in my mind about the decision. It’s always been my dream school.”
As a senior at Mukwonago, the 6-foot-1, 185 pound athlete played a hybrid role on offense—part quarterback, part wide receiver, and a whole lot of offensive weapon—throwing for 1,423 yards and 17 touchdowns with just two interceptions while also racking up 720 rushing yards and 10 scores on the ground.
That word — developmental — gets thrown around a lot. But Kelley is the prototype for a walk-on. A prep high jumper with a 6’8” mark, a fluid runner with open-field vision, and the kind of strides that pop on his HUDL film.
It’s not hard to see the upside as a preferred walk-on. And for a player who’s still relatively new to the receiver position, that kind of natural talent is what you take a swing on — especially if you’re a program that has built a reputation on finding diamonds in the rough to fill roles.
“I was recruited as a wide receiver, and that’s where I see myself in the future,” Kelley said. “I have a long way to work and compete, but I’m willing to work as hard as I can to benefit the Badgers.”
And this wasn’t just some offer out of the blue. Kelley built strong ties with Wisconsin’s staff during the process, which ultimately helped seal the deal.
“My main contact was Coach [Devon] Spalding, and after meeting with him a few times, it was very apparent that the love from him and the staff made it all feel like something I wanted to be a part of.
He also shared a moment in his recruitment — one of those conversations that tends to stick with a kid.
“I had a call a day or two ago with Coach [Jordan] Reid, and he asked me about my life and all there is to know about it,” Kelley said. “I felt a connection, and the fact he wanted to know so much about me and my life made my decision so easy.”
As for his future role?
“They see me as a WR, and I think it fits me best. I love the ball in my hands, and I always want to make plays,” Kelley said. “My strengths align with speed and jumping, so I think the WR spot is perfect.”
Now, let’s call this what it is. He’s not likely to crack the two-deep anytime soon, and that’s not the expectation. But these are the kinds of roster additions Wisconsin needs to keep making. The types of guys you can mold over time, who might not be household names now, but two years down the road, they’re flashing in practice or making noise on special teams.
And if they stick it out without transferring, do things the right way on and off the field, and keep developing, there’s always a shot to push for snaps when the roster starts to turn over.
There are still a lot of unanswered questions about roster limits and what the final scholarship number looks like moving forward. That’s just the landscape we’re in. But what’s clear is that Wisconsin still plans to take advantage of its preferred walk-on pipeline — and that’s important.
This is a program with a long and proven history of turning walk-ons into depth pieces and high-level contributors. That’s not lip service. That’s real. That’s what makes this commitment more than just a footnote during the offseason.
If you’re building a football program the right way — if you’re invested in development and internal growth — then Kelley is the kind of player you want in your system if you're Luke Fickell. The traits are there. The effort’s there. The staff sees it. And if you’re Wisconsin, these are precisely the kinds of bets that can pay off in a big way somewhere down the line.
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Hard to judge hands or route running from film. If he can develop there, a nice get.