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Recruiting is the lifeblood of any major college athletics team, but following it closely as a fan can sometimes be difficult and can often be time consuming. We’ll try and condense all the recruiting news you can use into this bi-weekly post. It’ll include updates on current commits, including stats from their high school games, as well as news on players the Badgers are still pursuing. Let’s get down to business!
Last week was a bit slow since the football team had a conference title game to prepare for and the coaches couldn’t be out on the road recruiting like some other, worse programs, but now that the game is over there was a flurry of activity.
Football offers
- 4-star 2022 DL (Rivals has him listed as a DE and 247 has him at DT) Travis Shaw (Greensboro, N.C.) was offered by the Badgers on Monday. He is listed at 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds which is just...this is a high school sophomore we are talking about! Physically, he could step in and play in the B1G yesterday!!
Blessed To Receive An Offer From The University Of Wisconsin #GoBadgers pic.twitter.com/j5lOPrijh2
— Travis Shaw (@cheesy_Trav18) December 10, 2019
Shaw has offers from Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Oregon and a host of other Power 5 schools so this isn’t the case of Wisconsin finding a diamond in the rough.
Shaw looks like a pretty legit prospect already. He can collapse the pocket, he pursues down the line of scrimmage to make tackles and he looks quicker than someone his size should be.
I don’t know what Wisconsin’s chances of getting Shaw to Madison are but it is always nice to see the Badgers in on players of this caliber.
- Continuing their tour of North Carolina, the Badgers also offered 4-star ATH Kaemen Marley (Ramseur, N.C.) on Monday. Marley plays RB and QB according to his Hudl profile, but his pinned highlight video shows him playing WR and DB. I guess that’s why he’s listed as an ATH?
Blessed to receive my 14th offer from the university of Wisconsin pic.twitter.com/ADSIlGx91t
— Kaemen Marley (@Kaemen_Marley) December 9, 2019
Marley is 6-foot-2 and weighs 206 pounds and is rated as the No. 115 player in the class by the 247 Composite. He has other offers from Florida, N.C. State, UNC, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Penn State and others.
Marley can jump and catch the ball at its high point and also is not afraid of contact (there are multiple clips of him laying the lumber on dudes). He looks like an ideal red zone target who also would like to get down the field and block somebody.
Current football commits highlights
- 2020 3-star LB Malik Reed (Chandler, Ariz.) finished up his senior year as a dang state champion!
Senior campaign ✅ High school career complete - https://t.co/t9yoEYkwj8
— Malik reed (@malik_tbc) December 10, 2019
You love to see it.
2020 #Wisconsin commit Malik Reed after his state title game yesterday. (H/T @alecsimpson5) pic.twitter.com/KRwcBs3a1t
— Jon McNamara (@McNamaraRivals) December 8, 2019
- 2020 3-star ATH Preston Zachman (Catawissa, Pa.) is being recruited to Wisconsin as an OLB, but his QB highlights from high school are pretty fun to watch. About one minute in he turns into a lead blocker for one of his receivers. I love when that happens.
✌ ✌ #3peat https://t.co/x4eWoD1HXd
— Preston Zachman (@ZachmanPreston) December 9, 2019
- 2020 3-star WR Chimere Dike (Waukesha) had an excellent senior season.
Congrats to Chimere Dike for being Offensive MVP, 1st Team All Conference WR, 1st Team All Conference DB, All State WR, Hon Mention All State DB, North’s All Time Leading Wide Receiver and the BEST Wide Receiver in Wisconsin High School History... #GreatTeammate Make us Proud!!! pic.twitter.com/JVcNytucs0
— North Football (@waukeshanorthfb) December 9, 2019
- 2021 3-star QB Deacon Hill (Santa Barbara, Calif.) took his team all the way to the state finals and looks like he’s only getting better.
Ngl I’ve never had so many different emotions making a highlight Tape
— Deacon Pe’a Hill (@dhillsb10) December 9, 2019
Post season tape
(Season film coming soon)https://t.co/AKKpUM9VPN
Thanks for the invite, Deacon.
Come on over to Cali @BadgerFootball
— Deacon Pe’a Hill (@dhillsb10) December 8, 2019
In home visits
- 2020 3-star WR Isaac Smith (Collierville, Tenn.) hosted Ted Gilmore on Sunday. This is the part of recruiting that the Badgers were missing out on because of the B1G Title game, FYI.
Had fun showing @CoachGilmoreUW how my family and I get down. Great in home visit today❤️ pic.twitter.com/fYMD2NTBe7
— Isaac Smith❗️ (@Isaacsmith_1) December 9, 2019
Current basketball commit highlights
- 2021 4-star PF Chris Hodges (Schaumburg, Ill.) was in action on Friday night and Evan Flood stopped by on his way to Indy to cover the B1G Title game.
#Badgers commit @chrishodges35 throwing down last night. pic.twitter.com/3ni6QpriOo
— Evan Flood (@Evan_Flood) December 7, 2019
Flood noted that Hodges was being swarmed by defenders all night and struggled to get going offensively.
Chris Hodges gets his first shot attempts that aren't putbacks with a minute left in the third quarter. Beats a triple team for two points and then takes advantage of a miscue and throws down a dunk. Schaumburg leads 37-27 going into the fourth quarter. #Badgers
— Evan Flood (@Evan_Flood) December 7, 2019
- 2020 4-star PF Ben Carlson (Saint Paul, Minn.) had a really nice weekend on the court. First of all, this highlight is against the high school my kids will be going to in a decade! HOW DARE YOU, CARLSON! Secondly, nice vision to pass out of the double team and find the open teammate cutting to the hoop!
Crowl in the post to a cutting Machacek for a 90-73 Eastview lead. @BreakdownUSA Tip Off Classic pic.twitter.com/XMSbGxQQG3
— Ryan James (@RyanJamesMN) December 7, 2019
These are the highlights that really will get you excited for Carlson to come to Madison. Against the No. 1 team in his division, Carlson set a single game school record for points with 40!
Ben Carlson has taken control of the second half. Started with those two early treys and then this dunk will likely be the dagger in the #9 Raptors knocking Off #1 Park Center. Ben's past 30 for the game. pic.twitter.com/T9gmLHP2za
— Ryan James (@RyanJamesMN) December 8, 2019
Wisconsin commit Ben Carlson had a career game last night, scoring 40 points to lead East Ridge past Park Center! Highlights from the Breakdown Sports Tip Off Classic! @bencarlson23 pic.twitter.com/58Ho0PZ1tL
— Fresh Coast Hoops (@FreshCoastHoops) December 8, 2019
Ben Carlson's 40 points in last nights win over Park Center is a new East Ridge High School single game points record! Congratulations to Ben on this great accomplishment!
— East Ridge BB (@ERRaptorsBB) December 8, 2019
GO RAPTORS!
The 2020 class is coming different to Madison. I can’t wait for them to get on campus.
- 2020 3-star twin brothers Jordan Davis and Johnny Davis (La Crosse) helped pound Menomonie into dust. It is nice to see both of the Davis brothers healthy again.
FINAL: La Crosse Central 92 Menomonie 53
— Evan Flood (@Evan_Flood) December 10, 2019
Johnny Davis 32 points, 7 rebounds in 22 minutes.
Jordan Davis 18 points, 4 assists in 22 minutes#Badgers
Other recruiting miscellany
- 2020 RB Joey Giogri (Grafton) had a preferred walk-on offer from the Badgers.
Officially a Columbia Lion!! ⚪️ Thank you to everyone who helped me get to this point, I can’t wait to see what my future holds. COMMITTED #RoarLionRoar #CUlture20 pic.twitter.com/2pZC5EaHMm
— Joey Giorgi (@JoeyGiorgi) December 9, 2019
- 2022 4-star OT Joe Brunner (Milwaukee) is going to be a hot commodity on the recruiting trail.
I’m honored to have received an offer from The Ohio State University, Thank you coach @CoachGMattison pic.twitter.com/aDDCAMzLjK
— Joe Brunner (@brunnerjoe_) December 10, 2019
- 2021 3-star DE Darryl Peterson (Akron, Ohio) is one of the top-rated players on the Badgers board for next year’s class.
BEYOND BLESSED to have received an offer from The University of Alabama #RollTide pic.twitter.com/rxGvzYhwdz
— Darryl Peterson (@_DPETERSON10) December 10, 2019
- 2020 4-star OT Jack Nelson (Stoughton) finally got his fourth star on his profile page!
Had a little technical glitch on our side, but in-state offensive tackle received his fourth ⭐️ last week. Much deserved. https://t.co/99dkUiWZOy @JackNelson755
— Jon McNamara (@McNamaraRivals) December 10, 2019
- Look at Evan Flood! He’s famous!
La Crosse Central is my new favorite fan base. pic.twitter.com/T9w6xyOFaY
— Evan Flood (@Evan_Flood) December 10, 2019