Meet Wisconsin’s class of 2019 walk-ons

Along with the 19 scholarship commits who signed their national letters of intent on Wednesday, the Wisconsin Badgers announced six players who will walk-on to their football program.

We all know Wisconsin’s walk-on tradition and how it has helped shape the football team—especially since Barry Alvarez came to Madison starting in 1990.

This season, inside linebacker Ryan Connelly, running back Garrett Groshek, safety Evan Bondoc, defensive lineman Matt Henningsen, wide receiver Jack Dunn, offensive lineman Jason Erdmann and punter Connor Allen—all who were or currently are walk-ons—contributed.

All bios and information are from Wisconsin’s 2019 National Signing Day page.

WR Cam Phillips

5’11, 180 pounds; San Francisco, Calif. (IMG Academy)

High School: Three-star recruit by 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals … wide receiver MVP of 2017 The Opening Cleveland Regional … played first three seasons at Westerville (Ohio) Central, playing wide receiver, defensive back and punt returner … missed senior season at IMG Academy due to injury … four-year honor student … National Honor Society … coaches were Kevin Wright (IMG Academy) and John Magistro (Westerville Central)

Personal: Parents are Greg and Jamie Phillips … mother competed in track and field at Ohio … sister Brista Phillips played soccer at Illinois

Long snapper Peter Bowden

6’3, 215 pounds; San Diego, Calif. (Francis Parker)

High School: Five-star long snapper by Kohl’s and Rubio … No. 7-ranked recruit nationally by Rubio Long Snapping … No. 11-ranked recruit nationally by Kohl’s … selected for Alex Spanos All-Star Classic … successfully delivered all 227 snaps of four-year varsity career … team captain … on defense, logged 63 tackles, a team-leading 6.0 sacks and 3 forced fumbles as a senior … had 31 tackles and team-high 5.0 sacks as a junior, also recording a blocked field goal … three-year letterwinner in baseball … four-year honor student … coach was Matt Morrison

Personal: Parents are Brian and Jennifer Bowden

OLB Tatum Grass

6’2, 207 pounds; Holmen, Wis.

High School: Honorable mention all-state at both defensive end and tight end by Wisconsin Football Coaches Association and Associated Press as a senior … first-team All-Mississippi Valley Conference and MVC Defensive Player of the Year as a senior … had 14 TFLs and 10 sacks on defense and 20 receptions for 325 yards and a touchdown on offense in eight games as a senior … first-team All-MVC at defensive end as a junior, recording 15 TFLs and 3 sacks … two-time all-region selection by WFCA … team captain … also lettered in basketball and track … four-year high honor roll student … coach was Travis Kowalski

Personal: Parents are Pat and Jen Grass … father played football at UW-Stevens Point

ILB Jackson Kollath

6’2, 231 pounds; Menomonee Falls (Sussex Hamilton)

High School: Second-team All-Greater Metro Conference as a senior, rushing for 794 yards and a touchdown … also played on defense as a senior … honorable mention All-GMC as a sophomore, logging 652 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing plus 172 yards and 3 touchdowns receiving … played in only five games as a junior due to injury, recording 140 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns … team captain as a senior … state meet qualifier in track as a freshman … coach was John Damato

Personal: Parents are Brad Kollath and Kristin Sobocinski … mother played volleyball at Wisconsin from 1990-93 … grandfather Phil Sobocinski played football for the Badgers from 1963-66 and went on to play for the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL

OL Logan O’Brien

6’5, 245 pounds; Fennimore, Wis.

High School: Honorable mention all-state by Wisconsin Football Coaches Association as a senior … first-team all-region by WFCA … first-team All-Southwest Wisconsin Activities League as a junior and senior … 2018 SWAL Offensive Lineman of the Year … also played defense, recording 24 tackles, 8 TFLs and a forced fumble over his last two seasons … two-year team captain … also lettered in basketball, wrestling and track … four-year high honor roll student … National Honor Society … member of student council … coach was Jonah Roth

Personal: Parents are Racheal Loy and Justin O’Brien

K Blake Wilcox

6’4, 205 pounds; Pewaukee, Wis. (Kettle Moraine)

High School: Five-star recruit by Kohl’s … three-star recruit by ESPN … No. 3-ranked punter and No. 5-ranked kicker nationally by Kohl’s … selected for 2019 Under Armour All-America Game … Kevin Stemke Award winner as state’s top senior kicker … first-team all-state at both kicker and punter by Wisconsin Football Coaches Association and Associated Press as a senior … finished senior season 9-for-14 on field goals and with a 40.9-yard average on punts … second-team all-state by AP and honorable mention all-state by WFCA at kicker as a junior, his first season playing football … converted school-record 59-yard field goal as a junior … two-time all-state defender in soccer, earning first-team honors from Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association as a senior … Academic All-State selection … coach was Justin Gumm

Personal: Parents are Mark and Sandi Wilcox