Bye week activities
Wisconsin’s much-needed bye week has finally arrived with a handful of players — Corey Clement, Rob Wheelwright, Austin Traylor, Chris Orr, Eric Steffes, Arthur Goldberg (limited Saturday) and Andrew Endicott, among others — attempting to return from injury for an important contest against Northwestern on Nov. 21.
The bye week is also beneficial for the coaching staff, which is trying to put the finishing touches on a 2016 recruiting class currently ranked No. 22 in the nation by rivals.com. And commit No. 21 could came as early as Monday.
According to a source, wide receivers coach Ted Gilmore will fly down to Georgia Monday morning to check on senior Quintez Cephus, who has already taken an official to Wisconsin. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound prospect recently decided to back away from his basketball commitment to Furman and is now focused on football at the next level. Georgia Tech has shown late interest but has yet to offer officially.
The same source indicated Cephus had “very, very strong interest” in the Badgers, though noted a commitment Monday is not guaranteed. Should Cephus add his name to UW’s commit list, he would likely be the final piece at receiver in a class that also includes A.J. Taylor and Kendric Pryor. Lil’Jordan Humphrey would still be a take — more of a luxury — we’re told, but the staff feels they need to lock up Cephus in order to feel comfortable at the position moving forward.
Where will the other coaches be this week?
*Note: This list does not include every prospect the coaching staff will see this upcoming week.
Gilmore has made Cephus his top priority but will also likely make his way to Kansas to touch base with three-star defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk, who is coming off a very strong official visit to Madison. Gilmore is also involved with a number of 2017 prospects from Missouri, so expect him to be in that state with a stop to see Taylor, who is from Kansas City, also on the itinerary. Texas, where Humphrey is located, is also a safe bet for Gilmore, who has strong ties to the state.
Defensive line coach Inoke Breckterfield could bump into Loudermilk, target Thomas Schaffer and four-star commit Garrett Rand, but will likely spend most of his time Florida. He recently handed out a handful of scholarships to youngsters at American Heritage High School, but could also check on senior running back Khalil Herbert as the Badgers explore all their options at the position. Commit Keldric Preston is also a likely priority for Breckterfield in the Sunshine State. Coordinator Dave Aranda could very well be on those same flights south, with pledges Dallas Jeanty and Ke’Shann Pennamon on his list, as well as targets Aaron Robinson, Henry Miller and Carlos Becker, among others. Aranda could also travel west to California to check on cornerback Lorenzo Burns, as well as a number of other prospects in the state.
Staying on the defensive side of the ball, secondary coach Daronte Jones could dip into Florida for a day or two, but his primary focus will be on the East Coast. He has commits Patrick Johnson and Eric Burrell in Maryland, and will likely check on JJ Givens, Parnell Motley, Myles Wolfolk, and possibly Patrice Rene while on the coast. Outside linebackers coach Tim Tibesar will stop by the schools of Noah Burks and Griffin Grady, and is also expected to be busy in Minnesota and Illinois for prospects in the 2017 and 2018 classes.
Offensively, running backs coach John Settle figures to be extremely busy. You can bet North Carolina is on one of his flight tickets with C.J. Freeman now a top priority in this class. Kyle Porter, a four-star from Katy High School in Texas, is also a big-time target for Settle and is sure to demand attention. He could also find himself in Florida in pursuit of some more under-the-radar talent. Coordinator Joe Rudolph figures to be just as busy. He’ll likely hit up the in-state commits and touch base with the younger talent from the Badger State — possibly even some uncommitted 2016 talent. He’ll also be in Arizona to see the Lyles brothers, Kare’ and Kayden, as well as Rand and other targets from that area. He’ll also make a stop in Minnesota to see Patrick Kasl — Tibesar will likely drop by as well — who recently picked up an offer from Vanderbilt. But the bulk of his time, as expected, will be in Ohio, where commit Seth Currens and high-priority targets Malik Harrison and George Hill are located. Newly-offered Deshaunte Jones could also be on that list, as well as a glut of talent from the junior and sophomore classes.
Though he’s been quiet on the recruiting front this cycle, special teams coordinator Chris Haering has been involved with commits Luke Benzschawel, Tyler Biadasz, Cole Van Lanen, Jake Cesear, Mason Stokke and Anthony Lotti. Targets Therran Coleman and Khaleke Hudson from Pennsylvania will likely receive visits from Haering, as well as Donovan Jeter and David Adams, among others, from the 2017 class.
Finally, tight ends coach Mickey Turner will likely check on commit Jake Hescock as he travels throughout the upper East Coast. He’s also expected to make stops in Illinois and Michigan in pursuit of younger talent. Junior running back Ivory Kelly-Martin from just outside of Chicago could be someone Turner definitely makes a priority to see, as well as Ricky Smalling and Isaiah Robertson from that same area.
Visitor list for Northwestern
The guest list for Northwestern, the final home contest of the year, likely won’t match what the staff was able to put together for the Hawaii weekend. But expect Paul Chryst’s group to do everything they can to get their top remaining targets on campus.
Schaffer and Givens are already locked in for official visits, while there’s a very good chance, we’re told, that Freeman adds his name to the list in the next few days. Wisconsin is sitting very well with the three-star back who is currently committed to South Carolina. Louisville is also showing strong interest in its attempt to flip Freeman.
Hill, a former Ohio commit, wants to take officials to Michigan State, Wisconsin, Nebraska and West Virginia, and UW will try hard to make sure they can get him to Madison for a game-day experience. The Spartans are still believed to be the team to beat in his recruitment. Porter also has an open invite to the game, but playoff football could get in the way.
Efforts will likely be made to get three-star Alaric Jackson on campus, but we’re less optimistic about that happening.
Expect to hear more on the official visitor front as the week progresses.
2016 hoops recruiting
College coaches from around the country will be able to officially comment on their 2016 recruiting classes for the first time Wednesday. Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan will likely have nothing to report on the first day of the early signing period, but we’re told to keep an eye on a past target.
Senior point guard Kobe Gantz, according to a source, is still in consistent contact with associate head coach Greg Gard. After camping at Wisconsin this summer, there was strong buzz around Gantz and UW, but improved test scores were an obstacle that stood in the way of an offer. While his name hasn’t been mentioned much lately, the staff is still very interested and both parties are in no rush to make a move.
Justin Thomas and Maishe Dailey remain options, though the staff has not been in much contact recently.
Wisconsin’s much-needed bye week has finally arrived with a handful of players — Corey Clement, Rob Wheelwright, Austin Traylor, Chris Orr, Eric Steffes, Arthur Goldberg (limited Saturday) and Andrew Endicott, among others — attempting to return from injury for an important contest against Northwestern on Nov. 21.
The bye week is also beneficial for the coaching staff, which is trying to put the finishing touches on a 2016 recruiting class currently ranked No. 22 in the nation by rivals.com. And commit No. 21 could came as early as Monday.
According to a source, wide receivers coach Ted Gilmore will fly down to Georgia Monday morning to check on senior Quintez Cephus, who has already taken an official to Wisconsin. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound prospect recently decided to back away from his basketball commitment to Furman and is now focused on football at the next level. Georgia Tech has shown late interest but has yet to offer officially.
The same source indicated Cephus had “very, very strong interest” in the Badgers, though noted a commitment Monday is not guaranteed. Should Cephus add his name to UW’s commit list, he would likely be the final piece at receiver in a class that also includes A.J. Taylor and Kendric Pryor. Lil’Jordan Humphrey would still be a take — more of a luxury — we’re told, but the staff feels they need to lock up Cephus in order to feel comfortable at the position moving forward.
Where will the other coaches be this week?
*Note: This list does not include every prospect the coaching staff will see this upcoming week.
Gilmore has made Cephus his top priority but will also likely make his way to Kansas to touch base with three-star defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk, who is coming off a very strong official visit to Madison. Gilmore is also involved with a number of 2017 prospects from Missouri, so expect him to be in that state with a stop to see Taylor, who is from Kansas City, also on the itinerary. Texas, where Humphrey is located, is also a safe bet for Gilmore, who has strong ties to the state.
Defensive line coach Inoke Breckterfield could bump into Loudermilk, target Thomas Schaffer and four-star commit Garrett Rand, but will likely spend most of his time Florida. He recently handed out a handful of scholarships to youngsters at American Heritage High School, but could also check on senior running back Khalil Herbert as the Badgers explore all their options at the position. Commit Keldric Preston is also a likely priority for Breckterfield in the Sunshine State. Coordinator Dave Aranda could very well be on those same flights south, with pledges Dallas Jeanty and Ke’Shann Pennamon on his list, as well as targets Aaron Robinson, Henry Miller and Carlos Becker, among others. Aranda could also travel west to California to check on cornerback Lorenzo Burns, as well as a number of other prospects in the state.
Staying on the defensive side of the ball, secondary coach Daronte Jones could dip into Florida for a day or two, but his primary focus will be on the East Coast. He has commits Patrick Johnson and Eric Burrell in Maryland, and will likely check on JJ Givens, Parnell Motley, Myles Wolfolk, and possibly Patrice Rene while on the coast. Outside linebackers coach Tim Tibesar will stop by the schools of Noah Burks and Griffin Grady, and is also expected to be busy in Minnesota and Illinois for prospects in the 2017 and 2018 classes.
Offensively, running backs coach John Settle figures to be extremely busy. You can bet North Carolina is on one of his flight tickets with C.J. Freeman now a top priority in this class. Kyle Porter, a four-star from Katy High School in Texas, is also a big-time target for Settle and is sure to demand attention. He could also find himself in Florida in pursuit of some more under-the-radar talent. Coordinator Joe Rudolph figures to be just as busy. He’ll likely hit up the in-state commits and touch base with the younger talent from the Badger State — possibly even some uncommitted 2016 talent. He’ll also be in Arizona to see the Lyles brothers, Kare’ and Kayden, as well as Rand and other targets from that area. He’ll also make a stop in Minnesota to see Patrick Kasl — Tibesar will likely drop by as well — who recently picked up an offer from Vanderbilt. But the bulk of his time, as expected, will be in Ohio, where commit Seth Currens and high-priority targets Malik Harrison and George Hill are located. Newly-offered Deshaunte Jones could also be on that list, as well as a glut of talent from the junior and sophomore classes.
Though he’s been quiet on the recruiting front this cycle, special teams coordinator Chris Haering has been involved with commits Luke Benzschawel, Tyler Biadasz, Cole Van Lanen, Jake Cesear, Mason Stokke and Anthony Lotti. Targets Therran Coleman and Khaleke Hudson from Pennsylvania will likely receive visits from Haering, as well as Donovan Jeter and David Adams, among others, from the 2017 class.
Finally, tight ends coach Mickey Turner will likely check on commit Jake Hescock as he travels throughout the upper East Coast. He’s also expected to make stops in Illinois and Michigan in pursuit of younger talent. Junior running back Ivory Kelly-Martin from just outside of Chicago could be someone Turner definitely makes a priority to see, as well as Ricky Smalling and Isaiah Robertson from that same area.
Visitor list for Northwestern
The guest list for Northwestern, the final home contest of the year, likely won’t match what the staff was able to put together for the Hawaii weekend. But expect Paul Chryst’s group to do everything they can to get their top remaining targets on campus.
Schaffer and Givens are already locked in for official visits, while there’s a very good chance, we’re told, that Freeman adds his name to the list in the next few days. Wisconsin is sitting very well with the three-star back who is currently committed to South Carolina. Louisville is also showing strong interest in its attempt to flip Freeman.
Hill, a former Ohio commit, wants to take officials to Michigan State, Wisconsin, Nebraska and West Virginia, and UW will try hard to make sure they can get him to Madison for a game-day experience. The Spartans are still believed to be the team to beat in his recruitment. Porter also has an open invite to the game, but playoff football could get in the way.
Efforts will likely be made to get three-star Alaric Jackson on campus, but we’re less optimistic about that happening.
Expect to hear more on the official visitor front as the week progresses.
2016 hoops recruiting
College coaches from around the country will be able to officially comment on their 2016 recruiting classes for the first time Wednesday. Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan will likely have nothing to report on the first day of the early signing period, but we’re told to keep an eye on a past target.
Senior point guard Kobe Gantz, according to a source, is still in consistent contact with associate head coach Greg Gard. After camping at Wisconsin this summer, there was strong buzz around Gantz and UW, but improved test scores were an obstacle that stood in the way of an offer. While his name hasn’t been mentioned much lately, the staff is still very interested and both parties are in no rush to make a move.
Justin Thomas and Maishe Dailey remain options, though the staff has not been in much contact recently.
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