Each year, for one day, high school players must sign a letter of intent to choose which school they will attend for their collegiate football career. Yesterday was that day.
The Badgers have a total of 30 commitments, 25 of them earning scholarships while five of them plan to walk-on.
The coaching staff’s recruiting plan was similar to Wisconsin in years past: Get big linemen and a variety of skilled running backs.
Seven O-Linemen committed, led by offensive tackle Jaden Gault. He, as well as lineman Michael Deiter, are already enrolled at UW, and have begun working out with the team to get extra practice time before the spring game.
“They have a tremendous opportunity, and Michael may be starting in the spring due to some injuries to Dan [Voltz] and Dallas [Lewallan],” head coach Gary Andersen said.
Adding to their already solid running attack, the Badgers snagged three running backs.
“Taiwan Deal is the big back, Ula Tolutau is more of a fullback, and Caleb Kinlaw is a bit of a scat back, so they each bring something different to the table,” offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig said. “As you saw this year, there is room in the offense for a third runner, and not just in a mop-up role.”
To beef up their offense, the team also added five wide receivers to cover up the loss of key contributors like Jared Abbrederis and Jacob Pedersen.
They also signed highly recruited four-star dual-threat quarterback D.J Gillins. While last year’s starter, junior Joel Stave, is returning next year, the staff would like to test their options, including sophomore Bart Houston and former safety junior Tanner McEvoy.
While recruits came from various states around the country, including Hawaii, Andersen knows where his main priority should be.
“Continuing to branch out is important, but we’re never going to forget where we’re built from,” Andersen said. “Our foundation is here in the state of Wisconsin, and the Midwest in general.”
Wisconsin boasts success over the last few years convincing quality athletes to transfer, including Russell Wilson and McEvoy. This year, Andersen got Serge Trezy to transfer from Eastern Arizona University. He is listed as both a skilled running and defensive back. Anderson says he may see time as a kick returner, but for now, he is a defensive back.
While the recruits Wisconsin signed aren’t the five-star recruits of lore, the coaching staff is confident that they can develop talent that fits into their system.
“Very few high school kids are finished products. You want to see them be exceptional at one thing and be able to build on that,” wide receiver coach Chris Beatty said. “If you do one thing really well, we can help you with the rest of it.”
ESPN ranks the Wisconsin recruiting class as No. 34 in the nation and fifth in the Big Ten.
“As coaches, we evaluate our way, [ESPN recruiting reporters] will evaluate them their way ... you can’t build your football team on what other people are saying,” Andersen said.
However, not every recruit pans out, and sometimes players that aren’t highly recruited can bloom once in college. Even successful Badgers J.J. Watt and Chris Borland weren’t highly recruited out of high school.
“We will know more in a couple years, but right now, I feel very good about the group coming in personality wise and talent wise,” Ludwig said.
