Wisconsin football recruiting: Badgers commits playing in WIAA state championship games

It’s amazing how fast a football season goes. For the No. 6 Wisconsin Badgers, they’re already 10 games into their regular season, and if they win their final two, they’ll find themselves in the Big Ten championship game against either No. 2 Ohio State, No. 4 Michigan or No. 9 Penn State on Dec. 3.

There’s also high school football which, for the state of Wisconsin, concludes on Thursday and Friday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. A few Wisconsin Badgers commits, almost all walk-on pledges, will play for the right to be named champions in their respective divisions.

Fans can either head to Camp Randall Stadium on Thursday or Friday to check out the WIAA state championship games or watch at home on Fox Sports Wisconsin or Fox Sports Wisconsin Plus.

Division 6: Regis vs. Darlington (1 p.m. CST, Thursday)

Running back Hunter Johnson has been an absolute beast this season for the Darlington Redbirds. According to WisSports.net, Johnson has rushed for 2,076 yards on 155 carries (13.4 yards per carry). Last week, he also threw a 27-yard touchdown pass against Saint Mary Springs in the Redbirds’ 24-20 win last week.

Johnson was named first-team all-state and the state’s Offensive Player of the Year earlier this week by the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA). The walk-on commit also earned the Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch Award as the most outstanding senior running back in the state, as decided by the Wisconsin Sports Network and Wissports.net.

If Darlington sounds familiar, that’s because it’s the hometown of former Wisconsin walk-on captain and current Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Alex Erickson.

Division 2: Brookfield East vs. Monona Grove (1 p.m., Friday)

Placekicker Collin Larsh and Monona Grove will take on Brookfield East for the Division 2 crown early Friday afternoon.

According to WisSports.net, Larsh converted six of nine field goal attempts and 51 of 53 extra-point attempts so far during the 2016 season. Also the team’s punter, he averages almost 35 yards per boot.

A first-team all-state selection by the WFCA, he also earned the Kevin Stemke Award given to the best senior kicker or punter.

Brookfield East is also the alma mater of current Wisconsin defensive lineman Alec James.

Division 1: Kimberly vs. Franklin (4 p.m., Friday)

Two Wisconsin commits will look to continue a legacy.

Quarterback Danny Vanden Boom—son of former Wisconsin safety Matt Vanden Boom— and offensive lineman Logan Bruss leads the Kimberly Papermakers for another Division 1 state title. As the Post Crescent reported, they’re going for their fourth straight title and 56th consecutive victory.

Like Larsh and Johnson, Vanden Boom was named WFCA first-team all-state and was awarded the Dave Krieg Award by the Wisconsin Sports Network and WisSports.net as the state’s most outstanding senior quarterback. He completed nearly 68 percent of his passes for 2,020 yards and 29 touchdowns with only four interceptions during the 2016 season. He is a preferred walk-on commit.

Another WFCA first-team all-state selection, Bruss will come to Wisconsin as a scholarship player.

[Update, 10:29 a.m. CT: We’ve updated the list to include three-star offensive lineman Logan Bruss from Kimberly. Apologies on the initial omission.]