Wisconsin Football Loses Two 2024 Commits to Big Ten Foes

The Wisconsin football recruiting department underwent a tumultuous 24 hours this week. On Wednesday afternoon, Rob Booker, a tight end prospect in the 2024 class, catalyzed the action by de-committing from the Badgers. Shortly after, Vernon Woodward, a cornerback recruit in the same class, announced he was flipping his commitment from UW to a Big Ten West rival.

However, it has not been all bad news for head coach Luke Fickell. Thursday evening, he unveiled a new “bat signal” tweet. A dynamic quarterback recruit in the 2025 class (with notable ties to a current Badger) announced his commitment to play college football in Madison. 

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Wisconsin Football Recruiting: Waunakee Tight End Commits to Big Ten Program

Although overshadowed by a bombshell commitment in the 2025 class, Booker announced his new destination Thursday afternoon. The prospect from Waunakee committed to one of the latest members of the Big Ten: UCLA.  UCLA will be in the Big Ten when Booker arrives on campus in Westwood in 2024.

According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Booker is a three-star prospect and the fifth-ranked player from Wisconsin in the 2024 class. Nationally, he is the 26th highest-rated tight end and ranked 466th overall. Before his commitment to the Bruins, Booker had not publicly announced a scholarship offer from head coach Chip Kelly’s staff.

Westwood I’m home!!!🐻🐻@UCLAChipKelly @JeffFaris @EthanYoungFB @PeteMayberry #4sUp #GoBruins pic.twitter.com/900k5BxCtZ

— Rob Booker II (@robertbookerr) June 22, 2023

In an interview with The Athletic, Booker revealed that he knew he “was going to commit to UCLA for about a week.” However, Bookers’ decision to leave the Badgers’ 2024 recruiting class stunned Fickell and his staff. Although the six-foot-six pass catcher has no regrets, he claims this process made him “feel like crap.”

The State of the Wisconsin Football 2024 Recruiting Class

Booker and Woodward combined to make two lost commitments from the Badgers to fellow Big Ten teams in a span of just 24 hours. Wisconsin football’s 2024 recruiting class is currently ranked 18th nationally and fifth in the Big Ten, according to 247Sports Composite. The Badgers have 14 publicly announced commitments in the class and trail Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, and Minnesota in the rankings.

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