While most recruiting watchers in Madison had their eyes peeled on what was going on with class of 2016 prospects Lil'Jordan Humphrey and Sam Brodner this past weekend, the Wisconsin Badgers had a Junior Day set up for their high-value, in-state prospects.
Head coach Paul Chryst threw out four offers to in-state linemen Aaron Vopal, Alex Fenton, Logan Bruss and Tyler Beach. Vopal, from De Pere, Wis., quickly jumped on the offer, verbally committing to Wisconsin on Monday for the class of 2017.
Vopal comes with the sort of frame that you want in a lineman if you're looking for a prospect that might slide under the radar, as he came into his junior year listed at 6'7, 245 pounds. The dynamic prospect could add 30 to 40 pounds of muscle to that easily without losing a step. As his Hudl tape above shows, Vopal has a certain agile athleticism that makes him rather disruptive in the trenches. He always finds a way to be around the ball whether through power, pursuit or just being a tall guy who knows to get his arms up when a quarterback starts throwing.
Initial expectations are that Vopal will not join four-star guard Kayden Lyles as a commitment on the offensive line, as reports from 247Sports, BadgerBlitz.com and BadgerNation.com state Vopal will play on the defensive line. Of course, his final position on the field may vary as the UW defensive coordinator question is still without an answer, but Vopal definitely has the sort of athleticism that allows one to project something fun on the opposite side of 2016 commit Isaiahh Loudermilk.
Vopal also already has three FBS offers from Buffalo, Iowa State and New Mexico.
Proud to say that I'm committing to the University of Wisconsin! Excited to be a Badger! #OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/mlAvtwInbb
— Aaron Vopal (@AcVopal) January 25, 2016