Update on 2016 hoops recruiting
A new prospect is on the board with a scholarship offer and an old target is off Wisconsin’s point guard list.
The Badgers coaching staff, according to a source, learned of Payton Pritchard’s desire to stay closer to home and play for Oregon at the start of the week, if not earlier. As a result, head coach Bo Ryan sent out an offer to four-star point guard Xavier Simpson on Tuesday. Pritchard’s commit to the Ducks became public on Friday.
Though they entered a bit later in the game, UW likes its chances with Simpson, a 5-foot-11, 165-pound prospect from Lima Senior in Ohio. Iowa State and Illinois (this past weekend) have already hosted Simpson for official visits with a trip to Miami coming up to start the new month. The staff, we’re told, feels very good about securing one of the Simpson’s final two officials. Indiana also recently offered, though the addition of transfer Josh Newkirk, according to a source, has likely eliminated the Hoosiers.
The Badgers have done extremely well in the state of Ohio since assistant Lamont Paris joined the staff. Nigel Hayes, Vitto Brown and Khalil Iverson are on the current roster; Simpson and Iverson, a true freshman, have a relationship, we’re told.
While Simpson appears to be very interested in his new opportunities, we’re told JaQuori McLaughlin still remains Wisconsin’s top remaining target in 2016. And the feeling may be mutual.
McLaughlin, a four-star prospect, has visits scheduled to Oregon State, Utah and Wisconsin. According to a source, although "a bunch of other schools are trying to get him to visit, also," the 6-foot-3, 170-pound senior remains focused on his current three visits. McLaughlin, according to the same source, will only schedule another trip if, "he doesn't feel good enough about one of the three."
The source told BadgerBlitz.com that McLaughlin is "excited to be coming out" to Wisconsin next month. McLaughlin will visit Oregon State on Sept. 4; Utah on Sept. 11; and Wisconsin on Sept. 18.
Rounding things about, in-state guard Trevor Anderson, who had a preferred walk-on offer, committed to UW-Green Bay while Jordan Bohannon, a target with ties to the school, pledged to Iowa. Frankie Hughes is also a priority in the current class at lead guard.
Running backs in 2016
Two familiar names at running back have once again risen to the surface. The first: Robert Washington, who held an offer from the Badgers before he committed to Syracuse in April.
A 5-foot-10, 215-pound prospect from North Carolina, Washington makes a lot sense for the Badgers in their (likely) search for a second tailback. Position coach John Settle has strong ties to state and current commit Antonio Williams, who is also from Tar Heel country, has a good relationship with Washington. We expect UW will at least inquire about his services, but a source close to the three-star prospect’s recruitment stated his desire to play right away. Joining a class with Williams and a decent stable of backs already on campus may not be what Washington is ideally looking for.
The second: Kentrail Moran, who received strong interest from UW this spring but never earned a scholarship. With a lot of question marks surrounding Illinois’ program after the dismissal of head coach Tim Beckman, the college football world will be attacking its current commit list. At this point, though, Moran, an Illinois native, has remained solid in his commitment to the Illini. But with over six months left before Signing Day, expect Moran to hear pitches from a number of programs across the country. Like Washington, UW is expected to at least kick the tires here.
Flurry of 2017 offers
In the days leading up the season opener, Paul Chryst’s staff handed out a number of offers in the 2017 class. It’s clearly very early in the process, but we’re told that two scholarships, in particular, were very well received.
Four-star wide receiver Isaiah Robertson from Illinois was high on the Badgers prior to his offer. His father attended UW and the 6-foot-2, 185-pound prospect is already familiar with Camp Randall and the university. Robertson is a lock to visit this fall.
Four-star defensive tackle Fred Hansard, despite an awfully impressive scholarship sheet, is also high on the Badgers after picking up an offer. Again, very early in the process, but Wisconsin has a chance to make some noise in his recruitment.
I’d also throw Madison Cone in this mix, as the staff continues to make North Carolina a priority.
Cornerbacks: Week 1
This is a question I get asked most often about the 2016 class: Who are the top/most realistic targets for the Badgers at cornerback?
Clearly it’s a position of need and there aren’t any projected corners committed in this cycle. And since the interest level/pecking order seems to change weekly, if not more often, I’ll rank them in each Whispers report moving forward.
To start:
1) K.J. Sails
2) Eric Burrell (could play either CB or S)
3) Armunz Mathews
4) Carlos Becker
5) Lorenzo Burns/Ke’Shan Pennamon
Kendric Pryor is also someone to keep a close eye on, but he’s now been given the options to play wide receiver, his likely preferred position at the next level.
Thoughts from in-state football
Wisconsin currently has four in-state commitments in the current cycle and I was able to three of them – Mason Stokke is still on my list -- over the last two weeks. Here’s a quick breakdown:
Three-star defensive end Luke Benzschawel: Plays for a bad/rebuilding Grafton team and is asked to lead on both sides of the ball. Benzschawel has a great frame and is a decent athlete – he’s also put on close to 30 pounds since his commitment this spring. But from the game I saw, he was slow off the ball and lacks power. The Badgers liked him at end but I wouldn’t be shocked to see Benzschawel move over to right tackle at UW. His father played for Wisconsin and his brother, Beau, could have very well won the starting job at tackle this fall if he wasn’t derailed by a knee injury.
Three-star offensive tackle Cole Van Lanen: I think we currently have Van Lanen ranked incorrectly as a three-star prospect. I don’t care if the competition was weak; Van Lanen showed superior athleticism for a tackle and elite strength when engaged with a defender. Out of his stance, the 6-foot-5, 280-pound prospect stays low to the ground and drives his opponents into the second level, where he often locked up with a linebacker or defensive back.
I’ve had a chance to see a lot of recent in-state offensive linemen play live – Jaden Gault, George Panos, Ben Bredeson, Jacob Maxwell, Levon Myers and Vince Hughes, among others. Van Lanen, in my opinion, is only behind Bredeson, though I don’t feel there’s a big gap the two. The current Wisconsin commit may actually have a higher upside than the senior headed to Michigan, in my opinion. And that’s in no way a knock on Bredeson, who I am extremely high on.
Three-star defensive tackle Tyler Biadasz: Plays left tackle, defensive end and punts for a good Amherst team. Biadasz is a high motor, physical kid who is also a good athlete – best basketball player at the school, as well. The 6-foot-4, 270-pounder could give Wisconsin another athlete in the mold of Arthur Goldberg, who started at tackle but will play end this year. I think Biadasz has the ability to play either spot in a 3-4 scheme.
2017 lineman Mike Witkowski – Three-year starter for Greendale who has played all three positions on the offensive line. He’s very slender looking at 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds, but is also powerful and stout. Tough to get a great read on Witkowski due to Greendale’s high-tempo, quick-pass oriented offense, but those who are more familiar with him have indicated that he’s a FBS talent.
2018 QB Max Alba – Franklin’s second-string signal caller is someone to keep a close eye on. Body type reminds me of Joel Stave, as Alba is a true pro-style quarterback. Alba has a big, accurate arm and is definitely someone who will begin attracting Division 1 attention sooner rather than later.
Odds and ends
*Craig Watts is once again an option for the Badgers, according to the four-star prospect. Though when we reached out to a source, we were told there may still be some work to do academically, though Watts’ elite talent has kept the staff in contact.
*Isaiahh Loudermillk is still looking to visit Wisconsin. The end/tackle could be an option if the staff misses on both Garrett Rand and Thomas Schaffer.
*Target Therran Coleman committed to Pittsburgh over UW on Sunday evening.
*Former Milwaukee native D'Andre Christmas committed to Tennessee this week. The Badgers never showed much interest in the two-star defensive tackle.
A new prospect is on the board with a scholarship offer and an old target is off Wisconsin’s point guard list.
The Badgers coaching staff, according to a source, learned of Payton Pritchard’s desire to stay closer to home and play for Oregon at the start of the week, if not earlier. As a result, head coach Bo Ryan sent out an offer to four-star point guard Xavier Simpson on Tuesday. Pritchard’s commit to the Ducks became public on Friday.
Though they entered a bit later in the game, UW likes its chances with Simpson, a 5-foot-11, 165-pound prospect from Lima Senior in Ohio. Iowa State and Illinois (this past weekend) have already hosted Simpson for official visits with a trip to Miami coming up to start the new month. The staff, we’re told, feels very good about securing one of the Simpson’s final two officials. Indiana also recently offered, though the addition of transfer Josh Newkirk, according to a source, has likely eliminated the Hoosiers.
The Badgers have done extremely well in the state of Ohio since assistant Lamont Paris joined the staff. Nigel Hayes, Vitto Brown and Khalil Iverson are on the current roster; Simpson and Iverson, a true freshman, have a relationship, we’re told.
While Simpson appears to be very interested in his new opportunities, we’re told JaQuori McLaughlin still remains Wisconsin’s top remaining target in 2016. And the feeling may be mutual.
McLaughlin, a four-star prospect, has visits scheduled to Oregon State, Utah and Wisconsin. According to a source, although "a bunch of other schools are trying to get him to visit, also," the 6-foot-3, 170-pound senior remains focused on his current three visits. McLaughlin, according to the same source, will only schedule another trip if, "he doesn't feel good enough about one of the three."
The source told BadgerBlitz.com that McLaughlin is "excited to be coming out" to Wisconsin next month. McLaughlin will visit Oregon State on Sept. 4; Utah on Sept. 11; and Wisconsin on Sept. 18.
Rounding things about, in-state guard Trevor Anderson, who had a preferred walk-on offer, committed to UW-Green Bay while Jordan Bohannon, a target with ties to the school, pledged to Iowa. Frankie Hughes is also a priority in the current class at lead guard.
Running backs in 2016
Two familiar names at running back have once again risen to the surface. The first: Robert Washington, who held an offer from the Badgers before he committed to Syracuse in April.
A 5-foot-10, 215-pound prospect from North Carolina, Washington makes a lot sense for the Badgers in their (likely) search for a second tailback. Position coach John Settle has strong ties to state and current commit Antonio Williams, who is also from Tar Heel country, has a good relationship with Washington. We expect UW will at least inquire about his services, but a source close to the three-star prospect’s recruitment stated his desire to play right away. Joining a class with Williams and a decent stable of backs already on campus may not be what Washington is ideally looking for.
The second: Kentrail Moran, who received strong interest from UW this spring but never earned a scholarship. With a lot of question marks surrounding Illinois’ program after the dismissal of head coach Tim Beckman, the college football world will be attacking its current commit list. At this point, though, Moran, an Illinois native, has remained solid in his commitment to the Illini. But with over six months left before Signing Day, expect Moran to hear pitches from a number of programs across the country. Like Washington, UW is expected to at least kick the tires here.
Flurry of 2017 offers
In the days leading up the season opener, Paul Chryst’s staff handed out a number of offers in the 2017 class. It’s clearly very early in the process, but we’re told that two scholarships, in particular, were very well received.
Four-star wide receiver Isaiah Robertson from Illinois was high on the Badgers prior to his offer. His father attended UW and the 6-foot-2, 185-pound prospect is already familiar with Camp Randall and the university. Robertson is a lock to visit this fall.
Four-star defensive tackle Fred Hansard, despite an awfully impressive scholarship sheet, is also high on the Badgers after picking up an offer. Again, very early in the process, but Wisconsin has a chance to make some noise in his recruitment.
I’d also throw Madison Cone in this mix, as the staff continues to make North Carolina a priority.
Cornerbacks: Week 1
This is a question I get asked most often about the 2016 class: Who are the top/most realistic targets for the Badgers at cornerback?
Clearly it’s a position of need and there aren’t any projected corners committed in this cycle. And since the interest level/pecking order seems to change weekly, if not more often, I’ll rank them in each Whispers report moving forward.
To start:
1) K.J. Sails
2) Eric Burrell (could play either CB or S)
3) Armunz Mathews
4) Carlos Becker
5) Lorenzo Burns/Ke’Shan Pennamon
Kendric Pryor is also someone to keep a close eye on, but he’s now been given the options to play wide receiver, his likely preferred position at the next level.
Thoughts from in-state football
Wisconsin currently has four in-state commitments in the current cycle and I was able to three of them – Mason Stokke is still on my list -- over the last two weeks. Here’s a quick breakdown:
Three-star defensive end Luke Benzschawel: Plays for a bad/rebuilding Grafton team and is asked to lead on both sides of the ball. Benzschawel has a great frame and is a decent athlete – he’s also put on close to 30 pounds since his commitment this spring. But from the game I saw, he was slow off the ball and lacks power. The Badgers liked him at end but I wouldn’t be shocked to see Benzschawel move over to right tackle at UW. His father played for Wisconsin and his brother, Beau, could have very well won the starting job at tackle this fall if he wasn’t derailed by a knee injury.
Three-star offensive tackle Cole Van Lanen: I think we currently have Van Lanen ranked incorrectly as a three-star prospect. I don’t care if the competition was weak; Van Lanen showed superior athleticism for a tackle and elite strength when engaged with a defender. Out of his stance, the 6-foot-5, 280-pound prospect stays low to the ground and drives his opponents into the second level, where he often locked up with a linebacker or defensive back.
I’ve had a chance to see a lot of recent in-state offensive linemen play live – Jaden Gault, George Panos, Ben Bredeson, Jacob Maxwell, Levon Myers and Vince Hughes, among others. Van Lanen, in my opinion, is only behind Bredeson, though I don’t feel there’s a big gap the two. The current Wisconsin commit may actually have a higher upside than the senior headed to Michigan, in my opinion. And that’s in no way a knock on Bredeson, who I am extremely high on.
Three-star defensive tackle Tyler Biadasz: Plays left tackle, defensive end and punts for a good Amherst team. Biadasz is a high motor, physical kid who is also a good athlete – best basketball player at the school, as well. The 6-foot-4, 270-pounder could give Wisconsin another athlete in the mold of Arthur Goldberg, who started at tackle but will play end this year. I think Biadasz has the ability to play either spot in a 3-4 scheme.
2017 lineman Mike Witkowski – Three-year starter for Greendale who has played all three positions on the offensive line. He’s very slender looking at 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds, but is also powerful and stout. Tough to get a great read on Witkowski due to Greendale’s high-tempo, quick-pass oriented offense, but those who are more familiar with him have indicated that he’s a FBS talent.
2018 QB Max Alba – Franklin’s second-string signal caller is someone to keep a close eye on. Body type reminds me of Joel Stave, as Alba is a true pro-style quarterback. Alba has a big, accurate arm and is definitely someone who will begin attracting Division 1 attention sooner rather than later.
Odds and ends
*Craig Watts is once again an option for the Badgers, according to the four-star prospect. Though when we reached out to a source, we were told there may still be some work to do academically, though Watts’ elite talent has kept the staff in contact.
*Isaiahh Loudermillk is still looking to visit Wisconsin. The end/tackle could be an option if the staff misses on both Garrett Rand and Thomas Schaffer.
*Target Therran Coleman committed to Pittsburgh over UW on Sunday evening.
*Former Milwaukee native D'Andre Christmas committed to Tennessee this week. The Badgers never showed much interest in the two-star defensive tackle.
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