The Wisconsin Badgers hosted several 2019 verbal commits this weekend, along with two other talented recruits, who took in the city and campus area on their official visits.
One of the two uncommitted prospects was Bellflower, Calif. (St. John Bosco), linebacker Spencer Lytle, who returned to Wisconsin from Friday to Sunday after taking in an unofficial visit during the spring.
According to Lytle, his trip to Madison “confirmed” why he placed Wisconsin among his top schools he is considering.
“Coaches, support staff and players are what stood out the most,” Lytle told B5Q while traveling on Sunday night. “Also, [the] great education, and they always put players into the league [NFL]. Twenty-one winning seasons in the last 22 is matched by very few programs.”
Coming in on Friday, Lytle saw UW’s business school, which included a conversation with a business school professor, and also connected with the football academics staff. Saturday’s festivities also provided some time observing an overview of the schools, taking a tour of the university campus and facilities, and some time with the head coach.
“We also went out in the lake, [ate] dinner at Coach [Paul] Chryst’s house and went out with a bunch of players,” Lytle said.
The prep ‘backer was hosted by redshirt freshman safety Scott Nelson, the 2018 co-defensive scout team player of the year who worked with the first-team defense this past spring with D’Cota Dixon sitting out.
“He was great in giving me a current player’s perspective of being a student athlete at Wisconsin,” Lytle said.
Lytle was among several recruits in Madison this past weekend for their official vists. Along with four-star offensive lineman Bryce Benhart—like Lytle in still being open in his recruiting process currently—Wisconsin verbal pledges Graham Mertz, Logan Brown, Joe Tippmann, Hayden Rucci, Keeanu Benton and Marcus Graham also officially visited UW [writer’s note: BadgerBlitz.com’s Jon McNamara first reported via paywall on Friday that Benhart was officially visiting, with B5Q also confirming this weekend via a player that the offensive tackle was there].
Running back Julius Davis also came to Madison, but was on an unofficial visit.
As seen in tweets on Sunday, Lytle joined a few of them on the field of Camp Randall Stadium for photos in full uniform.
Had a great official w/ @keeanu_benton @JoeTippmann @GrahamMertz5 @haydengucci @TheMGraham @_SpencerLytle_ @BenhartBryce #OnWisconsin ⚪️ pic.twitter.com/YCaGmQhYbT
— Logan Brown (@loganbrown53) June 10, 2018
His interactions with the players on the team, along with the commits, were positive.
“It couldn’t have gone better,” Lytle said. “Those guys were welcoming and good dudes to hang out with.”
Lytle, who according to 247Sports and Rivals holds 42 offers, noted defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard and new outside linebackers coach Bobby April envision him playing “on and off the ball on the edge.”
According to the linebacker—who is rated a high three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals and is listed as the No. 31 outside linebacker in the nation by 247Sports composite rankings—the Wisconsin coaching staff made sure to let him know they wanted him to wear cardinal and white at the next level.
When asked what they said to him before leaving Madison, Lytle said, “that there is zero question they want me to be a Badger and want me to commit to Wisconsin.”
As of Sunday night, Lytle said both Wisconsin and Clemson are his top schools, with the California product noting he only has an unofficial visit set up with the Tigers for the time being.
The timeline for his collegiate decision between the two programs appears to be coming sometime this summer.
“Anytime after my trip to Clemson and before August,” Lytle said.