Wisconsin football lands commitment from 2027 DL Will Zaccagnino
Wisconsin lands 2027 defensive lineman Will Zaccagnino, giving the Badgers their first DL commit in a class loaded with in-state talent.
The Wisconsin football program has officially added its first defensive lineman to the 2027 recruiting class.
That player is three-star Connecticut native Will Zaccagnino, who announced his verbal commitment to Luke Fickell and the Badgers after building a strong relationship with the staff throughout the spring.
“I have been looking forward to this moment for a while,” Zaccagnino wrote. “First, I thank God for the opportunities and my family, coaches, and teammates for their support. I’m also grateful to every program and coach that recruited me through this amazing process. I am very excited to announce my commitment to the University of Wisconsin! I’m home!”
The St. Joseph High School standout chose Wisconsin over a growing list of scholarship offers that included Illinois, Michigan State, Syracuse, UConn, Duke, Army, Navy, Air Force, and several others, as Big Ten programs continued to ramp up their involvement in his recruitment.
From a roster-building standpoint, the addition makes sense.
At around 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds, Zaccagnino fits the type of developmental defensive line profile Wisconsin has increasingly prioritized under Fickell and position coach E.J. Whitlow — lengthy, athletic bodies with enough versatility to move around the front depending on how they physically develop over the next few years.
And the production backs up the projection.
During his junior season at St. Joseph, Zaccagnino posted 47 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hits, nine pass breakups, and 4.0 sacks while helping lead his program to a CIAC Class M State Championship. He also earned FCIAC All-West honors and landed on the All-Camp Team at the FBU National Combine, further cementing himself as one of the top prospects in Connecticut’s 2027 cycle.
Turn on the tape, and the first thing that stands out is the motor.
Zaccagnino plays with urgency and physicality at the point of attack. He’s quick off the ball, shows solid hand usage for a player still developing physically, and flashes the ability to set the edge against the run while still collapsing pockets as a pass rusher. There’s also some positional flexibility baked into the evaluation because of his length and frame. Depending on how his body continues to develop, he could eventually fit as a defensive end or potentially slide inside for certain fronts.
Wisconsin also valued the football background that comes with being a two-way player. Zaccagnino contributed on both the offensive and defensive lines in high school, something that often translates well when projecting developmental trench players at the next level. It speaks to Zaccagnino’s toughness, conditioning, and overall football feel — traits this staff has consistently prioritized during the recruiting process.
The commitment also continues to reinforce the direction Wisconsin’s 2027 class is trending.
The Badgers have already laid a solid foundation with eight in-state commitments, including multiple four-star prospects. At the same time, recent commitments like quarterback Jack Sorgi and defensive back DJ Davis have expanded Wisconsin’s national footprint before official visit season ramps up.
That positioning matters.
Getting work done early allows the Badgers staff to become more selective over the summer while also putting pressure on remaining priority targets as scholarship spots begin to tighten. Within that framework, Zaccagnino gives Wisconsin another developmental piece and an important early addition to the defensive front for coach Whitlow.
And for a program continuing to prioritize size, versatility, and long-term upside in the portal era, this one checks quite a few boxes.
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.