Badgers reel in 4-star linebacker for 2025 class

Mason Posa, who plays for Albuquerque La Cueva, announced Thursday his verbal commitment to Wisconsin. He’s a consensus four-star recruit, with 247Sports evaluating him the highest as the No. 154 player and No. 18 linebacker in the 2025 class.

Posa finished with 133 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, nine sacks, three forced fumbles and two interceptions as a junior, according to Hudl.

Posa took a multi-day unofficial visit to Wisconsin in early May, followed by an official visit later in the month.

“It really stuck out,” Posa told 247Sports during its YouTube livestream of the commitment. “The coaching staff and just really the players. That was my third time going up there, and just the coaches, I knew they were great. I knew the town was amazing, but what really I was looking on these official visits was to see which players really I felt comfortable with, and Wisconsin really just fit me there.

“Those players were great to me. I had a blast out there. I knew Wisconsin was home.”

Posa is the sixth recruit from that weekend who has given a verbal commitment to the program. Four-star offensive linemen Logan Powell (Phoenix Brophy) and Nolan Davenport (Massillon Washington, Ohio), four-star cornerback Rukeem Stroud (Tampa Bay Tech), three-star tight end Nizyi Davis (Indianapolis Lawrence Central) and three-star defensive end Torin Pettaway (Middleton) have announced their decisions since June 1.

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Posa released his top three schools days prior to his official visit to Madison, as the Badgers, Oregon and Texas A&M made the cut. He also had announced Power Four offers from Alabama, Arizona, Baylor, Michigan State, Nebraska, Stanford, TCU, Texas Tech, Utah and Southern Cal, among others.

Posa is yet another football commit who’s also shined on the mat, as the New Mexico native is a three-time state champion wrestler. Wisconsin signed four-star defensive lineman Dillan Johnson as part of its 2024 class — he won multiple state championships in Illinois.

Posa (listed at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds on Hudl) and Germantown’s Cooper Catalano (6-2, 215) are the two commits expected to play within the inside linebacker group led by defensive coordinator Mike Tressel. Both possess the size and frame the program is looking for at that position.

Posa is the 18th recruit to announce his commitment to Wisconsin for its 2025 class. He joins quarterback Landyn Locke; defensive backs Remington Moss, Jai’mier Scott, Grant Dean, Stroud and Jahmare Washington; offensive linemen Michael Roeske, Cam Clark, Powell and Davenport; inside linebacker Catalano; outside linebackers Brenden Anes and Samuel Lateju; wide receiver Cameron Miller; tight end Davis; defensive lineman Pettaway, and Luke Emmerich, who the program sees as an “athlete” with no position solidified.