Aside from the 25 scholarship players who signed their letters of intent on National Signing Day, the Wisconsin Badgers officially announced six preferred walk-ons to the football program on Wednesday.
This class of walk-ons is a little different from last year's with what they could bring to the team.
"This group of walk-ons, it's interesting because last year it was a group that we really liked and we liked this year's group," Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst said. "But last year's was more linemen types, offensive linemen and defensive linemen and I think the ones that we have now are more either skilled and we're not sure what skill position, those linebackers that they could grow into something, but not the offensive linemen.
So it's kind of complimentary, not by design but a complimentary class to last year's class that was heavy with the offensive and defensive linemen."
Only six were announced, which did not include quarterbacks Andres Castillo and Conor Blount, tight end Gabe Lloyd and 2015 WFCA Offensive Player of the Year Garrett Groshek. Per Chryst, those that weren't named still need to be admitted to the university.
Here are the six walk-ons and their profiles from the Wisconsin athletic department's website:
Jack Dunn
5'7, 190 pounds
Madison, Wis. (Edgewood)
Athlete
High School: Second-team all-state by Associated Press as an all-purpose player as a senior, playing quarterback and defensive back ... honorable mention all-state by Wisconsin Football Coaches Association ... all-region by WFCA ... led Edgewood with 1,861 rushing yards (averaging 7.5 yards per carry) and 25 touchdowns ... also passed for 714 yards and 3 TDs ... second-team all-conference as a junior, completing 62.2 percent of his passes for 1,356 yards and 15 TDs ... also rushed for 576 yards and 8 TDs ... also lettered in basketball ... Academic All-State ... National Honor Society ... high honor roll student ... high school coach was Alan Minnaert
Mike Maskalunas
6'3, 215 pounds
Long Grove, Ill. (Adlai E. Stevenson)
Inside linebacker
High School: As a starting guard, helped 14-0 Stevenson to Class 8A state championship and North Suburban Conference title as a junior ... team captain as a senior, starting at inside linebacker ... also lettered in basketball and baseball ... two-time North Suburban Conference All-Academic ... 2014 Illinois State Scholar ... recipient of the Ambassador Award, Stevenson's highest honor, as a junior ... National Honor Society ... four-year honor roll student ... high school coach was Bill McNamara
Aaron Maternowski
6'1, 250 pounds
Slinger, Wis.
Fullback
High School: First-team all-state by Wisconsin Football Coaches Association and Associated Press ... recorded 66 tackles and 6 sacks as a senior defensive lineman ... also named honorable mention all-state as an offensive lineman ... all-region by WFCA as a junior ... three-time first-team All-Little Ten Conference selection as a defensive lineman ... named first-team All-Little Ten at both offensive line and defensive line as a junior and senior... team captain and team MVP as a senior ... high honor roll student ... high school coach was Bill Jacklin
Jack Popp
6'3, 195 pounds
Mequon, Wis. (Homestead)
Wide receiver
High School: First-team all-state safety by Wisconsin Football Coaches Association and Associated Press, finishing with 55 tackles, 5 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles ... also made 30 catches for 530 yards and 8 TDs at receiver ... named All-North Shore Conference at safety, wide receiver and punter as a senior ... North Shore Conference Defensive Player of the Year ... as a junior, named North Shore Conference Receiver of the Year after recording 28 catches for 522 yards and 7 touchdowns ... two-year team captain ... team MVP as a senior ... finished career with 91 receptions for 1,821 yards and 20 TDs ... recorded 8 career interceptions on defense ... four-year high honor roll student ... high school coach was Dave Keel
Hegeman Tiedt
6'4, 225 pounds
Burlington, Wis.
Defensive lineman
High School: All-region by Wisconsin Football Coaches Association as a junior and senior ... first-team All-Southern Lakes Conference as a junior and senior ... all-county by Racine Journal Times as a junior and senior ... logged 94 total tackles, 16 TFLs, 7 sacks and 2 forced fumbles as a senior ... finished junior season with 84 total stops, 19 TFLs and 3 sacks ... also four-year letterwinner in wrestling ... high school coach was Steve Tenhagen
Christian Volpentesta
5'9. 185 pounds
Highland Park, Ill.
Defensive back
High School: First-team All-Central Suburban League as a junior and senior ... Champaign News-Gazette special mention all-state as a junior ... first-team all-area as a senior, recording 69 tackles, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 3 pass breakups and an interception ... two-year team defensive MVP ... Central Suburban League Scholar-Athlete ... high school coach was Joe Horeni