Wisconsin’s class of 2019 currently sits at 13 verbal scholarship commitments during its regular season bye week.
Since a summer season where UW received five between early June to early August, the coaching staff has not seen a player verbally pledge since Spencer Lytle on Aug. 4.
Recently, both Kentucky defensive line commit Isaiah Gibson and Iowa tight end commit Josiah Miamen have decided to start their collegiate decisions elsewhere. However, there is still plenty of time for Wisconsin to see some recruiting action between now and the early signing period in December and National Signing Day in February—especially with a home game under the lights of Camp Randall Stadium against Nebraska on Oct. 6.
For those into recruiting, here are some familiar and potentially newer names that Wisconsin has offered and/or had on campus recently that are still deciding.
Bryce Benhart
Rated a four-star prospect and the No. 20 offensive tackle in the nation according to 247Sports composite rankings, Benhart visited Wisconsin the weekend of June 8 that featured several Wisconsin commits (and a future one in Lytle, who was at the time also undecided like Benhart) coming to Madison.
Not much has been heard from Benhart about next steps or commitment date, but Rivals’ “FutureCast” predictions this month lists Nebraska as the favorite, with some recent 247Sports crystal ball predictions going in Scott Frost and Co.’s favor.
Rodas Johnson
Johnson, a four-star prospect according to 247Sports composite rankings, officially visited back on the weekend of June 15-17.
247Sports reporter Bill Greene spoke with Johnson recently, who listed three schools in “Wisconsin, Penn State and Texas.” The Columbus, Ohio (St. Francis De Sales) recruit noted he will visit Penn State this weekend as the Nittany Lions face Ohio State in a key Big Ten East divisional showdown, with an official to Texas in a couple of weeks.
The No. 19 defensive tackle in the nation did tell Greene that he hopes to get back to Madison for a game.
Wisconsin already lost one recruiting battle this summer to Penn State in four-star standout linebacker Lance Dixon, who also officially visited on the same June weekend as Johnson.
UW currently has two defensive linemen in the class of 2019—Cornelius, N.C. (Hough) prospect Gio Paez and Janesville, Wis. (Craig) standout Keeanu Benton.
For that matter, B5Q hopes to get out to watch Benton on Friday night as Craig travels to Middleton.
Jared Casey
We highlighted the offer from Wisconsin earlier this week, but the Louisville, Ky. (Ballard), product is a four-star prospect and the No. 16 inside linebacker in the nation according to Rivals, and a high three-star recruit by 247Sports composite rankings.
Last weekend, he was in Eugene on a reported visit to Oregon. This upcoming weekend, both Rivals and 247Sports report the inside linebacker will be at Kentucky. According to 247Sports, Casey holds 13 offers, which includes from hometown Louisville, the previously mentioned Ducks, Wildcats and Badgers, along with Purdue and others.
For Wisconsin, the recruiting services both state that Casey will be in Madison the weekend of Oct. 5, which will be a nighttime contest between the No. 15 Badgers and Nebraska.
Taurean Carter
Back on Aug. 26, Carter tweeted that Wisconsin offered him. The three-star defensive end from Mansfield, Tex. (Legacy) spoke highly of the program to 247Sports’s Evan Flood late last month ($).
247Sports currently lists Wisconsin as one of the “Warm” programs for Carter’s collegiate services, with Rivals designating UW as “medium” in terms of their “Prospect’s Interest” level. Arkansas, Michigan State, Texas and Texas Tech are programs appearing to be in the hunt for the lineman.
Both recruiting services predict the Razorbacks to be a likely destination for Carter, the No. 40 strong-side defensive end in the nation according to 247Sports composite rankings. Both also do not show a visit date scheduled yet for Wisconsin.
Stephan Bracey
Bracey visited Wisconsin a couple of weeks ago, but does not appear to have an offer yet from UW.
Listed as a three-star wide receiver according to 247Sports standalone ratings (not composite), Bracey told B5Q earlier this month they are looking at him as a wide receiver.
247Sports lists offers from Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois, Toledo and Western Illinois.
Nick Jackson
Wisconsin offered The Opening finalist back in July, with current 2019 commit Graham Mertz tweeting at the Atlanta, Ga. (Lovett School) linebacker shortly thereafter.
That Team Impact connection going up to Madison https://t.co/DefmZcbNa6
— Graham Mertz (@GrahamMertz5) July 10, 2018
BadgerBlitz.com’s Jon McNamara listed Jackson earlier this week in his September edition of his “Elite 8” posts ($), with the Georgia product’s Rivals profile page noting “Medium” interest from the three-star recruit (though all 22 offers noted by the recruiting service shows the same designation). 247Sports lists Duke, Northwestern, Vanderbilt and Virginia as among the “Warm” interest programs vying for his collegiate services.