FB Recruiting

Wisconsin Football: Badgers Missing Out on Multiple In-State Recruits

Published

1 month ago

April 26, 2023

Wisconsin Football head coach Luke Fickell

Dec 26, 2022; Scottsdale, Arizona, USA; Wisconsin Badgers coach Luke Fickell during Guaranteed Rate Bowl media day at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Madison, Wis. – Traditionally, the Wisconsin football program has been able to hone in on and secure the top in-state recruits. In fact, UW has landed the top player in Wisconsin every year since 2017.

This year, however, the Badgers have missed out on the top in-state prospects. To make matters worse, a Big Ten foe has been able to pluck multiple of the highest-rated recruits in Wisconsin.

Penn State plucks multiple in-state targets from the Wisconsin Badgers

Penn State has been hot on the recruiting trail in the 2024 cycle. Currently, the Nittany Lions hold the No. 7 recruiting class in the country, according to 247Sports.

Penn State boosted its ranking by plucking multiple Wisconsin recruits. Donovan Harbour, the No. 1 player in the state, and Garrett Sexton, the No. 4 prospect, have committed to the Nittany Lions. On top of that, Corey Smith, the No. 2 player in WI is projected to land at PSU as well.

In fairness, the previous regime had offered Harbour and was not re-offered by Fickell and company. Also, the Badgers were late to extend an offer to Sexton, as he had already dropped his final four schools a few weeks prior.

The PSU staff has honed in on building relationships with recruits in Wisconsin. Penn State reporter Chris Mangum said this about how the Penn State staff have earned commitments from multiple WI prospects:

“(James Franklin) is all about making bonds with the recruits. When one locks in, word spreads, and the staff pokes around other schools and recruits. Then, the dominoes fall — hence why a few WI recruits have committed in a row now.”

The Wisconsin football staff has typically built a “wall” around the state to keep the top guys home. Now, it looks like Fickell and company have shifted their recruiting direction.

Wisconsin football head coach Luke Fickell’s recruiting strategy

In Luke Fickell’s introductory press conference, he gave an insight into UW’s recruiting strategy.

“Within a 300-mile radius, that will be the core of what we do here. I know as you get into Chicago and the areas where you have done an unbelievable job, there’s a lot of roots that have been built there,” Fickell said. “I know that the 300-mile radius is an opportunity to make this program, this team, a championship team.”

The Badgers have earned multiple commitments from the Chicago area, with Grant Stec and Kyan Berry-Johnson slated to join UW in 2024. Wisconsin also picked up a late commitment from three-star DT Jamel Howard, who hails from Chicago, in the 2023 cycle

Fickell and company are sticking to that radius he discussed, but they have missed out on the top in-state recruits, but that’s okay. With Luke Fickell’s track record of success in recruiting, there is no reason to panic about losing players to other schools.

Sure, it’s disappointing to miss out on the top guys in the state. However, the Badgers have honed in on other targets that will be more beneficial for the program. The UW staff has already secured a top-20 recruiting class in the 2024 cycle with plenty of time left to land more impactful players.

Don’t panic, Badger fans. There’s more to come on the recruiting front, and Wisconsin is on track to have a solid class in the 2024 cycle.

Contact/Follow us @Badger_Notes on Twitter, Subscribe to the BadgerNotes Newsletter here, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion, and analysis. You can also follow Jake Maier on Twitter. @JakeJMaier.

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FB Recruiting

Breaking Down the Wisconsin Badgers Newest 2024 Defensive Line Commit

Published

3 hours ago

June 6, 2023

Dillon Graff

Wisconsin Football defensive line commit Hank Weber

Wisconsin Football Lands Commitment From 2024 DL Hank Weber

Madison, Wis. — In need of a serious revamping of the defensive line, the Wisconsin football coaching staff knew these next couple of weekends would be huge for the future of the defense.

The first domino of that DL revamp fell on Monday when the Badgers received a verbal commitment from 2024 three-star defensive lineman Hank Weber out of Brentwood, Tennesee, following an official visit to Madison this past weekend.

Pumped to Jump Around for the next 4 years!! 🦡 #committed #OnWisconsin @BadgerFootball @CoachFick @G_Scruggs @CoachMikeTress @_maximus347 @PatLambert13 @theBAFootball pic.twitter.com/XAtFwLUKSA

— hank weber (@hankweber8) June 5, 2023

According to 247Sports, Weber is the No. 99 DL in the country and the No. 37 player in Tennessee. The three-star recruit chose Wisconsin over offers from North Carolina, Michigan State, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Purdue, Virginia Tech, and several others.

“Wisconsin had everything that I was looking for in a college and program,” Weber said. “The defense that coach Mike Tressel runs was appealing because of how aggressive it is. And I’ve been told that coach Fickell sometimes likes to lead the defensive line meetings. That was a huge deal for me.”

The 6-foot-4, 250-pound defensive prospect is Greg Scruggs’ first commit in the 2024 recruiting cycle.

Scouting Report

Hank Weber is, by my evaluation, a solid but unspectacular prospect. That’s not to say I’m writing him off, though.

Although his pad level and ability to get off the ball were underwhelming, his pursuit and technique after the snap stood out. There is an undeniable blend of length and power as a pass-rusher that you love to see, and he strikes me as the type of assignment-sound player that could develop into a reliable starter with some time to fill out his frame.

One thing I love about Weber is that he also plays offensive line, so he’s got a tenacity and motor about him that is a must-have in a defensive line prospect.

Overall, I think Weber was a solid get, and for a re-tooling defensive line, he’s a solid start to what should be a large class of recruits at the position. I’ll like this commit even better if he’s paired with someone that has more pass-rushing upside.

The Impact of Hank Weber Joining the Wisconsin Football Program

Vernon Woodward is commitment No. 10 for the Wisconsin football program in the 2024 recruiting cycle, joining Mabrey Mettauer, Grant Stec, Robert Booker, Derek Jensen, Thomas Heiberger, Landon Gauthier, Kyan Berry-Johnson, Kahmir Prescott, and Vernon Woodward.

With his addition, UW now has the No. 21 recruiting class in the country, per 247Sports.

Contact/Follow us @Badger_Notes on Twitter, Subscribe to the BadgerNotes Newsletter here, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, opinion, and analysis. You can also follow Dillon Graff on Twitter @DillonGraff.

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FB Recruiting

Wisconsin Football Adds Australian Punter, New 2024 Commit, More

Published

6 hours ago

June 6, 2023

Dillon Graff

Sep 3, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; General view of Camp Randall Stadium prior to the game between the Illinois State Redbirds and Wisconsin Badgers. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

It’s been a busy couple of days for the Wisconsin football program, ladies and gents, but fear not because BadgerNotes can help get you back up to speed with a roundup of some important Badgers news you may have missed.

Wisconsin Badgers Address Their Special Teams Need

Exiting spring practice, Wisconsin football head coach Luke Fickell voiced his concern about the Badgers’ punting situation.

“I’m a little bit concerned we’ve got to figure some things out probably in the punting situation,” Fickell said after the final spring practice. “I know it’s a tougher time, but we don’t get outside nearly as much to see those guys have an opportunity to punt the ball and for us to return it as well.”

Thankfully, that issue was addressed with Wisconsin landing a commitment from Atticus Bertrams, a native of Melbourne, Australia, who will be on scholarship in 2023.

I am proud to announce that I have committed to a full scholarship to study and play football at The University of Wisconsin

Thank you to @ProkickAus @JohnnyPKA @tglees @ConquestAthlete as well as @CoachFick and the staff at @BadgerFootball for this opportunity pic.twitter.com/g8wQQg4KzF

— Atticus Bertrams (@BertramsAtticus) May 27, 2023

Bertrams had previously committed to USC in 2021 but didn’t enroll. Instead, he spent his time training at Prokick, an academy in Australia that has produced six Ray Guy Award-winning punters.

Victoria 6.0 feat @BertramsAtticus

1. Hang time: 5.1, Dist: 48 yards
2. Hang time: 5.1, Dist: 52 yards
3. Hang time: 4.9, Dist: 52 yards pic.twitter.com/QNX4ZHrbyc

— Oliver Straw (@Ollie_Straw) August 8, 2021

He immediately slots in as Wisconsin’s top punter ahead of Jack Van Dyke and Gavin Meyers, who left something to be desired during spring practice. Bertrams has some big shoes to fill following the departure of Andy Vujnovich.

Wisconsin Football Lands Commitment From 3-Star Florida CB

Following an official visit to Madison, the Wisconsin football coaching staff added their first cornerback prospect of the 2024 cycle in three-star cornerback Vernon Woodward, out of Winter Park, Florida.

Wisconsin we home 🦡🔴🔥!!! @CoachFick @Haynes_Badgers @PatLambert13 #committed #OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/mW0p2l97pI

— Vernon Woodward iii ⭐️ (@_vern1) June 4, 2023

According to the industry-generated composite rankings, he is the No. 74 cornerback in the 2024 recruiting class and the No. 128 player in Florida.

Woodward chose UW over scholarship offers from Ole Miss, Illinois, Cincinnati, Missouri, Purdue, UCF, Virginia, West Virginia, Louisville, Georgia Tech, and several others.

As a junior, the 6-foot-2 cornerback registered 57 tackles, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. But perhaps the most telling stat from Woodward’s junior season is that he was targeted only twice all year, which speaks volumes about his ability to blanket WRs at that level.

You can watch his HUDL film here.

Vernon Woodward is commitment No. 9 for the Wisconsin football program in the 2024 recruiting cycle, joining Mabrey Mettauer, Grant Stec, Robert Booker, Derek Jensen, Thomas Heiberger, Landon Gauthier, Kyan Berry-Johnson, and Kahmir Prescott.

Other Wisconsin Football News

According to a report from Bruce Feldman of The Athletic, the Wisconsin football team is adding a senior defensive analyst to the coaching staff.

UW is adding Rhode Island defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Jack Cooper as a senior defensive analyst next season after serving in his previous role since 2020. He also served as a quality control coach for Nebraska for two seasons.

Coach Cooper helped lead Rhode Island to a top-50 defensive unit in 2021 and a 7-4 record overall, their highest win total in two decades.

This addition is precisely the kind of coaching hire top-tier programs are making nowadays because they don’t count against the allowed amount of paid assistants. The beauty in adding an experienced coach like Jack Cooper is that you have an internal candidate you’re comfortable with should someone on your staff move on.

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FB Recruiting

Wisconsin Football Lands Commitment from 2024 Three-Star Defensive Lineman

Published

18 hours ago

June 5, 2023

Jake Maier

Sep 17, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; A Wisconsin Badgers cheerleader carries the Wisconsin flag during the game against the New Mexico State Aggies at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Madison, Wis. – The Wisconsin football program picked up another commitment from a loaded June 2nd recruiting weekend.

Three-star defensive lineman Hank Weber took to Twitter to announce his commitment to Wisconsin.

Pumped to Jump Around for the next 4 years!! 🦡 #committed #OnWisconsin @BadgerFootball @CoachFick @G_Scruggs @CoachMikeTress @_maximus347 @PatLambert13 @theBAFootball pic.twitter.com/XAtFwLUKSA

— hank weber (@hankweber8) June 5, 2023

UW beat out offers from North Carolina, Vanderbilt, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Purdue, and others.

According to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite rankings, Weber is the No. 1070 player in the nation, the No. 99 defensive lineman, and the No. 37 player in Tennessee.

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound defensive lineman originally planned to commit in August. Instead, Weber opted to stay in Madison following his official visit. He will forgo his officials to Vanderbilt and North Carolina with his commitment.

Scouting report

Weber is a prototypical Wisconsin defensive lineman. The 6-foot-4, 260-pound DL has a quick burst off the line of scrimmage to pair with excellent anticipation and vision to blow up plays.

The three-star prospect is a tenacious lineman who is often the aggressor when met with contact. He thrives as a bull rusher, but the Tennesee native’s technique is sound when using rip and swim moves.

Weber also brings some versatility to Wisconsin. Although he typically lines up on the edge, his frame allows him to play on the interior defensive line. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly where he’ll line up with Wisconsin, but Weber has the tools to be an all-around impactful lineman.

You can watch his full HUDL highlights here.

The Wisconsin football program has started June off with a bang. Three-star cornerback Vernon Woodward committed yesterday, and now Weber is on board. There’s more on the way, so be sure to stay tuned to Badger Notes.

Wisconsin now has ten commitments in the 2024 recruiting cycle.

Contact/Follow us @Badger_Notes on Twitter, Subscribe to the BadgerNotes Newsletter here, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, opinion, and analysis. You can also follow Jake Maier on Twitter @JakeJMaier.