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Writer’s note: Please note I tried to find as many public stats possible for these recruits, as some sites are not as trustworthy as others.
Also, both 2019 Wisconsin commits Keeanu Benton and Julius Davis are part of a vote that could help them get into the Under Armour All-America Game. Check out the link here.
The current number of Wisconsin Badgers commits for the class of 2019 still stands at 13 scholarship pledges, with another two as preferred walk-ons.
With so much going on with the current team and playing under the lights of Camp Randall Stadium this weekend against Nebraska—and there will be some commits and recruits coming into town—B5Q felt we should break down the Badgers’ class further (and we’ll also have an article out this weekend on who is visiting).
Leo Chenal
The younger brother of Wisconsin walk-on fullback, John Chenal, the senior is having a monster year for Grantsburg. According to WisSports.net, Leo has rushed for 763 yards on 11.4 yards per carry with 22...yes, 22...rushing touchdowns. He has also caught five passes for 85 yards with a receiving touchdown, along with completely a 41-yard pass for a score.
Defensively, Chenal has tallied 51 tackles, six for loss, along with a sack and interception.
Older brother had a fun tongue-in-cheek tweet for his younger sibling last month:
Good luck tomorrow to the little bro. (Emphasis on LITTLE) pic.twitter.com/iskixOjfoJ
— John Chenal (@JohnChenal) September 20, 2018
Graham Mertz
The four-star 2019 quarterback returned from an injury that was suffered in mid-September to lead his team to a win last week. Through five games, Blue Valley North is 2-3 but the signal caller has completed 53.4 percent of his passes for 917 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions.
WATCH: HS Highlights on @KCTV5 tonight ⬇️
— Tom Martin (@TomKCTV5) September 29, 2018
- @bVNorthFootball wins in @GrahamMertz5’s return from a leg injury (@b5q)
-Huge win for @lsnorthfootball over LSW pic.twitter.com/WLxj4q92me
Logan Brown
The five-star offensive lineman according to 247Sports composite plays for East Kentwood. According to MaxPreps, the Falcons are 5-1 this season.
He also delivered this crushing block off a pull earlier this season:
#Wisconsin commit Logan Brown played a dominant game tonight. https://t.co/VUikQaLPzX @Evan_Flood pic.twitter.com/LBZpd71Twe
— Allen Trieu (@AllenTrieu) September 15, 2018
Julius Davis
The Menomonee Falls, Wis., product has only played in two games due to injury but has rushed for 537 yards and six touchdowns on 11.2 yards per carry, according to WisSports.Net.
Check out more about Davis’s status from Jesse Temple’s mailbag article last week in The Athletic ($).
@wedig_trey ,@Blakewilcox28 ,@juliusdavis32 , @BadgerFootball pic.twitter.com/PTYAMYdB44
— sandra Wilcox (@Steamboatsmum) September 29, 2018
Hayden Rucci
The Lititz, Pa. (Warwick) tight end is putting up quite a senior campaign. According to LancasterOnline.com, Rucci has caught 16 passes for 345 yards and four touchdowns.
Warwick is 5-1 and has outscored its opponents 279-50 in six games.
Dean Engram
Engram is currently a captain for Gonzaga, which is 6-0 heading into this week’s contest.
Here’s Engram grabbing a nice interception last week:
The ’s ACCOUNTABILITY earns another great result!
— GonzagaCHS Football (@GonzagaTDC) September 30, 2018
Check out the #NowEmbraceFinish Play of the Game from D Engram ‘19 @TheRealDean__ #HailGonzaga #AllMets @WashPostHS
Game 6 ✅
Next up, Game 7 vs Good Counsel on Saturday, 10/6 at 2 PM. #GoGonzaga #EaglesFlyHigh #AMDG pic.twitter.com/PFLdsK3Zji
Keeanu Benton
Janesville, Wis. (Craig) currently sits at 5-2 in the Big Eight Conference after a rough 42-7 loss at Middleton last Friday night on the road.
However, be sure to check our B5Q’s feature on the three-star, multi-sport athlete and what he could bring to the Badgers that was published earlier this week. Here’s the full interview with the Wisconsin commit as well:
James Williams
According to MaxPreps.com, Chaminade-Madonna currently has a 4-2 record.
#ChaminadeMadonna HS (FL) & #Wisconsin #Badgers commit 2019 DB James Williams (@gf_jw5) vs #AmericanHeritage pic.twitter.com/0L3lF8rhpV
— Sleeper Athletes (@SleeperAthletes) September 22, 2018
Semar Melvin
Through five games, St. Thomas Aquinas is 4-1 this season. 247Sports’ Evan Flood spoke with the prep standout cornerback in an article that was published just last week ($).
Joe Tippmann
Tippmann’s high school, Bishop Dwenger in Fort Wayne, Ind., currently holds a 7-0 record heading into this week’s contest.
Gio Paez
The three-star defensive lineman plays for William Amos Hough High School down in Cornelius, N.C.
According to MaxPreps, Hough is currently 6-0. Here’s the Wisconsin commit talking after a hard fought win last week.
Here is our postgame interview with @HoughAthletics DL Gio Paez @Gio_paez7117 , a #Wisconsin #Badgers commit and a part of a dominant defensive performance in @HoughFB 12-7 victory over Mooresville pic.twitter.com/kgmnq8fN73
— Matt Morrow - Pepman (@pepmancv) September 29, 2018
Spencer Lytle
Still waiting for some updated stats on Lytle, the newest commit for Wisconsin back in August. However, St. John Bosco is 6-0 and ranked No. 2 in the nation according to Max Preps.
Marcus Graham
As reported earlier this year, the Wisconsin commit unfortunately suffered an ACL injury that will cost him his senior season at Mountain Island Charter.