I’ve been a massive fan of the Wisconsin football program for quite some time. I’m much younger than a lot of fans, so I wasn’t fortunate enough to witness the glory days of the Barry Alvarez era, but I have seen some fantastic teams and players come through UW in my lifetime.
While I was mostly a fan of the on-field product in my early fandom, the glamour of the recruiting space really caught my eye a few years ago. I’ve spent more time looking into prospects and reading message boards than I care to admit, but there’s just something about making a splash on the recruiting trail or watching a committed prospect rise up the ranks that’s so damn exciting.
Inspired by the nonsensical ramblings of Dillon Graff on the basketball program, I wanted to give myself a space where I could get all my thoughts out on recruiting, and there’s never been a better time to do so.
It’s time we talk about Kyan Berry-Johnson
Look, I never want to be a guy who gasses up recruits solely because they’re committed to UW. However, I can’t express enough how underrated Kyan Berry-Johnson is.
According to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, Berry-Johnson is the No. 771 player in the nation, the No. 98 wide receiver, and the No. 18 player in Illinois.
I did a scouting report on Berry-Johnson earlier in the year, and his tape really flashed to me. This is a kid who can make short passes into big plays with his breakaway speed and elusiveness in space. Plus, he’s a physically gifted receiver who can get up and high-point the ball with ease.
Although he typically plays in the slot, Berry-Johnson offers some versatility. There’s a pretty crowded field at the slot receiver position, but I could see him lining up on the outside and still being a huge difference-maker.
I firmly believe Berry-Johnson will be the biggest steal in the class when it’s all said and done. There’s so much upside in his game to pair with his athleticism and intangibles that could make him an absolute stud.
A look at the Wisconsin football running back class
Wisconsin’s 2024 class is chock-full of standout players, but you can’t find as much talent in the class as you do at the running back position.
UW currently holds commitments from Dilin Jones, Darrion Dupree, and Gideon Ituka. This set of tailbacks is extremely interesting because of how well they complement each other. With Dupree, you have an all-purpose back who does everything exceptionally well. With Jones, you get a tailback who’s tough to bring down with quick acceleration and elusiveness in space. And, of course, you have Ituka, who will thrive as a short-yardage tailback with his physical nature.
With Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi likely entering their final year with the Wisconsin football program, this trio of running backs will be a perfect fit. Of course, the most important thing is keeping this group together.
Some other schools have come knocking on Dupree’s door following the commitment by Dilin Jones, and the four-star prospect will keep the door open cracked open. While this may worry some, I don’t see UW in any immediate danger of losing Dupree. I see this as a kid wanting to see what else is out there. If he’s waiting for some powerhouses to come knocking, none of those programs would have a better situation in terms of playing time than there is at UW, and I think that’s what will retain Dupree’s commitment to Wisconsin.
This running back class could be something special. Each prospect has something that they do exceptionally well, and the pecking order will be something I will keep a close eye on when they get to campus.
Wisconsin football recruiting has never been this exciting
Admittedly, I haven’t followed recruiting closely as long as others have. However, I can’t think of a time that recruiting was this exciting.
Something this staff has done well is using social media to create intrigue in the recruiting space. I’ll admit I still get a little juice going when I see a bat signal drop, but how couldn’t you?
To be frank, Wisconsin isn’t landing these high-profile recruits if it weren’t for Fickell. His track record of success speaks for itself, but he’s also a remarkable talent developer. Hell, he had nine NFL draft picks on his Cincinnati team that made the College Football Playoff.
Recruits are taking notice of what Fickell is building early on in Madison, and that bodes extremely well for the future of the program. Some of Wisconsin’s current commits have even done some campaigning of their own on the recruiting front. That speaks to the culture the new staff is building, and it’s pretty damn exciting.
Wisconsin could secure a top 20 class when it’s all said and done. While that wouldn’t be the highest-rated class in program history, it’s a damn good jumping-off point for the staff.
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