Wisconsin Football Recruiting: National Signing Day Primer

Wisconsin Football Recruiting: Luke Fickell’s Last Target

Wisconsin football has one final recruiting target in the 2023 class: Jamel Howard. The three-star defensive lineman was previously committed to Wisconsin under Paul Chryst. He decommitted in November after the change in coaching staff to pursue his options. The decommitment came a few weeks after Howard received scholarship offers from Nebraska and Michigan. At the time, he had made visits only to Illinois and Wisconsin.

Just one last message❤️ pic.twitter.com/eihBaitQMX

— Jamel howard Jr5️⃣8️⃣ (@HJ_Jr58) November 17, 2022

Jamel Howard’s Re-Opened Recruitment

Following his decommitment, Howard’s recruitment heated up. He received scholarship offers from three additional schools: Ole Miss, LSU, and Miami. Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell was able to get Howard on campus for an official visit, but Howard also took official visits to Michigan, Illinois, LSU, and Miami.

Thanks for everything rivals🔵🔵 pic.twitter.com/MwZp4No0EJ

— Jamel howard Jr5️⃣8️⃣ (@HJ_Jr58) December 6, 2022

Hailing from Chicago, the three-star recruit appeals to powerhouse schools because of his size and disruptive presence on the interior of the defensive line. At 6’3″ and 320 pounds, Howard has the potential to replace some of the defensive-production at Wisconsin lost by Keanu Benton’s departure for the NFL.

Jamel Howard’s National Signing Day Commitment

Although originally scheduled to make his commitment on Tuesday, Howard moved his commitment announcement to National Signing Day. He will make his announcement at Marist High School on Wednesday, February 1st at 3:30 PM CST. Wisconsin and Michigan appear to be the frontrunners for Howard, but he has kept his decision tight-lipped. On Tuesday, 247Sports Director of Football Recruiting Steve Wiltfong entered a Crystal Ball prediction that Wisconsin would land the prospect.

Howard’s commitment would be the second in the 2023 Wisconsin football recruiting class Fickell managed to reel back in. Trech Kekahuna, a three-star wide receiver, decommitted from Wisconsin after its coaching change before re-committing to the Badgers under Fickell.

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