Offer No. 4 extended
As we talked about in past Whispers editions, C.J. Freeman’s name can now be added to a list that already included Brandon Stephens, George Hill and Kyle Porter. The South Carolina commit picked up an offer from the Badgers on Sunday evening, becoming the fourth known tailback to earn a scholarship since Antonio Williams’ de-commitment.
“Well, they’re a new school, but there's a high interest given their standing and traditions,” Freeman told BadgerBlitz.com.
“I'm still committed as of right now, but still the same schools pushing strong.”
The coaching staff is clearly trying to capitalize on the Gamecocks’ uncertainty at head coach after Steve Spurrier resigned on Oct. 13. Freeman, a three-star back from North Carolina, committed to South Carolina in March over offers from Wake Forest, Virginia Tech and West Virginia, among others.
“Yeah we're in the plans of working an official,” Freeman said.
Position coach John Settle, who has strong recruiting ties in North Carolina, is looking to add two scholarship running backs in the 2016 class and Freeman’s offer, according to a source, likely has more to do with Porter and Hill than it does with Stephens. Wisconsin still feels very good about where it stands with the Stanford commit, though Hill and Porter, as we reported, were likely going to be much more of a challenge.
Should the Badgers have to continue down their list, Khaleke Hudson and Tre Harbison are both strong options, we’re told, as well as in-state back Toren Young, who had offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph watch his game Friday evening. The Iowa commit, we’re told, would at least listen if Wisconsin turned up the heat.
UW has one more home contest left — Nov. 21 against Northwestern — and the staff will likely try and get as many prospects from that top four on campus that weekend.
Much of the same for Harrison
Three-star athlete Malik Harrison was the lone official visitor on campus this weekend for Wisconsin. And much like it was prior to his visit, a source close to his recruitment noted the Ohio standout feels very strongly about UW but is willing to wait for an offer from Ohio State.
At 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, Harrison was being looked at as potential receiver. But with how thin Wisconsin currently sits at tight end, we’re told Harrison likely projects as an H-back. Troy Fumagalli was the only active tight end for the Badgers against Rutgers on Saturday.
In short, the Buckeyes can land Harrison with a scholarship; Wisconsin is, and has been for a while, his top committable option.
2016 basketball recruiting
The early signing period in college basketball is Nov. 11 and it’s very likely that date will pass without Wisconsin making any significant moves in the 2016 class.
According to a source, the staff will likely wait to see what’s left on Nov. 12 and then reevaluate their options. The same source also indicated the Badgers could elect to bank their scholarship and use it in the 2017 class.
Justin Thomas and Maishe Dailey remain options, though the staff has not been in much contact recently.
Not slowing down at cornerback
Defensive backs coach Daronte Jones extended recent offers to Parnell Motley and JJ Givens. Furthermore, the staff has turned up their interest a bit on Indiana commit A’shon Riggins, while also maintaining connection with past targets at the position.
With Ke’Shan Pennamon in the mix, we still feels there’s room for one or two more corners in this class. But we’re being told the staff does not want to wait until January to fill their need at that position, something that has happened in past recruiting class.
Motely has been rather quiet but Givens was very excited about the offer when we talked briefly to him. The three-star from Virginia said he plans to visit officially this fall.
Odds and ends
*We continue to feel very good about where Wisconsin stands with three-star defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk after this official visit.
"I would say it's Wisconsin and K-State a little bit ahead, but Oklahoma State is right up there with them," Loudermilk told rivals.com.
*With the basketball season set to begin Wednesday against UW-River Falls, we’re hearing there’s a strong chance freshmen Alex Illikainen and Brevin Pritzl elect to redshirt this year. That could certainly change as the season wears on, but that’s where both are currently leaning at the start of the month.
As we talked about in past Whispers editions, C.J. Freeman’s name can now be added to a list that already included Brandon Stephens, George Hill and Kyle Porter. The South Carolina commit picked up an offer from the Badgers on Sunday evening, becoming the fourth known tailback to earn a scholarship since Antonio Williams’ de-commitment.
“Well, they’re a new school, but there's a high interest given their standing and traditions,” Freeman told BadgerBlitz.com.
“I'm still committed as of right now, but still the same schools pushing strong.”
The coaching staff is clearly trying to capitalize on the Gamecocks’ uncertainty at head coach after Steve Spurrier resigned on Oct. 13. Freeman, a three-star back from North Carolina, committed to South Carolina in March over offers from Wake Forest, Virginia Tech and West Virginia, among others.
“Yeah we're in the plans of working an official,” Freeman said.
Position coach John Settle, who has strong recruiting ties in North Carolina, is looking to add two scholarship running backs in the 2016 class and Freeman’s offer, according to a source, likely has more to do with Porter and Hill than it does with Stephens. Wisconsin still feels very good about where it stands with the Stanford commit, though Hill and Porter, as we reported, were likely going to be much more of a challenge.
Should the Badgers have to continue down their list, Khaleke Hudson and Tre Harbison are both strong options, we’re told, as well as in-state back Toren Young, who had offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph watch his game Friday evening. The Iowa commit, we’re told, would at least listen if Wisconsin turned up the heat.
UW has one more home contest left — Nov. 21 against Northwestern — and the staff will likely try and get as many prospects from that top four on campus that weekend.
Much of the same for Harrison
Three-star athlete Malik Harrison was the lone official visitor on campus this weekend for Wisconsin. And much like it was prior to his visit, a source close to his recruitment noted the Ohio standout feels very strongly about UW but is willing to wait for an offer from Ohio State.
At 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, Harrison was being looked at as potential receiver. But with how thin Wisconsin currently sits at tight end, we’re told Harrison likely projects as an H-back. Troy Fumagalli was the only active tight end for the Badgers against Rutgers on Saturday.
In short, the Buckeyes can land Harrison with a scholarship; Wisconsin is, and has been for a while, his top committable option.
2016 basketball recruiting
The early signing period in college basketball is Nov. 11 and it’s very likely that date will pass without Wisconsin making any significant moves in the 2016 class.
According to a source, the staff will likely wait to see what’s left on Nov. 12 and then reevaluate their options. The same source also indicated the Badgers could elect to bank their scholarship and use it in the 2017 class.
Justin Thomas and Maishe Dailey remain options, though the staff has not been in much contact recently.
Not slowing down at cornerback
Defensive backs coach Daronte Jones extended recent offers to Parnell Motley and JJ Givens. Furthermore, the staff has turned up their interest a bit on Indiana commit A’shon Riggins, while also maintaining connection with past targets at the position.
With Ke’Shan Pennamon in the mix, we still feels there’s room for one or two more corners in this class. But we’re being told the staff does not want to wait until January to fill their need at that position, something that has happened in past recruiting class.
Motely has been rather quiet but Givens was very excited about the offer when we talked briefly to him. The three-star from Virginia said he plans to visit officially this fall.
Odds and ends
*We continue to feel very good about where Wisconsin stands with three-star defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk after this official visit.
"I would say it's Wisconsin and K-State a little bit ahead, but Oklahoma State is right up there with them," Loudermilk told rivals.com.
*With the basketball season set to begin Wednesday against UW-River Falls, we’re hearing there’s a strong chance freshmen Alex Illikainen and Brevin Pritzl elect to redshirt this year. That could certainly change as the season wears on, but that’s where both are currently leaning at the start of the month.
