The 2018 early signing period came and went with 19 scholarship players confirmed in December, but the Wisconsin Badgers appear to still be looking to finish this recruiting cycle with another splash.
Oradell, N.J. (Bergen Catholic), standout Javontae Jean-Baptiste tweeted on Monday afternoon that he received a scholarship offer from Wisconsin.
The three recruiting services list Jean-Baptiste as an outside linebacker. 247Sports (both its composite and regular rankings) and ESPN rate the New Jersey product as a four-star talent, with Rivals ranking him as a three-star prospect.
247Sports’ non-composite rankings put him as the 121st player in the nation and the No. 9 outside linebacker overall in the 2018 class.
Both 247 and Rivals list the likes of Boston College, Ohio State, Nebraska and Virginia Tech as either “warm” or “high” interest for Jean-Baptiste. Those recruiting services note he took or will take official visits to those schools in December and January, with the outside linebacker reportedly visiting the Buckeyes this upcoming weekend.
Rivals also lists Texas A&M along with those four in high interest for Jean-Baptiste.
With it being so late in the game, as the official National Signing Day is just over two weeks away, it will be interesting to see if Wisconsin can make up enough ground to sway Jean-Baptiste to Madison for an official visit or not.
For what it’s worth, Rivals now rates Wisconsin as “medium” on Jean-Baptiste’s interest level.
Listed at 6’5, 204 pounds in his Hudl profile, Jean-Baptiste’s video highlights show a high school player with great speed off the edge in pursuit, both in pass rushing situations and against the run.
Most of the plays end with an opposing player on the ground. That includes his actions on special teams, where he de-cleated a couple of would-be tacklers on the kickoff return unit.
Read more as well about Jean-Baptiste’s thoughts from 247Sports’ Evan Flood ($).