MADISON, Wis. — Cairo Skanes earned the praise of Luke Fickell after this past weekend, and University of Wisconsin football fans should anticipate seeing more of the freshman cornerback on the field as the 2025 season unfolds.
Skanes played the field corner spot behind All-American Ricardo Hallman during preseason camp, but according to Fickell, Wisconsin (2-4, 0-3 Big Ten) moved him to the boundary cornerback last week. Senior transfer D’Yoni Hill missed Saturday’s loss to Iowa, and Skanes responded with three tackles while working in with redshirt freshman Omillio Agard.
“He didn’t panic,” Fickell said of Skanes. “He didn’t bat an eye at obviously, the magnitude of the game and things like that, where he’s taken a lot of reps through fall camp. But those reps are a lot different than when you actually go out there and the lights are on, and it didn’t seem to be overwhelming to him in any way.
“And I see a guy like him continuing to play more and more, whether that’s defensively or special teams wise, but his role is going to continue to increase because I think he’s handled it well.”
Now Skanes and the Wisconsin cornerback group hope to contain its toughest matchup of the season in sophomore Jeremiah Smith and the receiving corp of No. 1 Ohio State (6-0, 3-0). The Buckeyes are averaging over 260 yards receiving per game thanks to quarterback Julian Sayin and receivers Smith and Carnell Tate.
Watch and listen to Badger Observer’s conversation with Skanes from Tuesday. Also be sure to check out previous chats with freshmen such as linebackers Cooper Catalano and Mason Posa, along with wide receiver Eugene Hilton Jr.
Here’s what we touched on with Skanes:
Why he flipped over to the boundary cornerback spot.
How hard is it learning both the field and cornerback spots as a freshman.
How he graded out and what cornerbacks coach Paul Haynes evaluates.
Why he flipped from Miami (Ohio) to Wisconsin late in the 2025 recruiting cycle.
How he’s having the “funnest time” in his life playing early.
Where he’s grown from January to now.
His “Welcome to college football moment,” thanks to running back Dilin Jones
(more topics below the paywall)
