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The Wisconsin Badgers made a huge splash when four-star defensive linemen Garrett Rand verbally committed in early October. The Chandler, Ariz., (Hamilton) standout, who's ranked as the No. 131 overall in the 247Sports composite rankings and No. 252 in the Scout 300 rankings, was officially awarded his U.S. Army All-American jersey Tuesday by the bowl's Selection Tour (h/t Evan Flood).
The tour itself is a 10-week event that holds pep rallies for each athlete and band member participating in the bowl game. Rand ranks as the No. 15 defensive tackle per 247Sports' composite rankings, No. 19 by Rivals and No. 25 by Scout.com.
Rand will play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 9, 2016 in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Tex., which features some of the top prep talent in the nation. Current NFL standouts DeMarco Murray, Jamaal Charles, Odell Beckham, Jr. and Patrick Peterson, along with college standouts Derrick Henry and Nick Chubb, have played in the bowl game.
Today Hamilton H.S. DL @rand3218 is officially a 2016 @ArmyAllAmerican. #ArmyBowlTour pic.twitter.com/qYswrR7rB2
— USAAAB Tour (@SelectionTour) November 10, 2015
Stronger in the trenches. Welcome to the #ArmyBowl class of 2016 DL Garrett Rand. #Badgers #AmericasTeam pic.twitter.com/DrlNUjRBTQ
— #ArmyBowl (@ArmyAllAmerican) November 10, 2015
Hamilton DL Garrett Rand receiving US Army All-American jersey pic.twitter.com/YNt1HxnjRp
— Richard Obert (@azc_obert) November 10, 2015
Coaches already on road trips
The Badgers practice twice on their bye week on Wednesday and Thursday. Before that, a couple of coaches at the least already started the recruiting rounds.
Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst visited Bay Port High School in Green Bay, Wis. on Monday, according to its football team's Twitter handle. The message, according to a tweet, seems pretty familiar with a couple of head coaches in recent Wisconsin history:
Great having Coach Chryst in the building this morning! Building a wall around Wisco! Keepin are own! @colevanlanen5 @AI_XLV #piratepride
— Bay Port Football (@BayPortFootbal1) November 9, 2015
Running backs coach John Settle appeared to be in Georgia earlier this week, visiting West Hall High School in Oakwood, Ga. (h/t Evan Flood). That's the same high school as three-star punter and Wisconsin verbal commit Anthony Lotti.
Had a great time visiting with coach Settle from Wisconsin Badgers today at West Hall! @BadgerFootball @Badger247 pic.twitter.com/UPwtknyUyJ
— Coach Lotti (@CoachLottiWHHS) November 10, 2015
For more on where coaches will be during the bye week, check out BadgerNation.com's State of the Nation ($), BadgerBlitz.com's Wisconsin Whispers ($), and Badger247 ($).