Final pieces coming together
There are a handful of names still being floated around Wisconsin’s recruiting board and just a few remaining spots in the 2016 class. We wont have complete clarity until Feb. 3, but the following update should help bridge the gap until then.
For starters, and as we’ve posted all weekend, we fully expect Sam Brodner to accept the Badgers’ running back offer during his official visit. Freshman Alec Ingold hosted the three-star back from Illinois and all signs point to a Sunday commitment.
"This is my dream,” Brodner told members of the current roster Friday evening.
Should something unexpected happen, the Gatorade Player of the Year in Illinois, we’re told, would visit the Illini next weekend and not Iowa, which recently offered. Again, we’re being told Brodner wants to end the process, though, and the staff expects a pledge.
Brodner’s verbal would bring Wisconsin to 24 in the current cycle, making things extremely tight moving forward. So tight, we’re told, that the 5-foot-11, 210-pound senior would most likely be the only running back UW signs in 2016.
Now, there are a handful of tailbacks the staff is also intrigued by, most notably Joshua Jacobs from Oklahoma, who was described as “raw” and “two years away from playing” by someone close to his recruitment. But the coaches want to go through the proper evaluation process in the next cycle in favor of rushing a late decision this January. Brodner was given the green light because the staff was able to scout him in person this summer, showing just how much stock Paul Chryst puts in live evaluations.
The source didn’t give a concrete answer Brandon Stephens, who is now looking for a new school after not being admitted into Stanford. Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma are also involved in his recruitment.
Caesar Williams is another big target remaining for the Badgers as they look to pin down their final spot at cornerback. The two-star prospect is expected to announce a decision after his Kansas State official visit this weekend.
Lil’Jordan Humphrey is on campus this weekend — credit goes to Ted Gilmore’s persistence here — and Wisconsin definitely has a spot for him in the 2016 class. But the three-star athlete is expected to stay closer to home and sign with either Texas or Texas Tech. We’re waiting to hear more from his official Sunday.
And though recent attempts were made to get in-state quarterback Nathan Stanley on campus, we’re told that’s not likely unless something unexpected happens. The three-star prospect from Menomonee has been committed to Iowa for over a year.
Swenson’s status with Wisconsin
Keeping in line with our “limited spots” theme, we’re told a full scholarship offer will not be handed out to offensive lineman Erik Swenson, who is back on the market after parting ways with Michigan. The four-star prospect was on UW’s campus unofficially Friday and the staff presented him with an opportunity similar to what was accepted by tight end Troy Fumgalli during his recruitment.
While some may argue Swenson is worth adding in this class, Saturday evening proved just how valued the 2017 in-state class is in the eyes of Chryst and position coach Joe Rudolph. In order to have room for offensive linemen Alex Fenton, Logan Bruss and Tyler Beach – all of whom were offered during the Badgers’ junior day — along with current commit Kayden Lyles, the Badgers needed to stay put with Patrick Kasl and Cole Van Lanen in 2016.
“Didn't want to cut one of them out for him (Swenson),” a source said. “(The) 2017 in-state guys are better than he is.”
The staff feels they’ll be able to close out the three mentioned uncommitted juniors and potentially lock up recruiting at that position in 2017.
One other nugget from this group: We’re told the coaching staff let Kasl know that if he took an official visit to Minnesota, they would pull his scholarship. That said, he declined a recent invitation presented to him by the Gophers, which recently extended a scholarship.
More from junior day
While Bruss, Beach, Fenton and Aaron Vopal (offered as a defensive end) garnered most of the attention, Wisconsin’s junior day also featured a handful of other top in-state prospects.
Jake Ferguson, the first athlete UW offered from the state in 2017, was in attendance, along with quarterback Danny Vanden Boom, safety Joe Ludwig, offensive linemen Jonathan Gruetzmacher and Mike Witkowski, wide receiver Terrell Carey, defensive end Javaree Jackson and athlete Obi Iwuagwu, among others. We’re told at least 17 prospects were on campus Saturday. Defensive lineman Daviyon Nixon was invited but unable to attend.
Unfortunately for Gruetzmacher and Witkowski, they could be on the outside looking in in terms of potential offers unless the Badgers miss on Bruss, Fenton or Beach. Vanden Boom and Ludwig are definitely worth watching moving forward, while Jackson and Iwuagwu are raw athletes with high upsides.
Wisconsin basketball coaches in Illinois
Friday night, interim head coach Greg Gard, who watched in-state point guard Jordan McCabe earlier this week, was in Illinois to scout 2017 center Cameron Krutwig. The 6-foot-8, 240-pound junior from Algonquin already has offers from Northern Illinois, UAB and Toledo, among others.
Saturday night, assistant coach Howard Moore watched three-star power forward Nick Rakocevic. After essentially restarting his recruitment this fall, Rakocevic lists offers from Miami, Auburn, Wisconsin, DePaul and Creighton to go along with interest from Louisville and North Carolina.
Odds and Ends
*In a bit of a surprise, Deron Harrell, who took an official to Wisconsin last weekend, still remains uncommitted. But that’s not his choice, according to the projected cornerback who picked up a greyshirt offer.
“Well, I told coach (Mickey) Turner that I wanted to commit on Tuesday and he said he will let the coaches know,” Harrell told BadgerBlitz.com. “But I haven’t heard back.”
* Three-star quarterback Chris Katernick expects to throw in front of the Wisconsin coaches this upcoming week. The junior from Illinois has an early offer from Virginia and camped at UW this past summer.
*Running back target Khalil Herbert committed to Kansas on Saturday. He was receiving light interest from the Badgers.
*2016 hoops target Maishe Dailey committed to Rutgers on Saturday. Gard was in contact with the Ohio standout last fall.
There are a handful of names still being floated around Wisconsin’s recruiting board and just a few remaining spots in the 2016 class. We wont have complete clarity until Feb. 3, but the following update should help bridge the gap until then.
For starters, and as we’ve posted all weekend, we fully expect Sam Brodner to accept the Badgers’ running back offer during his official visit. Freshman Alec Ingold hosted the three-star back from Illinois and all signs point to a Sunday commitment.
"This is my dream,” Brodner told members of the current roster Friday evening.
Should something unexpected happen, the Gatorade Player of the Year in Illinois, we’re told, would visit the Illini next weekend and not Iowa, which recently offered. Again, we’re being told Brodner wants to end the process, though, and the staff expects a pledge.
Brodner’s verbal would bring Wisconsin to 24 in the current cycle, making things extremely tight moving forward. So tight, we’re told, that the 5-foot-11, 210-pound senior would most likely be the only running back UW signs in 2016.
Now, there are a handful of tailbacks the staff is also intrigued by, most notably Joshua Jacobs from Oklahoma, who was described as “raw” and “two years away from playing” by someone close to his recruitment. But the coaches want to go through the proper evaluation process in the next cycle in favor of rushing a late decision this January. Brodner was given the green light because the staff was able to scout him in person this summer, showing just how much stock Paul Chryst puts in live evaluations.
The source didn’t give a concrete answer Brandon Stephens, who is now looking for a new school after not being admitted into Stanford. Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma are also involved in his recruitment.
Caesar Williams is another big target remaining for the Badgers as they look to pin down their final spot at cornerback. The two-star prospect is expected to announce a decision after his Kansas State official visit this weekend.
Lil’Jordan Humphrey is on campus this weekend — credit goes to Ted Gilmore’s persistence here — and Wisconsin definitely has a spot for him in the 2016 class. But the three-star athlete is expected to stay closer to home and sign with either Texas or Texas Tech. We’re waiting to hear more from his official Sunday.
And though recent attempts were made to get in-state quarterback Nathan Stanley on campus, we’re told that’s not likely unless something unexpected happens. The three-star prospect from Menomonee has been committed to Iowa for over a year.
Swenson’s status with Wisconsin
Keeping in line with our “limited spots” theme, we’re told a full scholarship offer will not be handed out to offensive lineman Erik Swenson, who is back on the market after parting ways with Michigan. The four-star prospect was on UW’s campus unofficially Friday and the staff presented him with an opportunity similar to what was accepted by tight end Troy Fumgalli during his recruitment.
While some may argue Swenson is worth adding in this class, Saturday evening proved just how valued the 2017 in-state class is in the eyes of Chryst and position coach Joe Rudolph. In order to have room for offensive linemen Alex Fenton, Logan Bruss and Tyler Beach – all of whom were offered during the Badgers’ junior day — along with current commit Kayden Lyles, the Badgers needed to stay put with Patrick Kasl and Cole Van Lanen in 2016.
“Didn't want to cut one of them out for him (Swenson),” a source said. “(The) 2017 in-state guys are better than he is.”
The staff feels they’ll be able to close out the three mentioned uncommitted juniors and potentially lock up recruiting at that position in 2017.
One other nugget from this group: We’re told the coaching staff let Kasl know that if he took an official visit to Minnesota, they would pull his scholarship. That said, he declined a recent invitation presented to him by the Gophers, which recently extended a scholarship.
More from junior day
While Bruss, Beach, Fenton and Aaron Vopal (offered as a defensive end) garnered most of the attention, Wisconsin’s junior day also featured a handful of other top in-state prospects.
Jake Ferguson, the first athlete UW offered from the state in 2017, was in attendance, along with quarterback Danny Vanden Boom, safety Joe Ludwig, offensive linemen Jonathan Gruetzmacher and Mike Witkowski, wide receiver Terrell Carey, defensive end Javaree Jackson and athlete Obi Iwuagwu, among others. We’re told at least 17 prospects were on campus Saturday. Defensive lineman Daviyon Nixon was invited but unable to attend.
Unfortunately for Gruetzmacher and Witkowski, they could be on the outside looking in in terms of potential offers unless the Badgers miss on Bruss, Fenton or Beach. Vanden Boom and Ludwig are definitely worth watching moving forward, while Jackson and Iwuagwu are raw athletes with high upsides.
Wisconsin basketball coaches in Illinois
Friday night, interim head coach Greg Gard, who watched in-state point guard Jordan McCabe earlier this week, was in Illinois to scout 2017 center Cameron Krutwig. The 6-foot-8, 240-pound junior from Algonquin already has offers from Northern Illinois, UAB and Toledo, among others.
Saturday night, assistant coach Howard Moore watched three-star power forward Nick Rakocevic. After essentially restarting his recruitment this fall, Rakocevic lists offers from Miami, Auburn, Wisconsin, DePaul and Creighton to go along with interest from Louisville and North Carolina.
Odds and Ends
*In a bit of a surprise, Deron Harrell, who took an official to Wisconsin last weekend, still remains uncommitted. But that’s not his choice, according to the projected cornerback who picked up a greyshirt offer.
“Well, I told coach (Mickey) Turner that I wanted to commit on Tuesday and he said he will let the coaches know,” Harrell told BadgerBlitz.com. “But I haven’t heard back.”
* Three-star quarterback Chris Katernick expects to throw in front of the Wisconsin coaches this upcoming week. The junior from Illinois has an early offer from Virginia and camped at UW this past summer.
*Running back target Khalil Herbert committed to Kansas on Saturday. He was receiving light interest from the Badgers.
*2016 hoops target Maishe Dailey committed to Rutgers on Saturday. Gard was in contact with the Ohio standout last fall.
