Wisconsin Badgers news, 5/26: Memorial Day edition

Summer is finally upon us now that Memorial Day is here, which means college football is right around the corner. To be exact, there are 96 days remaining until head coach Gary Andersen's squad meets Les Miles and the LSU Tigers in Reliant Stadium.

Sports Illustrated's Campus Union tallied 100 stories/headlines, and the Badgers, in one way or another, were mentioned quite often in the countdown. At No. 80, we can only hope the Pac-12 officials will be better than last year's ASU-UW debacle. At No. 42, how will former head coach Bret Bielema fare in year two in Arkansas? At No. 37, can Melvin Gordon become the first running back since 2009 to win the Heisman Trophy? Speaking of the dynamic player at No. 28, it's going to be fun to watch Gordon run, run and run some more.

It's a brand new look for the sport with the introduction of the inaugural College Football Playoff, but where will Wisconsin fit within the mix? While ESPN.com's Travis Haney tabbed the Badgers as a sleeper, they're on the outside looking in according to ESPN.com's KC Joyner (Insider). To no one's surprise, the team's fatal flaw was the "shortage of proven pass-catchers."

"It would be difficult enough to develop a group of pass-catchers with no question marks at quarterback, but to do so under the current circumstances might be too much to ask."

ESPN.com's Chris Low has a story on the dynamic backfield of Corey Clement and Gordon, which shouldn't slow down after last year's productive season.

This week, we'll bump our recruiting notebooks back one day due to the holiday. Mike had one on Friday detailing where the Badgers stand with a number of high-profile recruits. On the basketball front, Rice Lake native Henry Ellenson, Wisconsin, tabbed Bo Ryan's team among many others who are aggressively targeting the four-star forward ($). 247 Sports' Evan Flood has a new recruiting mailbag. Andersen and his staff secured the commitment of class of 2015 tight end Kyle Penniston earlier this year, but that did not stop them from targeting another top tight end for the ensuing year's class in Naseir Upshur ($). He told Badger247:

"I was very excited. I like the way they put tight ends in the league. That stands out a lot to me, the way they use their tight ends. They also offer a good education."

Quick Hitters

The men's basketball program hired Katherine Vosters as Director of Basketball Operations.

UWBadgers.com's Mike Lucas talks with the newest Director of Football Operations, Jason Thomas.

Jake and Scott have another great episode of Kielbasa Kings, talking football recruiting, the latest on the Crew and their thoughts on the NBA Playoffs.

Former UW women's skater Hilary Knight was named USA Hockey Women's Player of the Year.

USA Hockey names two-time Olympian Hilary Knight, the all-time leading scorer in #Badgers history, as its women's player of the year.

— Andy Baggot (@AndyBaggotWSJ) May 22, 2014

Video of the Day

Happy Memorial Day, everyone. Because of the brave men and women who serve our country, we have our freedom.